Meet Nigeria’s Top 7 Most Bankable Female Musicians

I know Nigerians like anything that has been arranged in a list, so when i came across this online, I decided to share.

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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

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

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

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.

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.

She’s an ambassador of Telecoms giant, MTN