Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy were the Nigerian key players and afrobeat superstars of the era based on career statistics records, achievements, and impacts.

Afrobeat was originated in Ghana in the early 1920s Before Nigeria joined the wave in the late 1960s, pioneered by Fela Kuti who explored different fashionable music at the time, he was at the forefront of the genre, popularizing the style both within and outside Nigeria.

Afrobeat was pushed by Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti in the 90s, a bit of juju music led by  I.K Dairo and J.O Araba even though it has been in existence pre-independence.

Drake was the first mainstream artiste who joined the afrobeat wave, jumping on Wizkid‘s Ojuelegba song and from then birthed his hit single ‘One Dance‘ featuring Wizkid and a British singer Kyla.

However, the first song introducing afrobeat to wider new generations around the world, as it is a combination of dancehall, afro beats, and Pop.

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Davido signed a record deal with Sony’s RCA Records in 2016, becoming the first Nigerian New generational afrobeat artiste to officially signed to an international label.

Davido released a single titled ‘Fall’ on June 2, 2017, it became the longest-charting Nigeria pop song in US Billboard Hot R&B Songs history.

In 2019 and 2020, Burna Boy’s studio albums were nominated in the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards and won 63rd Annual Grammy Awards (with African Giant & Twice as Tall) respectively, making him the first Nigerian to be nominated in two consecutive years at the Grammys.

Today, the formula is more potent than ever, Afrobeats is a way to stay connected, on the one hand, there is an enthusiastic Nigerian diaspora with disposable income that is keen on maintaining cultural ties with home, which they spend money on, stream, share, support, and promote the genre.

And a global reach is provided by the internet and innovations in music streaming.

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That means artists depend heavily on live music ticket sales, performances, and endorsements.

Their energies are not directed towards developing streaming numbers, selling recorded music, and building careers through labels.

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Thus, we have decided to share with you the Nigerian artistes whose parents are also musicians.

Truly, some of your favourites in the music industry weren’t only born with their talents, but also into the home of musicians who have helped and groomed them into becoming the shining star we all celebrate today.

Here, we state the artistes whose parents are or were musicians during their time.

Femi and Seun Anikulapo-Kuti

Notably, almost everyone must have heard the name “Anikulapo-Kuti” before. Whether in a bar, street, park, wherever.

However, not everybody may be familiar with the lineage of the name and its impact on the music industry.

Well, the great man to promote that name is no other than the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

While addressing the originators of Afrobeats in Nigeria and the world at large, he is considered a founding father.

However, he did not only stop at making good music but also passing the gene to two of his children, Namely Femi Anikulapo Kuti, and Seun Anikulapo Kuti.

Both of them are part of Nigeria’s finest Afrobeat music makers we have today.

Likewise, to their record, they have released various albums and bagged nominations and awards, both locally and internationally.

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Paul Play

Famous for these songs “Angel of My Life” and “Mo So Rire“, Paul Play Dairo is a talented Nigerian singer.

For some who are not aware, he also comes from a music background and has been exposed to the norms of the industry.

Well, to not prolong, he is the son of the late I.K Dairo! One of Nigeria’s finest Afro Juju and highlife stars.

So you see, he was born into music and it’s no surprise he is this talented.

Barry Jhay

Popular “Aiye” crooner, Barry Jhay also comes from the lineage of musicians.

As the saying goes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, such is the case of this talented singer.

I am sure the name Sikiru Ayinde Barrister sounds familiar, well if it doesn’t I am sure this song “Reality” will help. However, he is the father of the fast-rising singer Barry Jhay.

No wonder, he has that fuji-like tune and a blend of Afro Juju, like his dad.

Additionally, punch reports he is also the grandson of I.K Dairo. However, we don’t know how the connection lies.

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Darey Art-Alade

Darey is unarguably one of the best vocalists to have come out of Nigeria. Writing about Alade’s musical prowess might take hours to put together.

The “Pray For Me” singer, Darey Art-Alade is the son of the late legendary jazz and highlife singer, Modupe Arthur Alade aka Art Alade, who held sway in the entertainment industry in the sixties and seventies.

Also, his father was a Nigerian television personality and producer who was the host of The Bar Beach Show a weekly variety show on NBC-TV that aired during the 1970s.

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Prior to the contemporary music that dominates today’s world, there have been series of creative genres that promoted the Nigerian music industry, and as such we have decided to take a look at the top 6 Afro Juju musicians in Nigeria.

Tunde King

Tunde King was identified as the founder of Jùjú music in Nigeria.

He was born on the 24th of August, 1910 in Lagos Island.

He alongside a couple of his friends formed music named “Palm Wine” that combined Yoruba folk music with musical idioms from countries such as Brazil and Cuba.

On the other hand, Juju was a type of music that originated from the “Palm Wine” music.

Moreover, King groomed a lot of the popular Nigerian juju stars including Prince Adekunle.

Initially, the juju beat originated from when he got a tambourine, Tunde said.

From there, he started adding other musical instruments before turning them into a refined tune.

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King Sunny Ade

Born as Sunday Adeniyi on the 22^nd of September 1946 in Oshogbo, to a royal Yoruba family.

Like every artiste, the roots of their talent and artistic prowess could always be traced back to their background.

Such is the case of our famous “Merciful God” singer, as his father was a church organist.

At a tender age, he displayed his love for musical instruments and was blessed with a melodious voice to compensate. In fact, it was under the disguise of coming to study at the University of Lagos, he left Ondo to Lagos to pursue his music career.

Having begun his music career with Victor Olaiya‘s highlife band, he came off pretty well.

After completing his time there, he went on to form his own band named The Green Spots, in 1967.

In particular, the evolution of his highlife style to Juju music was influenced by Tunde Nightingale.

As a matter of fact, he borrowed his stylistic elements from his ‘So wa mbe’ style of juju.

With his Afro genre of music, King Sunny became the first African to be nominated twice for a Grammy.

Also, he has released numerous tracks and albums of which the evergreen Syncro System stands.

Categorically, he is one artiste who has taken Nigerian music across borders.

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Ebenezer Obey

Obey-Fabiyi Ebenezer was born on April 3, 1942, in Idogo L.G.A of Ogun State.

He is also amongst the pioneer Juju musicians in Nigeria as he was popularly nicknamed the “Chief Commander”.

Also, he moved to Lagos to begin his music career in the mid-1950s.

After tutelage under Fatai Rolling-Dollar’s band, he formed a band called The International Brothers in 1964, playing highlife–jùjú fusion.

Later, the band advanced into the inter-Reformers in the early-1970s.

As a matter of fact, he has a list of numerous albums, accompanied by awards, recognitions; and such is the famous “Ota Mi Dehin Lehin Mi” among others.

Additionally, he has performed both in Nigeria and across borders with a high reputation.

With such a great music career, he is our number 3 in the top 6 Afro Juju musicians in Nigeria,

Fatai Rolling Dollars

Prince Olayiwola Fatai Olagunju, known better as Fatai Rolling Dollar was born on the 22nd of July, 1927.

He is a foremost Nigeria Juju and highlife musician whose trademark music was characterized by the use of guitar.

Rolling Dollar started his career around the mid-1950s and in 1957 he formed an 8 man band

Another key point, he was the benchmark for Ebenezer Obey and late Orlando Owoh’s success in Juju music.

One major hit song he left behind is the “Won Kere Si Number Wa” classic song.

At the fulfilled age of 86, he died peacefully leaving his 3 wives and 16 children, and numerous grandchildren.

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Prince Adekunle

General Prince Adekunle was a descendant of the Egba origin, from Abeokuta in Ogun State.

Equally important,  when classifying the originators of Juju music in Nigeria, he is a major innovator.

Like Rolling Dollar, he has also groomed a lot of the legends we see today; such as Sir Shina Peters, Segun Adewale, etc.

Although he toured in England in the early 1970s, he did not become well known outside Nigeria.

With a fulfilled career, he released numerous albums such as Aye Nreti Eleya among many others before his demise in 2017.

I.K. Dairo

Isaiah Kehinde Dairo was born in 1930 in Offa, Kwara State in Western Nigeria.

Shortly after he formed his musical group called the Morning Star Orchestra in 1957, he rose to fame.

Likewise, his band played various instruments such as accordion, samba, akuba, etc.

In 1962, he released the song ‘Salome’ under Decca records.

Lastly, his influence and international performance grew so much during the pre-independence time.

His music was premier and he exported this Afro Juju music to other parts of the continent.

With so much influence within his short years of reign, he fits directly into the 6 top Afro Juju musicians to uphold this genre.

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Afrobeat generations is a group or set of afrobeat musical genre with a shared common characteristic, lets span through the highlight of the three Generations of afrobeat movement.

The characteristics thereof are based on Statistics (career records, achievements and impacts).

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The three (3) notable generations of afrobeat are The Fela’s, The D’banj/2Baba/Psquare’s and The Wizkid/Davido/Burna Boy’s generations.

Each of the generations plays important role in the growth and globalization of the afrobeat movement, from the pioneer to the record-breaking new generations.

The Fela’s (1960s-1990s)

Afrobeat was originated in Ghana in the early 1920s Before Nigeria joined the wave in the late 1960s, pioneered by Fela Kuti who explored different fashionable music at the time, he was at the forefront of the genre, popularizing the style both within and outside Nigeria.

This generation is the birth of the movement, where it all started from ideas, talent, hard work and destiny.

Fela Kuti recorded about 29 albums from 1969 to the 90s with sold-out concerts in the US, UK, and other parts of the world.

In the early 90s to Mid 90s Reggae music Infiltrated the Nigeria music scene, the genre which is associated with Jamaicans was acquired by the likes of Majek Fashek, transforming into Ragga/dancehall music, becoming a force in places like Ajegunle in Lagos, moulding the sounds as delivered by the likes of Daddy Showkey, Nico Gravity, Daddy Fresh, African China and others.

Afrobeat was pushed by Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti in the 90s, a bit of juju music led by  I.K Dairo and J.O Araba even though it has been in existence pre-independence

In the late 90s to early 2000s Kennis Music created a wave that falls under afrobeat, it includes, R&B, Hip-hop, and Pop music, artistes in this era are Styl Plus, OJB Jezreel, 2 shots, Eedris Abdulkareem, Jazzman Olofin, Paul Play, etc.

The D’banj/2Baba/P-Square’s

This generation started in the 2000s-2010s, it comprises other afrobeat artistes which include, 9ice, Faze, Black Faze, Banky W, Timaya, and others.

D’banj, 2Baba and P-Square were the key players of the era based on statistics (career records, achievements and impacts).

2Baba released an “International Edition” of his third studio album ‘The Unstoppable International’ making him the first Nigerian artist to have a proper international rated and priced album.

Dbanj was the first afrobeat artiste to create a relative connection to an International mainstream act in 2011, after signing a contract deal as an artist to ‘Good Music record label‘ founded by Kanye West.

P-Square collaborated with T.I, and Rick Ross In 2012 and in 2013 they bag their first international nomination at Soul Train Music Awards for Best International Performance.

The Wizkid/Davido/Burna Boy’s

This generation started in the 2010s to Present, it consists of other afrobeat artistes which include, Tekno, Tiwa Savage, Runtown, Yemi Alade, Kizz Daniel, Mr Eazi, Olamide, Phyno and others

Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy were the key players of the era based on statistics (career records, achievements and impacts)

Drake was the first mainstream artiste who joined the afrobeat wave, jumping on Wizkid‘s Ojuelegba song and from then birthed his hit single ‘One Dance‘ featuring Wizkid and a British singer Kyla, the first song introducing afrobeat to wider new generations around the world, as it is a combination of dancehall, afro beats, and Pop.

Davido signed a record deal with Sony’s RCA Records in 2016, becoming the first Nigerian New generational afrobeat artiste to officially signed to an international label.

Davido released a single titled ‘Fall’ on June 2, 2017, it became the longest-charting Nigeria pop song in US Billboard Hot R&B Songs history.

in 2019 and 2020, Burna Boy’s studio albums were nominated in the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards and 63rd Annual Grammy Awards (with African Giant & Twice as Tall) respectively, making him the first Nigerian to be nominated in two consecutive years at the Grammys.

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