The public announcement unveiled a diverse lineup of inductees across multiple categories, reflecting the institution’s continued effort to recognise global influence in music beyond its traditional Western roots.

In the Performer category, a star-studded class includes acts such as Wu-Tang Clan, Luther Vandross, Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division / New Order, and Oasis—an eclectic mix spanning hip-hop, R&B, rock, and alternative music.

For Nigeria, however, the standout moment is the dual recognition of two icons whose influence has long crossed continents.

Sade Adu, known for her smooth, timeless vocals and genre-defining classics from the 80s and 90s, continues to shape modern music culture, with her influence echoing in the work of global stars such as Adele and Drake.

Meanwhile, Fela Kuti was honoured in the Early Influence Award category, a recognition of his groundbreaking role as the pioneer of Afrobeat. His fusion of highlife, jazz, and funk didn’t just create a genre—it became a powerful cultural and political statement that still inspires artists worldwide.

He joins other influential figures in that category, including Celia Cruz, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Gram Parsons, highlighting his place among music’s most transformative voices.

The 2026 ceremony, scheduled for November 14 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, also celebrates behind-the-scenes contributors through the Musical Excellence Award, with honourees such as Rick Rubin, Linda Creed, Arif Mardin, and Jimmy Miller.

Eligibility rules require that artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior, making this year’s class a celebration of long-standing impact rather than fleeting success.

With both Fela Kuti and Sade Adu recognised on the same induction list, the 2026 edition stands out as a landmark year—one that firmly places Nigerian musical heritage at the heart of global music history.

 

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In the current Nigerian creative scene, there are intriguing parallels at play. The Afrobeats global movement, while distinctly modern, echoes the foundational principles that once ushered in our legendary classical age.

These principles serve as a bridge between the past, present, and future showcasing the evolution and continuity within Nigeria’s rich music scene.

Although this has always been a traditionally male-dominated sector, female singers are boldly challenging these industry norms, expectations, and preconceived notions, aiming to reshape the dynamic sphere of Afrobeats.

They are determined to establish themselves alongside the music visionaries, and innovators, contributing to the ongoing transformation of the Afrobeats sound as a whole.

In contrast to Afrobeats’ female creative pioneers of the past like Sade Adu, Christy Essien-Igbokwe, Onyeka Onwenu amongst others who incorporated elements from Disco, Funk, Rock & Roll, and Soul into their local fusions, today’s Nigerian female singers have propelled us into a new era. Their approach is inclusive, seamlessly blending influences from, Pop, R&B, Alternative, and beyond. This fusion reflects a new-age, diverse sound that resonates globally.

The unique thing about these newbies is the styles and narratives they bring on board. Each artist often brings her cultural influences, personal experiences, and musical insights. Thus, the surge of new female voices enriches the Afrobeats’ momentum with diverse sounds, themes, and storytelling, making it more reflective of the broader culture.

It is essential to acknowledge the support systems, both within and outside the Afrobeats community, that contribute to the rise of these female artists. This may include supportive record labels, collaborations with established artists, and an audience eager to embrace fresh perspectives.

In the course of this editorial piece, we’ll focus our attention on a select group of emerging female artists who are making solid impression on Afro culture.

5 Faces of Leading Next Generation Female Afrobeats 

Qing Madi

Qing Madi‘s rise in the music industry is indeed remarkable, and blissful to witness, especially considering her young age.

At 17, she has won the hearts of many with her track Ole and its remix featuring BNXN.

Her talent positions her to potentially achieve even greater success in 2024 and beyond, making her a gem to look out for in the leading generation of female Afro stars.

Guchi

Let’s dive into Guchi’s abode,  whose  name is Ugochi Lydia Onuoha. Leaned towards the pop sound, she has popularized her  songs, and she’s seen as one of the top emerging female artists in the country. She went viral with tracks like All Over You last year and doubled down with Feeling Good featuring Bayanni. Her sound is simple yet truly characteristic of influentials like Yemi Alade and Tiwa Savage. She is definitely an artist to watch.

Bloody Civilian

Bloody Civilian, known as the “Man Killa” herself, emerges as a genre-defying artist, determined to break free from any constraints. Throughout 2023, she vigorously sold her talents on every track she graced. However, it was her unforgettable verse on ODUMODU’s “Blood on the Dance Floor” that truly stood out, making it one of the most recognizable and impactful verses of the entire year.

Lifesize Teddy

Lifesize Teddy is a rap diva hailing from Port Harcourt City, who boasts of a distinctive musical style that blends Pidgin and Queen’s English in her delivery. This approach lends her a cadence that easily taps into an Afrobeat-infused rap vibe. As a newly signed artist to the renowned record label, Mavin Records, Treasure Apiafi Banigo is set to go against industry norms and make a clear impact on the music industry with her  talent.

Morravey

With only a handful of songs to her name, she’s been able to give her fans a peek into her musical ability, which has been described by many as ‘angelic’. She gained attention by delivering a memorable chorus on the track ‘In The Garden’ off Davido’s ‘Timeless’ album.

In conclusion, the wave of new female Afrobeats singers is a positive and transformative force within the creative movement. It not only signifies a shift in gender dynamics but also brings forth a wealth of uniqueness, fresh breath of music taste, richness and culture, contributing to the continued global success and relevance of Afrobeats.

RELATED:

• Afrobeats Collaborations We Look Forward To In 2024
• 5 Unforgettable Moments In The 2023 Nigerian Music Landscape

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In the Nigerian Music space, biracial or mixed-race Artists are doing well for themselves, whether based in Nigeria or outside of the country.

The term biracial or multiracial is usually applied to people who have a heritage comprised of different races of the world.

The country has been blessed with citizens who have dual nationalities with either one of their parents belonging to a different continent like Europe.

RELATED:

• International artists you didn’t know were of Nigerian descent
• US Artists who are of Nigerian Descent

Here are some of the artists who are Biracial.

Di’Ja

Hadiza Blell is a popular Nigerian singer and songwriter currently signed to Mavins Records.

She is born to a Sierra Leonean father, and a Nigerian mother from Kaduna State. Her first official single, “Yaro” under the umbrella of Mavins Records back in 2014, infuses Hausa and Krio dialects in honour of her Nigerian and Sierra Leonean roots.

Nneka Egbuna

Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress, Nneka Egbuna aka Nneka was born to a Nigerian father and German mother. She first gained public attention in 2004 while performing as an opening act for dancehall reggae star, Sean Paul at Hamburg Stadtpark. After much acclaim, Nneka was given a green light to record her first album.

Tems

Temilade Openiyi was born on 11 June 1995 in Lagos, Nigeria. Born to a Nigerian mother and a British-Nigerian father, Tems’ family moved to the United Kingdom shortly after birth. Her parents divorced when she was five.

Tems relocated to Nigeria with her mother, they resided in Ilupeju before moving to Lekki then Ajah

RELATED:

• Popular UK artists you didn’t know are of Nigerian Descent
• Foreign Artists Who used Nigerian Native Languages in songs

Other Artists of Nigerian Origin and are Biracial

• Sade Adu
• Jidenna
• Taio Cruz
• Ms Banks

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In the UK music industry today, there are several famous blacks that are excellent in their craft, most of these artists are of Nigerian Descent.

Nigerians are well known to travel far and wide in search of greener pastures. They not only survive in whichever country they find themselves but become successful world-famous celebrities.

Here are popular UK artists who are of Nigerian descent either by half parent, birth, immigrant parent or nationalisation.

• RELATED: International artists you didn’t know were of Nigerian descent
• RELATED: Top 10 Nigerian artists with an addictive vocal

Sade Adu

Born Helen Folasade Adu, Sade was born in Ibadan on the 16th of January 1959 but moved to Essex, England at the age of four.

Her father, Adebisi Adu, a Nigerian lecturer in economics of Yoruba background married an English district nurse, Annes Hayes.

The couple moved to Ibadan after getting married but after their separation, Anne Hayes returned to England, taking Sade and the girl’s elder brother Banji with her to live with their grandparents near Colchester, Essex.

Sade started her career as a model and a backup singer for a British band called Pride. In 1983 she alongside some of the band’s members started a band named after her.

Their debut album, Diamond Life was released on 16 July 1984, reaching number two in the UK Album Chart, selling over 1.2 million copies in the UK, and won the Brit Award for Best British Album in 1985.

“Smooth Operator” was the third single out of the album and their most successful song from the album topping charts in various countries outside the UK.

In 1986, Sade alongside the band won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

Skepta

Real Name Joseph Junior Adenuga, Skepta was born to Nigerian parents on 19 September 1982 in Tottenham, North London.

He started out his career as a DJ under the Tottenham-based grime collective Meridian Crew.

Alongside his brother, JME he launched his label, “Boy Better Know” under which he released his debut album, “Greatest Hits” in 2007.

Skepta currently has five albums to his credit and is one of the successful Grime artists in the UK.

On 4 April 2018, he was installed as a chief in his Nigerian hometown in Ogun State, receiving the chieftaincy title of the Amuludun of Odo-Aje.

Dave

David Orobosa Omoregie known professionally as Dave or Santan Dave, is a British rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.

The youngest of three sons, Dave was born to Nigerian parents. His father, Frank Omoregie, is a pastor and his mother, Juliet Doris Omoregie, a nurse.

Dave’s father was deported to Nigeria when Dave was just a few months old as he believed he was travelling on a missionary visa but instead was on a visitor’s visa. Juliet was allowed to stay to raise her sons.

He began composing music at an early age, regularly writing lyrics in his early teens, even before engaging in production after his mother gave him a piano when he was 14.

Although he was admitted to the university to study, he instead chooses to focus on his musical career.

Although he only has one album, “Psychodrama” to his credit, he has released hit songs that have dominated charts and earned international certifications.

Not3s

Lukman Olanrewaju B Odunaike is a British-Nigerian hip-hop artist and actor. He is more famous by his professional name, Not3s.

Not3s has been interested in performing since he was a child. Inspired by both the local underground grime scene and his Nigerian heritage, his ascent from online obscurity to being signed by a major label had been nothing short of a transient.

In 2017, he released his debut single, ‘Naughty’. His breakthrough single, ‘Addison Lee’, was released later that year.

His most successful track to date is, ‘My Lover’, which was the result of the collaborative effort between him and English Singer, Mabel.

Other popular singles he has put over the course of his career are ‘Aladdin’, ‘Palm Wine’, and ‘To the Max’. He has released two mixtapes to date, ‘Take Not3’ and ‘Take Not3 II’.

• RELATED: African artists with the most Spotify monthly listeners at the moment
• RELATED: 10 Nigerian artistes you did not know are Muslims

Ms Banks

Thyra Oji, better known by her stage name Ms Banks, is a British rapper, singer and songwriter born to a Nigerian father and a Ugandan mother.

Ms Banks began writing music at age 11. she has released three mixtapes as Ms Banks in the years which include “Once Upon a Grind (2014), The Coldest Winter Ever (2018), The Coldest Winter Ever Part II(2019). Her debut EP, New Chapter was released in 2016.

Tion Wayne

Tion Wayne born Dennis Junior Odunwo is a British rapper, songwriter and DJ.

Odunwo began to make a name for himself in the music scene in 2010 after dropping a handful of videos on YouTube. By 2014, he had released his first mixtape, titled Wayne’s World.

Continuing to push his sound on social media and online video streaming, Wayne had built a loyal following by 2016 and had supported artists such as U.S. rapper Rick Ross and Ghanaian hip-hop artist Sarkodie.

Over the years, Tion has racked up multiple UK Top 10 singles and over 500 million streams across streaming platforms.

Tinie Tempah

Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu better known by his stage name Tinie Tempah, is a British rapper, singer, composer and entrepreneur.

Tinie was born in London, to Igbo parents, his middle name, Chukwuemeka, means “God has done more” in the Igbo language.

Tinie, then known as Tinie Tempah began his music career in 2005 after joining the Aftershock Hooligans (Aftershock →→Records), recording hundreds of songs amongst the fellow Hooligans.

His first mixtape, “Chapter 1: Verse 22”, was released via Aftershock Records in 2005, as a free mixtape. he released his debut album Disc-Overy in 2010.

Tinie, together with his manager and cousin Dumi Oburota founded the independent label Disturbing London primarily as an outlet for Tinie’s music but also manages other artists like Darkoo and Kida Kudz.

Darkoo

Darkoo is a London-raised Nigeria born singer/songwriter. Darkoo’s musical journey began at 15 after discovering her ability to rap.

She began to merge the influences of being in the UK with the sound of her favourite African artists like WizKid and Maleek Berry, leading her to release her debut single ‘Gas Station’ at the tender age of 16.

Darkoo started music at a young age although she had wanted to be a professional footballer, during her year 6 talent show she delivered an impressive performance of Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj’s “Beauty and a Beat”.

However, Darkoo’s rise to the limelight wasn’t until she released her hit single “Gangsta” which debuted on the UK Top 40 chart in the first week of release. The single had featured Tottenham born rapper, One Acen.

The unique side to Darkoo is her voice which can either be Feminine and masculine depending on what song she is.

• RELATED: Nigerian Artists who Rose To Fame from talent shows
• RELATED: Nigerian artists with the most entries in Billboard WDSS across all credit

Jacob Banks

Jacob Banks was born in Nigeria but moved to Birmingham at the age of 13, and began singing, playing the guitar and writing songs at the age of 20.

He got his start recording songs for friends to listen to in their cars and hitting the open mic circuit before self-releasing his first EP The Monologue in 2013.

Jacob has since released the independent EP The Paradox and made his debut on Interscope Records with The Boy Who Cried Freedom EP.

Popular UK artists you didn’t know are of Nigerian Descent

1. Sade Adu
2. Skepta
3. Dave
4. Not3s
5. Ms Banks
6. Tion Wayne
7. Tinie Tempah
8. Darkoo
9. Jacob Banks

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Top 5 Naija Songs that were remixed by International artists

Blacks can be found in every area of entertainment and some of them are actually by birth, half parent, immigrant parent, or nationalization. Some of them can be found in the Music Industry and have gone to become international artists.

Here are the International artists you didn’t know were of Nigerian descent.

Jidenna

Popularly known for his February 2015 single, “Classic Man”,  Jidenna Theodore Mobisson, who is signed to Janelle Monae’s Wondaland Records label, was born in Wisconsin to a Nigerian father and a white mother and grew up in Nigeria.

In 1995 his family moved back to Boston Massachusetts.  His song “Classic Man” was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 58th Grammy Awards.

Jidenna blends African Ankara prints into his outfit, a move that gives him up as an African.

NAS

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who is the son of the popular Jazz musician, Olu Dara blues musician of Yoruba descent, is an internationally known American Rapper and producer.

He began his musical career in 1991 and released his debut album Illmatic, in 1994. Nas was popularly known for his legendary rivalry with Jay Z that was the talk of the early 2000s.

His popular tracks include, Hate Me Now” and “Ether”, “The World is Yours”, “NY State of Mind” amongst others.

Top 5 Nigerian-International Collaboration we would love to see happen

Skepta

Skepta’s real name is Joseph Junior Adenuga, he was born on September 19, 1982. He is an English Grime artist, songwriter, and record producer of Nigerian descent.

He released his debut studio album Greatest Hits in late 2007 and his second, Microphone Champion in 2009, both independently, while his third studio album Doin’ It Again was released in 2011 by AATW.

His fourth studio album, Konnichiwa, was released on May 6, 2016, to critical acclaim, winning the year’s Mercury Prize.

Wale

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin known by his stage name Wale was born on September 21, 1984.  He first rose to prominence in 2006, when his song “Dig Dug (Shake It)” became popular in his hometown.

His parents were both from the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria, and both of them came from Austria to the United States in 1979.

He’s is under the imprint of Maybach music, a record label owned by rapper Rick Ross but signed to Warner music.

Top 10 Notable Wizkid international Features

Tinie Tempah

Tinie Tempah whose real name is Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu born on the 7th of November 1988 was born to Nigerian parents from Ibusa, Delta State.

He is one of UK’s hottest rappers and his most popular track to date, “Written in the Stars”, was the official theme song for WWE’s Wrestlemania 27 and was also used to usher in the New York Giants for Super Bowl 46.

Seal

Seal whose real name is  Henry Olusegun Olumide Adelo Samuel was born to a Nigerian father, Francis Samuel, and mother, Adebisi Ogundeji.

He married model/TV personality, Heidi Klum, for seven years with three kids together before they separated in 2012.

He has won four Grammy Awards and an MTV Video Music Award amongst others. Seal has several hit songs which include “Kiss from the rose”, “Crazy, ‘Killer’, “Lips Like Sugar”.

https://mp3bullet.ng/top-11-nigerian-artists-who-have-their-own-record-label/

Sade Adu

English Singer and Songwriter, Sade Adu was born Helen Folasade Adu in Ibadan and brought up in  England.

She achieved worldwide fame and acclaim in the 1980s as the lead vocalist of the multi-platinum selling group, Sade, which was named after her.

She is the first Nigerian to win a Grammy award, a feat she achieved in 1986 with her band, Sade. Sade has sold more than 40 million units to date.

Her services to music were also recognized with an award of the Officer of the Order of the British Empire chivalry honor in 2002, and later the rank of the Commander of the same order in 2017.

Chamillionaire

The Grammy Award-winning rapper was born Hakeem Seriki in Washington DC to a Muslim father and a Christian mother, both of Nigerian extraction.

He is best known for his 2007 Grammy Award-winning rap single, “Ridin’”, which featured Krayzie Bone of the Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.

In addition to being a musician, Hakeem ‘Chamillionaire’ Seriki has embarked a business career and established himself as an entrepreneur in a number of industries.

Nigerian Artists that ventured into Politics

Lemar

Lemar Obika known professionally as Lemar was born in Tottenham, North London, England to Nigerian parents on the 4th of April 1978.

The Award winning singer is knwon for his hit songs like “If There’s Any Justice”,  “Time to Grow” and “Don’t Give It Up”

Lemar has also won two Brit Awards and three MOBO Awards . Not much has been heard of him since.

Mayorkun’s “Geng”, other Naija songs with Viral Challenges

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