The topic Top 10 most loved Nigerian artistes in 2021 is a controversial one.
The problem with tracking the top 10 most loved artistes in Nigeria is you cannot achieve this without bias.
There are different music genres in Nigeria; each has its unique audience; thus, it will be challenging to reach a consensus about the top 10 best musicians in Nigeria if an objective metric is not used.
People will always want to know the metric used in assembling a list of the top 10 best musicians in Nigeria in 2021.
Top 10 most loved Nigerian artistes in 2021
1. Davido
Davido is another Nigerian music legend. Davido was born into a billionaire family, but hard work seems to have paved the way for the Nigerian singer.
Davido’s second single, “Dami Duro”, brought the singer to fame. “Dami Duro” was part of his first album ‘Omo Baba Olowo’ released in 2012.
One of Davido’s early awards that recognized how far he would go was Headies’ ‘Next Rated’ award (2012).
Davido has authored many hit singles like:
- Gobe
- Skelewu
- One of a kind
- Aye
- Owo Ni Koko
- If
- Fall etc.
Davido is also known for being active on social media and engaging more often with his fans. Davido is accredited with at least 3 studio albums and 1 EP:
- Omo Baba Olowo (2012)
- Son of Mercy – EP (2016)
- A Good Time (2019)
- A Better Time (2020)
2. Wizkid
Wizkid has been dubbed a music legend for taking after Fela Kuti and contributing immensely to the African sound’s global acceptance (Afrobeats).
The Afrobeats singer has always been compared to his colleague, Davido – another big Nigerian music industry player.
Wizkid tops the top 10 best musicians in Nigeria in 2021 with a total of 65 awards.
Wizkid has recorded four studio albums with one EP:
- Superstar
- Ayo
- Sound from the other side (SFTOS)
- Made in Lagos
- Soundman Vol 1 (EP)
Superstar was the debut album that introduced Wizkid to Nigeria; it was highly anticipated and later won the best album under Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
Wizkid’s album, Sound from the other side (SFTOS), was also a success; the album made Wizkid the Ojuelegba coroner.
SFTOS and Made in Lagos peaked at Number 2 (billboard chart) in US World Albums while gaining favorable
positions in many other foreign Billboard charts.
In 2018, Wizkid became the first Afrobeats musician to make the 2018 Guinness World Records contribute to “One Dance” – Drake’s song.
Wizkid is the most awarded African artist in BET history; in 2012 and 2017, Wizkid won the Best International Act category.
In 2020 Wizkid was also among the recipients of the BET Her Award due to his collaboration with Beyonce in the Brown skin Girl track.
The Afrobeats singer has always been compared to his colleague, Davido
3. Olamide
Olamide, also known as Baddo or BaddoSneh, is the first Nigerian to sign an endorsement deal with Cîroc.
The fact that Olamide has raked a total of 22 awards shows you he manages his music niche quite alright.
Olamide is known to steer the wheel on the Nigerian hip-hop genre.
Olamide’s first album was titled “Rapsodi” and was released in 2011; its lead single “Omo To Shan” brought Olamide into prominence.
Olamide has won many awards from The headies, Nigerian entertainment Awards, Nigerian Music video awards, etc.
Olamide has released at least 11 studio works throughout his music career.
Nigeria’s Itel mobile named Olamide as its ambassador in 2020
4. Burna Boy
Burna Boy is a Nigerian Afro-fusion singer. Afro-fusion slightly differs from Afrobeats; the former has a mix of the Afrobeats sound, dancehall, reggae, American rap and R&B music genre.
Burna boy ranks as the 2nd best musician in Nigeria with 22 awards to his name. Burna Boy is also the first contemporary Nigerian musician to win the Grammy award in recent times.
Burna Boy’s hit single “Like to Party” brought him to fame in 2012. “Like to party” was part of his first album release titled L.I.F.E.; Burna Boy released the album in 2013.
Burna Boy has shattered many glass ceilings on his way to the top; Burna Boy won Best International Act during the 2019 B.E.T. Awards.
Burna Boy was also nominated for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards following his 4th studio album, “The African Giant”. However, he didn’t win the award.
Burna Boy is the first Nigerian to be nominated back to back in Grammy.
Albums by Burna Boy:
- L.I.F.E. (2013)
- On a Spaceship (2015)
- Outside (2018)
- The African Giant (2019)
- Twice as Tall (2020)
Burna Boy’s E.P.s:
- Redemption (2016)
- Steel & Copper (2019)
Burna Boy describes his music as Afro-fusion, a genre that blends Afrobeat, dancehall riddims, reggae, American rap, and R&B.
5. 2Baba
2Baba is a household name that breeds music, quality, and Africanism.
2Face, or 2baba as he popularly called, is one of the most celebrated Nigerian artists. In 2015 2Baba became the first winner of MTV Europe, Best African Act Award.
2Baba ranks as the 6th Best musician in Nigeria 2021 based on the singer’s number of awards.
The Afro-pop singer formally changed his name from Tuface to 2baba in 2016.
2Baba, Faze, and Blackface was part of a trio music group known as the Plantashun Boiz, the trio later disbanded in 2004.
Following the group’s disbandment in 2004, 2Baba later released a solo album, “Face 2 Face”, a hit record that solidified his viability as a single artist.
2Baba’s 2006 single, “African Queen,” received favourable reviews internationally.
2Baba has received
- 1 MTV Europe Music Award
- 1 World Music Award
- 5 Headies Awards(Hip-hop award),
- 4 Channel O Music Video Awards
- 1 BET award
- 4 MTV Africa Music Awards
- 1 MOBO award
- 1 KORA award and
- 3 Afrima Awards.
The Nigerian Stock Exchange awarded 2Baba as a Good cause Ambassador in 2019.
2Face and his wife, Annie Idibia are parents to two girls; Olivia Idibia and Isabella Idibia
6. Tiwa Savage
Tiwatope Savage is a Nigerian singer and musician. Tiwa Savage ranks as the 7th best musician in Nigeria with a total of 20 awards.
Tiwa Savage’s first album, “Once Upon a Time”, was released in 2013 under Don Jazzy’s Marvin record label.
Tiwa Savage is the first woman to win the Best African Act category during the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards.
Tiwa Savage later exited Marvin Record in 2019. Tiwa savage has released:
- Once Upon a Time (2013)
- R.E.D (2015)
- Sugarcane (2017)
- Celia (2020) as albums.
Tiwa Savage has also appeared in notable TV shows like Shuga and Jenifar’s diary.
Tiwa Savage is also involved in youth empowerment and breast cancer screening projects.
7. Patoranking
Patoranking, whose real name is Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, ranks as the 9th best musician in Nigeria for 2021.
The reggae-dancehall musician hails from Ebonyi state but was raised in Lagos state. Patoranking made the airwaves in Nigeria after signing a record deal with Foston Musik and releasing his hit single “Girlie O.”
The hit single charted at No. 9 on MTV Base’s Official Naija Top 10 chart. Patoranking’s “Daniella Whine” and “My Woman, My Everything” also topped at MTV Base Official Naija Top 10 chart.
In 2015, Patoranking won the Best New Act on MTV Africa Music Awards. Patoranking has also added 11 more awards to his collections.
Patoranking released an album in 2019 titled “Wilmer” – after her daughter with the same name.
8. Adekunle Gold
Adekunle Kosoko known professionally as Adekunle Gold, is a Nigerian highlife singer, songwriter, and graphic designer.
He gained widespread attention after releasing the 2015 hit single “Sade”, a highlife cover of One Direction’s “Story of My Life”.
In 2015, he signed a record deal with YBNL Nation and released his debut studio album Gold, which debuted at number 7 on the Billboard World Albums chart.
Gold was preceded by the release of three singles: “Sade”, “Orente” and “Pick Up”. Adekunle Gold revealed to Nigerian Entertainment Today that prior to signing with YBNL, he designed the label’s official logo and completed other designs for Lil Kesh, Viktoh and Olamide
9. Kizz Daniel
Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, better known by his stage name Kizz Daniel, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He is best known for his singles “Woju” and “Yeba”.
He went by the stage name Kiss Daniel prior to changing it in May 2018.
He signed a record deal with G-Worldwide Entertainment in 2013 but left the label following a publicized contract dispute and court case.
He founded the Fly Boy Inc record label in November 2017
10. Rema
Divine Ikubor, known professionally as Rema, is a Nigerian singer and rapper. He rose to prominence with the release of the song “Iron Man”, which appeared on Barack Obama’s 2019 summer playlist.
In 2019, he signed a record deal with Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records
On 21 May 2019, Jonzing World, and Mavin’s released the music video of “Dumebi”, a major breakout song from his self-titled EP, featuring a cameo appearance from Diana Eneje. The video was directed by Ademola Falomo and currently has 44 million streams on YouTube.
In May 2021, Rema announced he will be calling his sound “Afrorave”, a subgenre of Afrobeats with influences of Arabian and Indian music.
In September 2021 Rema was unveiled as a brand ambassador for the popular soft drink Pepsi alongside his label mate Ayra Starr.
Worthy Mentions
- Fireboy DML
- Ayra Starr
- Simi
- Teni
- Wande Coal
- Joeboy
- Yemi Alade