Top 10 Best Musicians In Africa (2022)

Are you wondering who are the top 10 best musicians in Africa? Then you should worry less as we have compiled an amazing list that answered your question of who is the best musicians in Africa. The continent artists are doing so well that they are among the world’s best musicians.

In life, music has a very special place. More than anything else, it fosters ties between individuals, fosters identity, and influences culture and way of life. This is particularly true in Africa, where people highly value their culture and tribe.

And as a result, the items that give them their unique identity are particularly honoured and owned by the people. Africa is the second-most populous continent in the globe, thus its inhabitants will come from a variety of cultures, faiths, and hobbies. As a result, their musical preferences will also vary.

It has become simpler for people from different backgrounds and cultures to identify common interests in various aspects of life and form relationships based on these interests as a result of cultural advancement and global development, which have over time modified and streamlined most of these differences.

For the sake of our discussion, we’ve provided a list of the top 10 best musicians in Africa. Nevertheless, if your fave finds no way on this list, that doesn’t mean we discredit their works or achievement but based on available records and long-line of musical prowess.

READ ALSO: Top 10 Richest Musicians in Africa (2022)

Top 10 Best Musicians In Africa

The table below contains the names, net worth, age and nationalities of the top 10 best musicians in Africa.

1. Angelique Kidjo

Angelique Kidjo is the best musician in Africa, and this is evidenced in the 5 Grammys she has won. She is a music goddess. A singer-songwriter, activist and American-Beninese native Angelique Kidjo has a $5 million net worth.

Madam Kidjo was born in Cotonou, Benin In July 1960. She has earned recognition for her imaginative music videos and has been dubbed “Africa’s premier diva” by Time magazine.

Kidjo has also been referred to as “the undisputed queen of Africa music” by The Daily Telegraph and one of the Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World by The Guardian.

Her 16th album, Play na Play by Omawumi, was published in 2016, and her first, Pretty, was released in 1981. In 2016, Kidjo won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album, among other honours. She is the first on our list of the top 10 best musicians in Africa. And once again, Angelique Kidjo is a music goddess!

2. Wizkid

Machala! A well-known Nigerian singer-songwriter, Wizkid whose real name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, was born on July 16, 1990. One of the most successful and richest musicians in Africa, Wizkid holds a prominent position in the music business. He has collaborated on a number of tracks with well-known international artists including Chris Brown, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and Beyoncé.

His featured song “Brown Skin Girl” with Beyonce won him the Grammy for the year’s best music video in 2021. His most recent album, Made in Lagos, which featured the hit songs Essence, Anoti, Ginger, and Sweet One, quickly rose to the top of the charts across all of Africa.

Essence, the album’s lead song, became a worldwide music sensation and was praised by many outstanding members of the music industry. Made in Lagos by Wizkid is the highest-charting album of all time on music streaming services after reaching over 1 billion streams. 50 weeks on the Billboard World album chart and 17 weeks on the Nigerian Billboard 200.

Essence became the first African song to sell over 1.5 million units (almost multi-platinum) in the United States and the first Nigerian song to top The Hot 100. It is also the African album with the biggest peak on US iTunes.

The best global music album (Made in Lagos) and best global music performances were Wizkid’s two Grammy nominations (Essence). His London O2 Arena event quickly sold out with a 48,000 ticket sale, becoming the venue’s fastest-selling show ever. In fact, Wizkid’s year is 2022. He is second on our list of the top 10 best musicians in Africa. Although he would have been the first, Angelique Kidjo is still alive.

3. Burna Boy

The third on our list of the top 10 best musicians in Africa is Burna Boy. A big thanks to his high calibre, distinctive sounds, and jams. He was born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu into the world on July 2, 1991, in Ahoada, Rivers State, Nigeria. The legendary Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti was managed by his grandfather, Benson Idonija.

Burna Boy’s musical style was influenced by the likes of Bob Marley, King Sunny Ade, and Fela Kuti. Burna Boy has collaborated with a number of well-known musicians, including Wizkid, Angelique Kidjo, and 2face. He received a Grammy for the best album of world music (Twice as Tall). Ten years after Sade Adu’s victory, the Grammy makes him the first Nigerian to get the honour.

4. Davido

David Adeleke, also known as Davido, is a well-known musician from Nigeria. Davido was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to the wealthy Nigerian family of Dr Deji Adeleke, who also founded Adeleke University in Osun State and Pacific CEO Holdings Ltd.

Internationally, the well-known Nigerian musician Davido continues to bring honour to Africa. The start of 2022 was successful. Without using any ticket brokers or promoters, Davido sold out a 20,000-person capacity performance at the O2 Arena in London in early March. He made history by becoming the first African artist to receive over $700,000 for a performance in Dubai.

He was asked to play at the Dubai Expo Night in 2022, and he will also perform at the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Aisha and Trinidad Cardona for the song “Hayya Hayya (Better Together)”. The amazing champ is the fourth on our list of the top 10 best musicians in Africa.

5. Diamond Platnumz

Another amazing artist in Africa is Tanzanian afro-pop and Bongo Flava music artist, Diamond Platnumz. He was born Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack on October 2, 1989.

Diamond is regarded as Tanzania’s richest musician and has had numerous hit songs. He has collaborated with a lot of well-known musicians, including Tiwa Savage, Rick Ross, Omarion, and Davido. Diamond Platnumz is a phenomenal dancer in addition to being a singer. He has signed numerous more Tanzanian musicians to his record company, WCB Wasafi. He also owns Tanzania-based media companies Zoom extra and Wasafi TV and FM.

Additionally, he represents a number of brands, including Pepsi, Nice One, Parimatch Africa, and Coral Paints. He was an African celebrity actor who was included in the Young, Famous, and African series.

6. Olamide

With nine studio albums to his name, the sixth artist on our list of the top 10 best musicians in Africa is Olamide. He is also known as Badoo. Olamide is a well-known indigenous rapper who is second only to Da Grin on the list of pioneers in Nigeria to introduce indigenous rapping.

The Nigerian audience was drawn in by his ability to execute Yoruba rapping because no other musician in the nation had ever attempted it before.

One of Nigeria’s most prosperous record labels, owned by Olamide Badoo, has produced other well-known musicians including Adekunle Gold, Lil Kesh, FireBoy DML, and others.

Olamide continuously releases great songs every year to keep his fans entertained from the beginning of his music career. This demonstrates his high level of consistency and has earned him several awards and nominations.

7. Yemi Alade

Yemi Alade is a Nigerian afro-pop singer who was born in Abia State on March 13, 1989. She is also well-known for the slang term “Mama Africa.” Throughout her musical career, Yemi Alade has recorded four albums and a number of singles.

Due to her musical influence and talent, she has also received numerous honours. She even received additional notoriety when she appeared on stage with well-known performers including Miley Cyrus, Shakira, Chloe x Halle, Justin Bieber, Usher, J Balvin, and Jennifer Hudson at the Global Goals concert titled “together for our future.” Yemi Alade is also an amazing artist on our list of the top 10 best musicians in Africa.

8. Tiwa Savage

R&B singer Tiwa Savage was born in Ikeja, Nigeria, on February 5, 1980. She began her musical career in the United Kingdom, performing as a backup singer for a variety of musicians, including Mary J. Blige and George Michael.

After appearing on the U.K.’s The X Factor season, Tiwa Savage got a contract with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Tiwa Savage returned to Nigeria in 2012 to pursue her music career thereafter signing with Mavin Records, a well-known record company run by Nigerian musician Don Jazzy.

Tiwa Savage joined the Mavin record label and soon after signed on, she released two albums, Once Upon a Time in 2013 and R.E.D. in 2015.

Once Upon a Time, Tiwa Savage’s debut album was nominated for two 2014 Headies Awards: Best R&B/Pop Album of the Year and Best Album of the Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

Tiwa has won numerous music honours, including four times for Best Female West Africa, the 2020 African Video of the Year at the Soundcity M.V.P. Awards, Best Reggae/Dancehall Single at the Headies 2014, and the Most Gifted Female Artist at the 2014 Channel O Music Video Awards.

9. Tuface

The likes of Wizkid still salute Tuface for the tremendous influence he has on their music; the African finest singer and music superstar Innocent Ujah Idibia, also known by his stage name 2Face Idibia, was born on September 18, 1975, in Jos Plateau, Nigeria. He hails from Benue State even though he was born in Jos. From little to everything, 2Face advanced to become one of Africa’s top Afropop singers.

Black Face and Faze were members of Plantashun Boiz when 2Face first began his music career. However, due to various misunderstandings inside the band, 2Face recorded songs on his own. His musical career has been thriving ever since.

Early in his career, Tuface was a top signing for Kennis Music, with whom he published his debut album, “African Queen.” He first came to public attention in 2004 with the release of the album “African Queen,” and ever since then, he has continued to excel.

He gained recognition as the best musician from Africa because of his consistent improvement in firmness. The Headies, MTV Music Awards, and BET Awards are just a few of the accolades 2face has received.

The music of Tubaba is sophisticated, ageless, and original. The majority of Tubaba’s compositions are constantly in touch with reality, and his song African Queen will endure forever. He will always be relevant in the music business because of his consistency in music over the years and his excellence.

10 . Slapdee

The last artist on our list of the top 10 best musicians in Africa is Slapdee. The Hip-hop and rap artist Mwila Musonda was born in Zambia on April 27, 1987. Slapdee also goes by the name King Dizo. According to Google Trends, he is the musician most frequently searched for in Zambia. Since his debut in 2006, Slapdee has received numerous accolades.

After the passing of his parents and sibling, he was reared by his own hands. He is highlighted as a multi-award-winning hip-hop musician who helps local children in Zambia on the CNN African voices changemakers program.

Slapdee has contributed to the children’s hospitals and neighbourhood orphanages in Zambia. He represents the brands of Fruitola beverages, Kung-fu energy drinks, and Itel cell phones. In Africa, Slapdee is a well-known musician.

Summary

Here is a quick rundown of the top 10 best musicians in Africa

1. Angelique Kidjo
2. Wizkid
3. Burna Boy
4. Davido
5. Diamond Platnumz
6. Olamide
7. Yemi Alade
8. Tiwa Savage
9. Tuface
10. Slapdee