Africans are doing so well in various aspects including the music industry. They are making waves in the music industry worldwide. This was made possible by the different talented musicians from different parts of the continent. Singers like Davido, Wizkid, Sarkodie and Sho Madjozi are among the best musicians in Africa.
From the 90's onwards, Africans were recognized in the world music sphere and only went from strength to strength.
When we talk about some well-known African artists who have brought African music to the limelight, artists like Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, Brenda Fassie and other African giants cannot be left out. Because of these music icons and others not yet mentioned in this article, Africans have kept their place in the music sphere.
In this article we will look at the top ten African musicians in 2021 who have represented the African music industry worldwide. The list also consists of modern African musicians who have released many hits over the years.
The best best musicians in Africa are:
- Davido
- Wunderkind
- It's called Savage
- Burna boy
- Diamond Platnumz
- 2Gesicht Idibia
- Fally Ipupa
- Sarkodie
- Yemi Alade
- Sho Madjozi Mehr
1.Davido
David Adeleke, commonly known as Davido, is a Nigerian top musician. Davido is one of Nigeria's best musicians. He is also one of Nigeria's richest musicians.
Davido was born in Atlanta, United States of America to the wealthy Nigerian family of Dr. Deji Adeleke, a co-founder of Adeleke University in Osun State and Pacific CEO Holdings Limited.
Before "Dami Duro", which launched Davido worldwide, Davido released his first single "Back When" with Naeto C, although the song was not very trendy.
On October 30, 2011, Davido released "Dami Duro". He co-produced the single with Shizzi that Clarence filmed in Lagos.
The song Dami Duro was released in January 2012 with an amazing video and became the talk of the town with frequent media airing.
Davido released his debut studio album Baba Olowo (Child of a Wealthy Person) on July 17, 2012, Omo, under the HKN Music Record label. The song was equally a hit as it brought him more fans.
Since then he has released countless singles that have brought him popularity, wealth and international recognition, including his ranking as Africa's fourth richest musician.
Davido was the executive producer of OBO and worked with other producers like Jay Sleek, Spellz and Maleek Berry. It featured famous musicians like Sina Rambo, Ice Prince, Kay Switch, B-Red, 2 Face and Naeto C.
Davido is without a doubt one of the best African Nigerian musicians of all time. He was the 4th best African musician in 2021. Currently, Davido has climbed to the top of the ladder to become Africa's best musician.
2.Wunderkind
Wizkid is a famous Nigerian singer and songwriter. Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, born July 16, 1990, is popularly known by his stage name Wizkid. He has made such a name for himself in the music industry in Africa and the world, making him one of the 10 richest musicians in Nigeria.
Wizkid started his music career at the age of 11. He released his first album together with the Glorious Five, a group he and a few of his church friends formed.
Wizkid later met O.J.B. Jezreel, who became his mentor during his difficult days. He then visited Jezreel's studio, watched and learned from the recordings of artists such as 2Face Idibia and Sound Sultan.
Wizkid then joined Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E.) in 2009 and from there began his career in the music industry. Wizkid is one of Nigeria's top artists and luckily is considered one of Africa's best musicians.
Wizkid has recorded various songs with many famous musicians including Drake, Chris Brown and his recent collaboration with Beyonce in a song for tan girls.
His music tan skin girl earned him a 2021 Grammy Award for Best Music Video of the Year. All of these efforts helped him become Africa's second best musician in 2021 and he maintains his position in 2022.
3.It's called Savage
It's called Savagewas the 6th best musician in Africa in 2021 and currently Tiwa has moved up to 3rd place. Tiwa Savage is a Nigerian R&B singerborn am 5. February 1980 in Ikeja, Nigeria. She began her music career in the UK, where she has been a backup singer for various artists including George Michael and Mary J. Blige.
Tiwa Savage signed with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2009 after appearing on the UK edition of The X Factor.
In 2012, Tiwa Savage moved back to her country of Nigeria to pursue her music career and signed withMavin Records, a famous record label owned by a Nigerian musicianDon Jazzi.
Tiwa Savage signed with the Mavin record label and released two albums includingOnce Upon a timein 2013, which released seven singles and R.E.D. album in 2015.
In 2016, Tiwa Savage signed a new contract withROC Nationand released her debut album Sugarcane in 2017. The album was also nominated for Best Album of the Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
In 2019, she relocated to sign a deal with Universal Music Group; In 2020 she released her album Celia under Universal Music Group. Her albums have helped her be recognized as one of Africa's finest musicians.
In 2014, Tiwa Savage's debut album Once Upon a Time was nominated for Album of the Year by the Nigeria Entertainment Awards and also for R&B/Pop Album of the Year, Headies Award in the same year.
Tiwa has won many awards in music including Best Female West Africa, Soundcity's M.V.P. on four separate occasions. Awards for African Video of the Year 2020, Best Reggae/Dancehall Single Headies 2014 and Channel O Music Video Awards 2014 Most Gifted Female Artist.
4.Burna boy
Burna Boy is a Nigerian musician who has made quality jams that have earned him recognition as the best African musician of 2021, although he has fallen to 4th place at the time of updating this article.
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu is known by his stage name Burna Boy. He was born Mr. and Mrs. Ogulu on July 2, 1991 in Ahaoda, Rivers State, Nigeria.
His grandfather Benson Idonije once ran Fela Kuti. Burna Boy started making music at the age of 10 after his classmate gave him the FuityLoops music production software.
In secondary school, Burna Bo formed a musical band that performed at concerts before going to London to continue his education. In London, Burna Boy dropped out of school due to his passion for music.
Because of his passion for music, his mother got an internship job at a radio station. Every day after work, Burna Boy went to the studio to record songs. He always kept his generator in the trunk of his car as a backup in case the studio's power supply should fail.
Burna Boy rose to fame in the music industry in 2012 after releasing his hit single "Like to Party" from his debut album L.I.F.E. Although the album was debuted on August 13, 2013 by Aristokrat Records, five singles were released in 2012.
Burna Boy has featured many famous Nigerian artists on his debut album including e 2face, M.I, Reminisce, Wizkid, Timaya and Olamide. The album sold up to 40,000 copies on the first day of its release.
He has influenced his music from legendary Yoruba musiciansFeel where,König Sunny Adeand Bob Marley. If you look at his L.I.F.E. listened, you could hear the similarities in his musical pattern.
As a hit album, L.I.F.E. 7th on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart that year.
Burna Boy recently won a Grammy Award. He won the Best Global Music Album category for his 2020 album Twice as Tall. Wizkid won a 2020 Grammy Award alongside Wizkid. The Grammy Award marks the first time Nigerian musicians have won a Grammy Award.
5.Diamond Platnumz
Diamond Platnumzwas the 3rd best musician in Africa but fell back to 5th place in 2022. Diamond Platnumz is a Tanzanian Afropop and Bongo Flava (Hip Hop and R&B) recording artist.
Diamond was born on October 2, 1989 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack before adopting his stage name Diamond Platnumz when he broke into the Tanzanian music industry in 2010 with his music album Kamwambie.
The Kamwambie album consisted of 12 different songs including his hit single Kamwambie which reigned in Tanzania and Africa. In 2012, Diamond released another album Lala Salama, which contained ten songs.
On the Lala Salama album, his best-selling album, he played Mrisho Mpoto in only one song.
In 2018 Diamond gained popularity in the music industry with many artists around the world including Rick Ross, Omarion, Davido, P-Square, Tiwa Savage, Flavor and many others in his 2018 album A Boy from Tandale released by the Universal Music Group was released after joining the music group in 2017.
Since his album in 2018 he has released many singles with other famous African musicians including Fally Ipupa who is considered one of Africa's best musicians.
Many musicians have also featured Diamond, earning him the third best musician in Africa. Besides his musical popularity, Diamond is also known for his dancing talent as he has shown his movement in his music.
He is considered one of the best dancers among other African musicians. Diamond currently owns a record label WCB Wasafi to which he has signed many artists from Tanzania.
He is considered the best and richest musician in Tanzania and owns his countless hits. He has also won many music awards which have placed him as the 4th best musician in Africa.
Besides record label Diamond WCB Wasafi, he also owns Zoom extra, Wasafi TV and Wasafi FM, one of Tanzania's top media.
Due to its popularity in the music industry, Diamond has signed many deals with various companies, including Pepsi brand ambassadors in East Africa, Parimatch Africa brand ambassadors and Nice One brand ambassadors, all in 2019.
He also signed another contract as a Coral Paints brand ambassador in 2020.
6.2Gesicht Idiba
2Face Idiba was ranked 9th best musician in Africa in 2021. Currently he has risen to number 6 on the list of the top best musicians in Africa. The innocent Ujah Idibia, commonly known by his stage name 2Face Idibia,born on 09/18/1975, in Jos Plateau, Nigeria, is a music legend and the best musician in Africa.
Although he was born in Jos, he is a Benue state native. 2Face rose from nothing to become one of Africa's finest Afropop singers.
2face started his music career with Plantashun Boiz, which included Black Face and Faze; After some misunderstandings in the music group, 2Face released different songs. His music career continued to flourish.
Tuface was a top signing for Kennis Music early in his career, with whom he released their debut album, African Queen.
The release of the album African Queen brought him into the spotlight in 2004, and he's remained at the top of his game ever since.
His ever-growing strength made him the best African musician. 2face has won awards like the Headies, MTV Music Awards and BET Awards.
Tubaba's music is mature, timeless and unique. Tubaba is always in touch with reality in most of his songs, and his song African Queen will always stand the test of time.
Because of his long-term stability in music with his quality, he will forever remain relevant in the music industry.
7.FallyIpupa
Fally Ipupa - I'm Not Afraid, known by his stage name Fally Ipupa, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, philanthropist, guitarist and producer. From 1999 to 2006 he was a member of Quartier Latin International, the music band founded in 1986 by Koffi Olomidé.
Fally Ipupa Nsimba was born on December 14, 1977 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, in a big family. Raised in a Catholic family, he began singing in the church choir.
In his youth he started his musical career in various small groups in Kinshasa. In the mid-1990s his voice began to gain attention and he eventually joined local groups including New City and New Covenant. In the late 1990s he joined the nationally acclaimed Latent Talent, with whom he recorded his first album.
His first solo album was Droit Chemin released in 2006 which sold over 100,000 copies while his second album Arsenal de Belles Melodies was released in 2009.
Another of his albums is Power Kosa Leka which he released in 2013.
Fally Ipupa has won many awards, making him one of Africa's top ten musicians. Awards include the Kora Awards for Best Artist or Group from Central Africa,MTV Africa Music Awards2010 for the best video and the best francophone artist.
He also won the Urban Awards for Best African Artist. The famed musician was also nominated for Best Live Act at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards.
Fally Ipupa, a well-known guitarist, reached out to US audiences with "Chaise Electrique," a bilingual love song in which he introduced former G-Unit singer Olivia.
8.Sarkodie
Sarkodiewas the 7th best performing musician in Africa in 2021 thanks to his hits over the years. However, Sarkodie has dropped to 8th place. Michael Owusu Addo, popularly known by his stage nameSarkodie was born on July 10, 1988 in Tema, Ghana, in the western part of Africa.
He is a professional rapper in the music category and is known as one of the top music rappers in Africa. its entertaining flow is delightful to listen to.
Sarkodie has produced many hits since breaking into the music industry; He has also featured in many songs in Africa including Nigeria, the fastest growing music industry in Africa.
His songs with different musicians have earned him a place as the seventh best musician in Africa in 2021.
Sarkodie has also produced many music albums since joining the famous Ghanaian music industry including Makye in 2009, Rapperholic in 2012, Sarkology in 2014, Highest in 2017 and recently Black Love.
His awards and endorsements have also helped him become one of Africa's top musicians in 2021 including his Ghana Music Award for Artist of the Year 2010, BET Award 2012, BET Hip Hop Awards 2019, EMY Awards 2016, Best Hip Hop Award 2014 and many more more.
His popularity and growth in the music industry has earned him many deals including brand ambassador for Samsung Electronics, FanMilk Ghana in 2013, Tigo Telecommunications Ghana in 2013, Standard Chartered Bank and Guinness Ghana Limited.
9.Yemi Alade
Yemi Aladewas the eighth best musician in Africa in 2021. However, Yemi Alade has fallen to the position of ninth best female musician in Africa.
Yemi Alade is a Nigerian afro pop singerbornon March 13, 1989, in the Nigerian state of Abia. She broke into the Nigerian music industry in 2013 after releasing her first single, Johnny, with Effyzzie Music Group, a company she signed with in 2009.
The single reigned throughout Nigeria and some parts of African countries. Johnny made her so famous in the music industry and she was considered one of the best African musicians.
After her single she released four different albums which have taken her on many world tours in her music career including King of Queens 2014, Mama Africa 2016, Black Magic 2017 and Woman of Steel 2019.
In addition to her four albums, Yemi Alade has also released many singles, making her the eighth best musician in Africa.
Due to her talent and popularity in music, she has also won many awards including Best Female Artiste in Western Africa in 2015, Best Female Artiste 2018, Best Performer 2017, 2018 and 2019.
In 2020, Yemi Alade gained more recognition and performed at the Global Goals called Unite for Our Future alongside famous musicians including Miley Cyrus, Shakira, J Balvin, Jennifer Hudson, Coldplay, Usher, Justin Bieber and Quavo, Christine and the Queens and Chloe X Hall.
10.Sho Madjozi Mehr
Scho MadjozI was ranked 10th best female musician in Africa in 2021 and maintains my position in 2022. Maya Christinah Xichavo Wegerif, known by her stage name Sho Madjozi, is a South African rapper, singer-songwriterborn on9. May 1992, in South Africa.
Sho Madjozi began her musical journey with spoken word poetry; She called herself MayaThePoet before gaining popularity in music after collaborating with rapper Okmalumkoolkat inI'm hot bra.
After collaborating, she released her hit single Dumi HiPhow in 2017 with PS DJz, a disc jockey duo. The song further boosted her popularity across Africa.
In the same year, Sho Madjozi was featured by DJ Maphorisa's BlaqBoy Music Presents Gqom Wave in a song titledProblems.
After gaining popularity in music, Sho Madjozi received an appearance at 2018's Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, starring Beyonce and Jay-Z.
At the end of 2018, Sho Madjozi released her debut album Limpopo Champions League. Her songs further increased her popularity as she was recognized as one of Africa's finest musicians.
She has also won many awards that helped her become Africa's 10th best female musician in 2021, including Best Newcomer 2019 and Female Artist of the Year 2019.
She was included in Forbes Magazine's list of creative categories alongside Nigerian star Burna Boy for her achievement and contribution to the entertainment industry.
As one of Africa's best musicians, Sho Madjozi signed a contract as an ambassador for TRACE Mobile, Trace Urban's mobile prepaid provider.