Top 10 Legendary Nigerian Musicians

One thing Nigeria is appreciated for is the abundance of musical talents in the countries, prior to the rise of Afrobeat and International stars like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Genres like Juju, Apala and Highlife dominated the Nigeria music scene, and artists like Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade took to the global stage.

In the spirit of the Independence celebration here is a list of Nigeria musician that has attained the Legendary status in no Particular order.

#1. Fela Kuti

Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, popularly known as Fela is the pioneer of Afrobeat music in Nigeria and Africa. He was a human rights activist who used his music to publicly criticize the (then) corrupt military government and also to fight European cultural imperialism as he supported traditional African religions and lifestyles. He is referred to as one of Africa’s most challenging and charismatic music performers.

#2. King Sunny Ade

King Sunday Ade is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, he is known as one of the most influential Afro-juju musicians. He formed the group called African Beats which he later changed the name to Golden Mercury whose music was characterized by the use of the Yoruba talking drum. With his Afro genre of music, King Sunny became the first African to be nominated twice for a Grammy.

#3. Oliver De Coque

Chief Oliver Sunday Akanite popularly known as Oliver De Coque was a Nigerian guitarist and one of Africa’s most prolific recording artists. He is arguably one of the most famous Nigerian Igbo Highlife musicians and guitarists. He formed his band group called Ogene sound super of Africa, which blended modern high life and traditional Igbo music

#4. Osita Osadebe

Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe is a singer-songwriter, and record producer and was also known as the father of Igbo highlife music. His music was influenced by his personal life experience, trials, and tribulations. Chief Osadebe released the first album of his career in 1958 and later established his record label called “Polygram Records Nigeria.” He went on to write over 500 songs; half of these songs were released commercially. Notable amongst his music albums are Kedu America

#5. Sir Victor Uwaifo

Sir Victor Uwaifo is a Nigerian musician,   University lecturer, and the first Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture, and Tourism in Nigeria. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Highlife music in Nigeria. The highly educated singer formed his own band called the Cool Cats in 1954 and renamed the group to All-Stars Band in 1963.

#6. Ebenezer Obey

Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo is also amongst the pioneer Juju musicians in Nigeria as he was popularly nicknamed the “Chief Commander”. Ebenezer formed his own band called International Brothers in 1964 whose playing style is characterized by Yoruba percussion style and use of more drum kits, guitars, and Yoruba talking drums. However, Ebenezer somehow got converted and switched to full gospel music in the early 1980s.

#7. Sir Shina Peters

Oluwashina Akanbi Peter is an afro-juju musician whose style of play is described as a rhythmic collaboration of both Afrobeat and juju with the use of guitars and other local musical instruments which pierced Ethnic, Cultural, and language barriers in Nigeria. He was said to have changed and revolutionized the Juju Music scene in Africa with his band group called International Stars which he formed in the late 1980s. He has over 16 music albums which have led him to tour the shores of South Africa, Europe, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States.

#8. Fatai Rolling Dollar

Prince Olayiwola Fatai Olagunju is a foremost Nigeria Juju and highlife musician whose trademark music was characterized by the use of guitar. He formed his eight-man band group called African Rhythm Band in 1957 and together they produced one of his greatest hit tracks called “Won Kere Si Number Wa.” He once had the famous Ebenezer Obey in his band group and mentored him.

#9. Haruna Ishola

Haruna Ishola Bello is a Nigerian musician and one of the most popular artists in the apala genre. he began recording apala numbers in about 1955, and soon became the most popular artist in the genre and one of the most respected praise singers in Nigeria. Ishola adapted and stuck to a strong traditionalist approach, citing both Yoruba proverbs and Koranic scripture in his songs.

#10. Ayinla Omowura

Waidi Ayinla Yusuf Gbogbolowo was a Nigerian Apala musician, Ayinla turned to music in the early ‘50s after he was discovered by Adewole Alao Oniluola, who later became his lead drummer. He started as an apprentice in Olalomi, an Apala variant, which was popular across Nigeria and West Africa. His musical path took a different turn in 1970 when he joined the EMI NIGERIA record label and released his song Ajat Of’ Oju D’ejo in June of that same year. As an artist, he stood out as a critic and social commentator serving as the people’s mouthpiece lamenting on their behalf to the leaders with puns and proverbs.