Forbes is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family, with a particular focus on business, technology, communications, science, politics, and law.
Forbes magazine and certain of its regional editions publish a list of people under 30 every year called “Forbes 30 Under 30.”
These people who make the lists on Forbes, annually, represent the newest self-made young African innovators with several winnings and awards to their names.
In light of this, Mp3bullet has put together a list of Nigerian artistes who have appeared on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list since its inception.
Nigerian Artistes Who Have Appeared On Forbes 30 Under 30 In 2018
Yemi Alade
Singer, Yemi Alade had one of the hottest i. She is able to reach much of the world with her songs by singing in English, French, Swahili, Portuguese, and Pidgin English. Her hit single, Johnny has amassed over 100 million streams on YouTube – making her one of the few Nigerian artistes to achieve such a feat.
She has received many honors, including two MTV Africa Awards. She performs and sings songs that tell African stories all around the world.
Falz
Rapper, Falz has had his fame spring up since 2014 with the release of his single, ‘Marry Me’. He followed through with releasing his debut album, ‘Wazup Guy’. As a result of Marry Me, he was nominated for a 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards ‘Best Collaboration of the Year’ award. He accepted the 2016 BET International Viewers’ Choice Award. Likewise, he has made several film and television appearances. He founded Bahd Guys Records as well.
Davido
Broke out in 2011 with Dami Duro, Davido is one of Nigeria’s Afrobeats leading singer whose impact cannot be undermined. He followed through with his debut album, Omo Baba Olowo (OBO) in 2012 and since then, been at the top of his game.
Davido was listed in 2018 as one of the fortunate Nigerians to grace the Forbes list.
Taking a swipe at his achievements, Davido has won several awards including, BET Award for “Best African Act,” and nominated at different times, two MTV Africa Music Awards. Additionally, he has collaborated with MTN, Guinness, Unilever, and has millions of YouTube views. In addition to touring the globe, Davido has worked with Young Thug, Future, Trey Songz, Rae Sremmurd and many more.
Wizkid
In 2018, Wizkid also had his name encrypted in the list of Forbes 20 Under 30 African leading youths. An insight into his already-blossomed career could testify to a well-deserved recognition.
Being a leading Afrobeats singer, Big Wiz had produced Drake’s One Dance tune, which topped the Hot 100, secured a multi-album deal with Sony Music International, and bagged a Pepsi ambassadorship. He has won numerous accolades, including the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Worldwide Act and the BET Award for Best International Act Africa in 2012. One of the most recent ones is his Grammy win in 2021 and another nomination in 2022.
Nigerian Artistes Who Have Appeared On Forbes 30 Under 30 In 2019
Burna Boy
The self-acclaimed African giant gained popularity after the 2012 release of his breakthrough track, “Like to Party.”
He has since evolved in his style and delivery and released hit after hit every year. Dangote, Ye, On the Low, Soke, and Hallelujah are a few global hits that have each amassed over three million YouTube views.
Among the many prizes, he recently garnered four at the Soundcity MVP prizes Festival. He has also won Best Album of the Year and Best Pop Artist of the Year at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards in 2015.
To add his awards, he secured a Grammy for himself and has since dominated the charts and airplay with his music.
In 2019, Burna was the only Nigerian artiste to appear on the Forbes 30 under 30 list.
Nigerian Artistes Who Have Appeared On Forbes 30 Under 30 In 2020
Cuppy
Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola popularly known as Cuppy was expected by many to carry on her family’s oil business and become an oil dealer.
Since the day she was born, her life had been predetermined. She pursued a degree in economics and management while tapping her feet to the music.
Prior to her name being listed, she had won a number of awards including the Best Female DJ at the Beatz Awards in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019. This year, she has been nominated for a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award.
Mr Eazi
In a similar vein, Mr Eazi secured his spot in 2020 as one of the young aspiring founders in Africa. In 2018, he embarked on a worldwide initiative to mentor and support African artists by establishing emPawa Africa.
Established artists like Ghana’s King Promise and Nigeria’s Simi have benefited from the entity’s marketing and business assistance.
Additionally, emPawa played a significant role in assisting Beyonce’s US-based team in assembling top African talent for the Grammy-nominated The Lion King: The Gift album.
Patoranking
Joined with Cuppy and Eazi, Patoranking, Nigerian’s leading dancehall singer was the third of the artistes to secure a slot in the 30 Under 30 list.
For the popular song My Woman, My Everything, featuring Wande Coal, he was also given the MTV Africa Song of the Year award in 2016.
Patoranking won the Best African Artist honor at the South African Music Awards (SAMA) the following year and appeared on the 2018 hit song Particula by Major Lazer with Nasty C, Jidenna, and Ice Prince.
He joined American singer and songwriter Lauryn Hill on her 20th-anniversary tour of North America for her album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill the same year as a special guest.
Nigerian Artistes Who Have Appeared On Forbes 30 Under 30 In 2021
Rema
In 2021, Divine Ikubor popularly known as Rema joined the list of Nigerians in the Forbes list. Rema inked a record deal with Mavin Records’ subsidiary Jonzing World in 2019. He gained notoriety after his song “Iron Man” was released and included in Barack Obama’s summer 2019 playlist.
His popularity spawned across Africa, Asia and Europe – making him one of Nigeria’s sought-after young in back in his early days.
In 2019, he secured his spot as the Next Rated Headies Award winner and was nominated in 2020 for the BET Viewers Choice.
Nigerian Artistes Who Have Appeared On Forbes 30 Under 30 In 2023
Tems
In the ninth African edition of the Forbes 30 Under 30, which held its summit at Garbone, Botswana from the 23rd of April to the 26th of April, two Nigerian artistes made their ways into the list.
Tems, the first has had a spawning global buzz since her hook on Wizkid’s Essence emerged in 2020. Since the surge in fame, Tems has bagged several local and global award nominations and even won herself a Grammy of recent.
Ayra Starr
Being the theme focus of Mavin’s current female recording act, Ayra’s Bloody Samaritan was one solid way to ignite her fame and music career.
Like her counterpart, Tems, Starr has been a splendid force in the keep and widespread of Afrobeats and to be honest, she deserves every great recognition coming her way.
She was the second Nigerian singer to be named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 African list.
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