The history of musical belongingness in Africa has mesmerized the world since times immemorial. Africa has been a core hub for entertainment comprising some of the most dedicated and passionate musicians to have walked the earth. Their legacy and popularity go beyond the geographic boundaries of the continent and penetrated the cultural expanse of people around the globe. Consisting of a large number of countries, these singers bring their own flavors and styles and make music a slowly-changing dimension of the philosophical world. The entity of music is diverse all across Africa as distinct influences will be seen in these artists hailing from different parts of the continent.
The following is a list of some of the most talented and celebrated singers of African descend who are continuously enriching the scope of music with each of their creative instincts.
10. Davido
As one of the most influential singers of Africa, Davido rose to fame upon the release of the single,’Dami Duro’. His 2017 single ‘Fall’ became the longest-charting pop song from Nigeria to rule the charts in the history of Billboard. His albums include Omo Baba Olowo, Son of Mercy, A good Time, and his latest release, the 2020 album, A Better Time. His global recognition is also growing at a fast rate as he is garnering audiences from the hundreds from around the world. His popularity in Africa speaks volumes for his creative contribution to music as he continues to explore and expand his reach.
9. Burna Boy
He is also a Grammy-winning artist from Nigeria who is regarded as one of the most successful ones to have emerged from Africa. He climbed the popularity ladder in 2012 with the single ‘Like to Party’ from L.I.F.E, his debut album. He is also a signed artist with Warner Music Group and Atlantic Records. His album Twice as Tall won the Grammy Award in 2021 for the Best Global Music Album category.
8. Wizkid
Wizkid is undoubtedly one of Africa’s biggest artists to have emerged from the contemporary musical wave. He has revolutionized the scope of Afro-pop and has also garnered international fame. Born in 1990, the artist began recording music at the age of 11 and also released an album in collaboration with the group, Glorious Five. He collaborated with Drake in 2016 for the song ‘One Dance’ which brought him international acclaim. He also won a Grammy for The Best Music Video category for Beyoncé’s The Lion King Project.
7. Werra Son
This artist hails from Congo and was one of the founding members of the Wenge Musica group back in 1981. He later founded another band, Wenge Musica Maison Mere that went to garner worldwide acclaim and acknowledgment. He came with many albums during the course of his career that helped him grow personally and also as an artist. His accolades and awards speak for themselves as his work has been celebrated extensively not just by Africa but also by people from other countries around the world.
6. Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti was a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and activist from Nigeria. He has pioneered Afrobeat and changed the involvement of Africa in the global platform of music. His music crossed the cultural and technical identities of funk, Yoruba, and jazz. At the highest point of his career, he was the unparalleled charismatic music artist on Africa’s soil. To this day, his legacy is celebrated all around the world, and his son, Femi Kuti is carrying forward his music to the new-generation music enthusiasts.
5. Beyoncé
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles Carter needs to introduction and is the queen of pop. She is of African descent and was born in Houston. She has been performing extensively since she was a child. Her claim to fame came in the late 90s with the girl band, Destiny’s Child. They were amongst the best-selling all-girls group at that time. She released her solo album, Dangerously in Love in 2003 with hit singles, ‘Baby Boy’ and ‘Crazy in Love’. The band broke up in 2006which led to the release of B’day her second studio album. The album became an immense hit with songs like “beautiful Liar’ and ‘Irreplaceable’. She also starred in various movies during gaps in her music career. Her third album, I Am… Sasha Fierce earned a record-breaking 6 Grammy Awards in the year 2010. Some of the successful songs from this record were the massive hit, ‘Single Ladies’, ‘Halo’, and ‘If I Were a Boy’. Her 2016 album ‘Lemonade’ became both critically and commercially record-breaking becoming the best-selling album of that year. She is probably among the top best-selling artists in the world. With numerous awards and accolades, the queen has set an example as an influence and inspiration in everyone’s lives.
4. Oumou Sangaré
Born in Mali in 1968, this artist is also a Grammy winner. She is sometimes called ‘The Songbird of Wassoulou’. Her music is influenced by the same historical region. This type of music is a descendent of traditional songs which are accompanied by an instrument called the calabash. Her first album, ‘Moussoulou’ became very successful and thus began her journey to the top. She reached the star status by the time she was 21. Her music is influenced by the different traditions from her region. As a result, she is very important to the local people. She has performed extensively around the world. Over the years, she has delivered various albums such as Ko Sira, Worotan, Laban, Seya, and her 2020 record, Acoustic. Seya was nominated for a Grammy under the Best Contemporary World Music Album category in 2010. In 2011, she won a Grammy for her collaborative work with India Arie, Herbie Hancock, Seal, Pink, Jeff Beck, etc. for the song, ‘Imagine’ under the Best pop Collaboration with Vocals category. She continues to remain an important figure in the modern, cultural history of pop.
3. Diamond Platnumz
He is known as Simba which means that he is one of the ruling singers to have emerged from Africa in recent times. This Bongo Flava or Tanzanian music artist is an accomplished recording artist, businessman, and dancer. He is also the founder of the record label, WCB Wasafi, Wasafi TV, Zoom Extra, and Wasafi Fm. He is currently the most popular artist across Central and East Africa. He already has many hit songs and awards to his name. He holds a record of garnering a collective 900 million YouTube views in the history of artists from Africa. His music was also selling out as ringtones. Among his latest accomplishments is the collaboration between his record label and Warner Music Group in a 360 partnership.
2. Angélique Kidjo
Hailing from Benin, this artist was born in July 1960 who later carved an incredible career for herself not just in Africa but also on the global stage. She has won a Grammy that puts her on the list of some of the most celebrated global artists of all time. Her music still entices the whole of Africa and continues to remain an eternal favorite of the people. She is also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. She is also the backbone behind Batonga Foundation, a Washington-based charity. The charity aims at fostering and funding the education of girls from Africa. Apart from her vocal prowess for which she is set aside from her contemporaries, she is also a passionate advocate. She actively participates in various programs for African women’s rights. As a result, she is not just a musician but also a social and cultural head who is working hard for the complete liberation of self and identity in the modern world.
- Miriam Makeba
Zenzile Miriam Makeba who was popularly known as Mama Africa was formed in March 1932 and later emerged to become a celebrated singer, actress, activist, and Goodwill Ambassador. Her music revolved around the apostles of jazz, Afropop, as well as elements of world music. She was an active participant in the Apartheid movement in South Africa. She has had a rough childhood and teenage years and the experience thoroughly reflects in her creative depth. It was not until the 1950s that she started singing professionally. Her career also took to heights in the United States with ‘Pata Pata’. She also won a Grammy for one of her albums. She was one of the very first singers of Africa to receive international acclaim which made her an important figure and influence in history. Her involvement in politics also presented her belief in humanity and claim. She is one of the people from Africa who have contributed largely to the social, political, and cultural growth of the entire world.
Conclusion
Africa is a rich continent that has contributed to the evolution of different genres. Over the generation, African music components have become an integral part of other genres as well such as pop, hip hop, jazz, blues, and the list goes on. Cleanse your playlist and introduce yourself to the endless musical possibilities with these top ten singers of all time. You will be surprised to see what Africa has in store for you.