Top 5 Female Musicians in Nigeria

Nigerian female musicians have seemingly been underrated.It cab be likened to cultural thing seeing male musicians as having the upper hand in the industry. Whatever the reason could be, they haved worked thier way to be as much good as they could be like their male counterparts.
We looked at a lot of internal and external factors in picking out these top 5 best female musicians in Nigeria. Their net worths were considered as a factor.
Below is the list:
5. Seyi Shay

The Afropop singer was born to Nigerian parents who named her Oluwaseyi Odedere after her birth in Tottenham, London, England, on December 21, 1985. Seyi’s father is an indigene of Ife (a town in Nigeria) while her mother hails from one of the Northern states in Nigeria. “Gimme Love Remix” with Teyana Taylor is a song inspired by love and vulnerability.

It’s a take on a woman’s emotions and sexuality. In 2014, with the release of the tracks ‘Murda’ and ‘Right Now’. Seyi found her sound in a new and modern Africa, she said “when I released ‘Murda’ it was like an overnight turnaround.

Seyi shay is one of the ladies with good vocals and maybe a separate post would be made highlighting female artist with good vocals.

Short Biography:
• Name: Deborah Oluwaseyi
• Genre: Soul, Pop, Reggae, Afro pop etc
• Record Label: Star gurl, Island records.
• Grammy: Nil
• Billboard: Nil
• Amassed online following: About 1.8 million
• Net worth: $2.1million (Estimations)

4. Teni

Teniola Apata popularly known by her stage name as Teni is a fast rising Nigerian singer, songwriter, stage performer, recording artist & an entertainer signed under Dr. Dolor Entertainment.
She was born on 12th December 1992 in Lagos State in the south western part of Nigeria. She is currently 29 years old. She is very gifted, skillful, creative and talented, she’s dubbed “The one take god” because of her flexibility with freestyles and more because she only records once, no mistakes, just one take and it is perfect. She is originally from Ilesa, a small town in Osun State in the south western part of Nigeria.
Overall Teni has about 8 awards and 13 nominations including the Headies. Teni has also the street and local kind of vibe in her music. She has seemingly does side hustles like comedy and promotions. Considering the short amount of time, she has spent, she is pretty notable.

Short Biography:
• Name: Teniola Apata
• Genre: Afro
• Record Label: Dr Dolor Entertainment
• Grammy:
• Billboard: Yes (Once)
• Amassed online following: About 5 million
• Net worth: $600,000 (Estimations)

3. Simi

Good music is always entertaining and calms the soul at the same time. That’s what simi’s music does. Her major hit Duduke had over 30million views on YouTube. Simi is at 2nd on this list majorly because of her talent and other factors. She obviously has won awards also. Her husband Adekunle Gold is also a well-known artist with hits like “pick up”, “Sweet Me”, etc.
She penned her first song at the age of 10 and began singing at the age of 16. As a result of her passion for music, she joined her church’s teenage choir. Probably due to her church background, she began her career in the music industry as a gospel singer, with the release of her debut studio album in 2008 titled Ogaju.

A few years later, however, Simi switched over to singing secular songs and got her major breakthrough in the mainstream music industry in 2014 after she released Tiff under a record label, X3M Music which she was signed to in the same year. The song was nominated in two categories at The Headies 2015.

Since she was signed to X3M Music, Simi has released hits including – Tiff, Jamb Question, Love Don’t Care, Smile For Me and also featured in a number of hit records such as ‘Soldier’, with Falz, ‘No Forget’, with Adekunle Gold, ‘Orire’, with Legendury Beatz and a few others.

Short Biography:
• Name: Simisola Kosoko
• Genre: Soul, Afro Pop, Hip Pop, Rap, World etc
• Record Label: Studio Brat
• Grammy: None
• Billboard: Yes (Once)
• Amassed online following: About 14 million
• Net worth: $2million (Estimations)

2. Yemi Alade

Nigerian Afro-pop singer and songwriter Yemi Alade emerged in 2009 as the winner of the popular Peak Talent Show. She is the First Nigerian female artist to hit 1.62M subscribers and 128 million views on YouTube on her biggest hit Johnny. The beautiful and talented lady has won several awards. She soared to popularity with her single “Johnny” she’s also one of the richest Nigerian female musicians. You will be suprised to know that Yemi is a native of Abia in south eastern Nigeria, even though her Dad James Alade is of South western origin, she tends to identify with her mum’s side.

Short Biography:

• Name: Yemi Alade
• Genre: World, Afro Pop and R&B
• Record Label: Effyzzie Music Group
• Grammy: None
• Billboard: Yes (Twice)
• Amassed online following: About 18 million
• Net worth: $4.2million (Estimations)

1. Tiwa Savage

Her major hits had over 56 million views on YouTube in 2017, and also her song ,the remix with Patoranking “Girlie O”. Top triller Global on the billboard for 2 of her songs. She started 2010 for beyonce as her backup singer and she has spent over 11 years in the Industry. Also an award winning super star with over 71 nominations and 21 won awards.

Her debut studio album Once Upon a Time was released on the 3rd of July 2013. It was supported by seven singles: “Kele Kele Love”, “Love Me (3x)”, “Without My Heart”, “Ife Wa Gbona”, “Folarin”, “Olorun Mi” and “Eminado”. The album was nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and for Best R&B/Pop Album at The Headies 2014.

Savage’s second studio album R.E.D was released on 19 December 2015. It yielded two singles: “My Darlin” and “Standing Ovation”. In June 2016, Savage signed a management and publishing deal with Roc Nation In September 2017, she released her debut EP Sugarcane. R.E.D and Sugarcane have both been nominated for Best Album at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

In November 2018, Savage won Best African Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards, becoming the first woman to win the category. In May 2019, she announced her record deal with Universal Music Group and exit from Mavin Records Savage sings in English and Yoruba; her music is a blend of Afro beats, R&B, pop and hip-hop

Short Biography:
• Name: Tiwatope Savage
• Genre: Soul, Afro Pop ,Hip Pop, Rap, World etc
• Record Label: Mavin, Universal Music Group, Motown, Island and Capitol Records
• Grammy: Nil
• Billboard: Yes (Twice)
• Amassed online following: About 20 million
• Net worth: $5million (Estimations)