i
list, so when i came across this online, I decided to share.
Read and enjoy: -
Who are Nigeria’s most bankable female music stars?
This list was determined by factors such as other
business ventures and current endorsement deals. The
criteria also includes popularity, Youtube views as well as
social media influence.
Female musicians are now beginning to be accepted by
music-buffs, unlike when they were hardly taking serious
in the music industry. Not only are they making waves
with their hit songs, thus they are as well appreciated by
fans and corporate agencies who had in the past invested
huge sum of money in an endorsement deal with them.
Out of too many of them on the scene, few who in the
recent times kept their place as the delight of music
lovers and fans. We present you Nigeria’s Most Bankable
Female Musicians’.
Check Out Our List Below…
TIWA SAVAGE
Gorgeous Singer/songwriter, Tiwa Savage, kings her fellow
female acts in all…she has a voice that gives the average
listener chills because her soaring voice is truly one in a
million.
Ms. Savage took over Africa with her lead-off single “Kele
Kele Love,” which became an anthem for women
everywhere as it took the number one spot on numerous
radio and television stations across the continent. Her big
break was at age 16 when she started as a background
singer for George Michael, lending her voice to the world-
renowned musician. Her determination didn’t stop there;
Tiwa went on to sing backup for a host of artistes
including Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Blu Cantrell, Emma
Bunton from The Spice Girls, Kelly Clarkson, Andreas
Bocelli, Ms Dynamite, and much more. She co-wrote the
track “Collard Greens & Cornbread” on Fantasia Barrino’s
Grammy-nominated album ‘Back to Me’
A graduate from the University of Kent, Tiwa received her
bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and went on
to Berklee College of Music where she received a
scholarship to pursue a degree in Professional Music.
Drawn by the diversity of cultures, and extraordinary gifts
of creative students, she knew then that she had
discovered a musical synagogue to hone her artistry. In
2009, music giant SONY/ATV signed her to a singer/
songwriter deal and thus far, Tiwa has written for some of
today’s A-list artistes and producers. She has since
received songwriting credit for her contributions on
Monica’s seventh studio album “New Life: The Deluxe
Album,” released in 2012 and available on iTunes, for the
soul-tinged ballad ‘Catch Me’.
Her exposure to various genres of music, and an
understanding of the written verbiage of keys, chords and
harmonies has facilitated the construction of new
material. Last year, she won the City People
Entertainment Award for ‘Female Musician of the Year’,
‘Best R&B Soul Song’ for Kele Kele Love at the
Afrotainment Museke Online Music Awards, ‘Most Stylish
Female Artiste’ at the FAB Magazine Awards and ‘Most
Promising Act’ at the Dynamix Youth Awards. She also
just picked up the ‘Best Female Act’ at MTV Africa Music
Awards held 2 weeks ago
The Nigerian beauty is a triple threat with her natural
songwriting ability, electrifying stage presence and a voice
that stays powerful, Ms. Savage is now ready to share her
music with the world.
She’s got a few endorsements too in her piggy – MTN,
Pepsi, Forte Oil.
Omawumi
OMAWUMI
From childhood Omawumi had been known to be a playful,
energetic, intelligent and extremely talented child as she
was already a lead vocalist in the children’s choir of
Foursquare Gospel Church in Warri at the age of 8. After
she graduated in 2005, she moved to Port-Harcourt,
Rivers State where she worked with her family law firm
called O.S Megbele & Associates while studying French in
Alliiance Francaise
On the 26th Day of January 2007, Omawumi auditioned
for the West African version of an internationally
acclaimed TV talent show tagged ‘IDOLS WEST AFRICA’.
Omawumi with her strong voice and out-going personality
dazzled the millions of viewers across the continent with
each ‘spectacular’ and was voted the 1ST RUNNER UP of
IDOLS WEST AFRICA when the competition ended in May
2007.
In September 2008, Omawumi released her debut Single
‘In The Music’ A kwaito based sound which she fused
with pidgin English and the song became an Instant Hit.
Hitting number 1 on various radio stations and getting
multiple nominations and awards including the most
coveted award ‘NEXT RATED’(This award came with a KIA
OPTIMA!) and BEST FEMALE VOCALIST AWARDS FROM
HIPHOP WORLD AWARDS 2009. She also featured in the
Hit Single ‘THANK GOD’ by the late Dagrin. Amongst
multiple nominations (SOUNNDCITY MUSIC VIDEO
AWARDS, NIGERIAN MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS, CITY PEOPLE
AWARDS etc), Other Awards for her success in the
industry includes.
She is an Ambassador for Telecoms Giant, Globacom
SEYI SHAY
Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua (born December 21, 1985),
professionally known by her stage name ‘Seyi Shay’, is a
Nigerian based English singer-songwriter, recording artist,
performer, and record producer. She wrote and produced
three songs for the soundtrack to Konami’s video game
Crime Life: Gang Wars (2005).
She also wrote “You Will See”, a song that was included
on Melanie C’s third studio album Beautiful Intentions
(2005). Shay wrote “White Lies”, a song from Chip’s
Transition album.
In 2008, she became the lead singer for the now defunct
Pop girl group From Above. The group signed a recording
deal with Sony/Columbia and was managed by Mathew
Knowles’ Music World Entertainment company.
Seyi Shay is currently working on her debut studio project.
She has released the singles “Irawo”, “Ragga Ragga”, and
“Chairman” to support the upcoming album.
In November 2013, she signed an endorsement deal with
telecommunications service provider Etisalat.
Niyola
NIYOLA
R&B/Pop singer, songwriter and performing artiste; Eniola
Akinbo aka Niyola is a graduate of English from the
University of Lagos. She is currently signed to Empire
Mates Entertainment. Her sojourn into music began in
2000, when she emerged runner up at the Amen Starlet
Competition. In 2005, Niyola began her professional music
career and was briefly affiliated with eLDee’s Trybe’s
Records, following that she put pen to paper on a
production deal with Freestyle’s Make Sum Noise
Entertainment. Niyola’s first three singles; Me n U (In da
club), No more and Dem say were released under this
imprint.
Niyola’s self-titled debut album was released under
WestSide Music. This album spawned hit singles; Bring it
on and Call my name. She was rewarded with two Hip
Hop World Awards (The Headies) nominations. While with
WestSide, Niyola signed a management deal with Efe
Omorogbe’s Now Muzik. In 2009, she was featured on the
OVATION RED CAROL theme song. Niyola has performed
at major events like the Akon in Lagos Concert, the
Calabar Christmas festival, the Y’hello Festival alongside
Sasha and the Celtel tour. She also took part in the first
Girl Power Tetmosol project.
More recently Niyola has performed at the Nigeria’s Got
Talent Grand finale, EME Baddest concert, Banky W’s
Grand love concert, Women Celebrating Women’s concert,
and the Hp Envy Music Festival. Niyola embarked on a
brief hiatus from the music scene after releasing
independent single; Turn Me On in December 2011. Niyola
has so far collaborated with Faze, RuggedMan, Freestyle,
Sasha, L Marshall, Burnaboy and label mates; BankyW,
Wizkid, Skales and Shaydee. Officially signed to EME in
the second quarter of 2012, Niyola has released three
singles and a video. Niyola’s debut single under the Banky
W/Segun Demuren led imprint was titled Don’t Delay Me
(Don’t go there), this was followed up with a video for the
infectious dance number. Her next project was on the
remix of UK based act; L Marshall’s Castle alongside
Burnaboy. In May of 2013, Niyola next two singles; Crazy
and Toh Bad were released. The video for Toh Bad shot
by Kemi Adetiba was released on November 11, 2013 to
critical acclaim. Niyola and Oscar would team up again on
her latest single titled; Belle No Be Show glass which
features the prolific Sound Sultan. It was released on
December 4, 2013.
waje-loggtv
WAJE
Aituaje Iruobe (born September 1), who is mostly known
as WAJE which is the acronym for “Words aren’t just
enough” is a Nigerian singer whose vocal range covers
three octaves. The lady behind the remake of P-Square’s
“Omoge Mi” and the female voice in the duo’s 2008 hit
track “Do Me”, Banky W “Thief my Kele”, M.I “One Naira”
Waje was born in Akure, Ondo State in Nigeria then moved
to Benin city, Edo state where she was raised by her
parents, Mr & Mrs Iruobe. As a young and gifted singer,
she once sang gospel tunes to the delight of the late
Archbishop Benson Idahosa of the Word of Faith Church,
Benin who was quite impressed by her gift and decided to
cater for her all through her secondary school days. After
which she moved to Nsukka for a degree in social work at
University of Nigeria.
While in school, Waje was very much with her musical
side by making sure she performed in school concerts and
fellowship. She made sure she listened and learned from
legends she describes as her mentors, e.g. Whitney
Houston, Aretha Franklin, etc.
In the year 2007, WAJE decided to take a step and fully
launch her music career, still a student at the time she
paid her dues by doing a lot of free shows and gigs,
singing at every given opportunity she got. The first major
spot light this got WAJE was her being featured in the hit
single by PSQUARE titled “Do Me”, a massive hit track
across Africa and some parts of Europe. This helped boost
her career a little further, after which she participated in
Advanced Warning a reality TV show(which featured
artists that are upward and on the verge of a
breakthrough),the reality show was organized by MTV
base South Africa and ZAIN Nigeria, where she emerged
first runner up.
She’s also an Ambassador for Telecoms Giant, Globacom
YEMI ALADE
Beautiful Yemi is unarguably 2014 Biggest Female Artiste
so far! Her smash, Johnny is now a street Anthem.
‘Johnny’ is now on everybody’s lips.
Yemi Alade is an award-winning Nigerian afro pop/R&B
artiste, actress and entertainer. She grew up listening to
popular music of the late eighties and early nineties and
singers like Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Etta James
and Aretha Franklin. The captivating vocal ability she
possessed placed her in the church adult choir at the age
of twelve and was known to have made melodies from
everyday conversations. In her words; “I’ve practically
lived my life on stage”, Yemi was exposed to singing and
dancing competitions as a child. She grew up in several
Nigerian cities owing to her father’s job description. Yemi
Alade was educated at Saint Saviors’ British Primary
School, Lagos and then Victory Grammar School, Lagos,
before proceeding to the University of Lagos where she
majored and graduated with a B.Sc in Geography in 2010.
Yemi Alade began making music professionally in 2005
when she was the lead of a girl group called Noty Spices
managed by Storm Management. Afterwards she entered
the maiden edition of the Peak Talent Show in 2009 and
went on to win the competition based on her talent as a
singer and performer under the supervision of Bayo
Omisore. Her debut single “Fimisile” featuring eLDee
became a radio hit accompanied with an engaging music
video which introduced her officially as a musical force
and gained her fans across the continent.
In mid-2012, Yemi Alade signed a deal with Effyzzie Music
Group and started working with hit producers DJ Klem,
D’tunes, E-Kelly, Sizzle Pro, Fliptyce and renowned South
African producer Garth. Shortly afterwards she released
her successful single ‘Ghen Ghen Love’ which was
produced by the iconic OJB Jezreel. ‘Ghen Ghen Love’
became a hit topping numerous radio and video charts
across Africa. She was also featured on singer Dipp’s
album on the track ‘Rock Ur Body’ and the song and
video went viral and received praises earning the duo an
award nomination for best R&B video category at the
Nigerian Music Video Awards 2012. In the first quarter of
2013 Yemi Alade enlisted IcePrince and Sasha P for the
remix of her single ‘Ghen Ghen Love’, and the massive
collaboration was premiered with a high-profile online
hangout powered by Google influenced by Michelle
Obama’s live Google hangout broadcast on websites and
became a global trending topic.
No endorsement yet for her.
wpid-Chidinma-.
CHIDINMA
Chidinma Ekile popularly known by her stage name
Chidinma, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, recording artist,
stage performer, and brand ambassador for MTN Nigeria.
In 2010, she rose to stardom after winning the third
season of MTN’s Project Fame West Africa. Following the
release of the music video for her “Emi Ni Baller” single,
she became the first female musician to peak at number 1
on the MTV Base Official Naija Top 10 chart. In 2011, she
released her first solo single “Jankoliko”, featuring Sound
Sultan. Chidinma, her self-titled debut studio album, was
released through the music platform Spinlet. It was
supported by the singles “Jankoliko”, “Carry You Go”,
“Kedike”, and “Run Dia Mouth”. The album features guest
appearances from Sound Sultan, Tha Suspect, Olamide,
and Muna.
In 2012, Chidinma won the “Best Female West African
Act” category at the 2012 Kora Awards; she performed
“Kedike” at the ceremony. She started singing at the age
of 6, and grew up with a disciplinarian father. When she
was 10 years old, she joined her church’s choir.
Prior to auditioning for the third edition of Project Fame
West Africa, she dreamt of being part of the reality TV
show that was instituted in 2008. With the help and
support from her close knit friend, Chidinma left her home
in Ikorodu and went to the Ultima Studios, the venue for
the show’s 2010 Lagos auditions. She was among the
8,000 or so contestants who went to showcase their
talents that year. Subsequently, Chidinma advanced to the
Fame Academy round alongside 17 other contestants. For
10 weeks, Chidinma and the other contestants were
coached by musical professionals: voice coaches,
inspirational speakers, established musicians, and music
business service providers. Moreover, contestants were
taught choreography and several rehearsal drills. On
September 26, 2010, Chidinma became the apparent
winner of the competition. She won several prizes,
including N2.5 million, a 2011 Toyota RAV4, and an album
production deal. Earlier in the year, she acquired a 10
million naira worth of SUV. She’s sure balling hard.
Comments