Top 10 Nigerian artistes that use Yoruba lyrics to spice up their songs

Tiwa Savage

Tiwa Savage is one artiste that infused Yoruba lyrics on almost all her songs and it turns out to be catchy.

Tiwatope Savage (born 5 February 1980) is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actress.

After participating in the UK edition of The X Factor and graduating from Berklee College of Music, Savage signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2009.

Inspired by the growth of the Nigerian music industry, Savage moved back to Nigeria and signed with Mavin Records in 2012.

Simi

Simisola Kosoko better known by her stage name Simi, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actress.

She started her career as a gospel singer, releasing her debut studio album in 2008, titled Ogaju.

She gained prominence in 2014 after releasing “Tiff”, a song that was nominated for Best Alternative Song at The Headies 2015.

Simi uses the Yoruba language in most of her songs to spice it up and show originality.

Olamide

Olamide Gbenga Adedeji known professionally as Olamide (and also Olamide Baddo, BaddoSneh, or simply Baddo) is a Nigerian hip-hop recording artist.

He records in Yoruba and English, in 2011, he released his debut studio album Rapsodi while signed to Coded Tunes.

Wande Coal

Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe, popularly known as Wande Coal, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter.

With his yearning for romantic ballads, Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer Wande Coal pioneered the sound of Afrobeats while becoming an international star.

Most Wande Coal hooks or verses are mostly in the Yoruba language.

Wizkid

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun known professionally as Wizkid, Wizzy, Big Wiz, Machala, or Starboy, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter.

Wizkid has been singing in Yoruba lyrics since he debuted in the limelight, with”Ojuelegba” from his self-titled second studio album, Ayo (2014).

It was written by Wizkid and produced by the record-producing duo Legendury Beatz. The song shares its title with the metropolitan subsection of Lagos Mainland.

It highlights Wizkid’s struggles as an underground artist, who roamed the streets of Ojuelegba to support his recording interest.

Davido

David Adedeji Adeleke popularly known as Davido, is a Nigerian-American singer, songwriter, and record producer.

Davido rose to fame after releasing “Dami Duro”, the second single from his debut studio album Omo Baba Olowo (2012).

While his international audience expanded, Davido found himself singing more, not fewer, lyrics in Yoruba rather than English.

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.

However, Kizz sings most of his songs with a sprinkle of yoruba lyrics.

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”.

Adekunle Gold is known for his blend of Yoruba and English in his songs.

 

Naira Marley

Azeez Adeshina Fashola, known professionally as Naira Marley, is a British-Nigerian singer and songwriter.

He is known as the president of his controversial fan base, “Marlians”  Although 2019’s controversial “Am I a Yahoo Boy” attracted the eye of the Nigerian government, the track landed him on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart for the first time.

An ode to self-pleasure inspired by his own brief incarceration, his 2019 hit single “Soapy” gave rise to another viral dance trend.

Walking the line between Afrobeats and hip-hop while dropping a slew of hit records with most lyrics from the Yoruba language, Naira Marley is one of Nigeria’s biggest stars.