Pulse Music presents a list of the Top 5 most influential female musicians in Nigeria at the moment.
Today, March 8 is globally recognized as the International Women's Day (IWD), and it is celebrated on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation, and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political, and social achievements.
In Nigerian music, women have played a role in pop culture, with the history of Nigerian music littered with great women, from Christy Essien Igbokwe, down to Weird MC, and now Tiwa Savage.
In a male dominated industry, our super talented Nigerian female stars have done well to stand out, becoming some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, through their talent, hard-work and consistency.
Pulse Music presents a list of the Top 5 most influential female musicians in Nigeria at the moment.
Tiwa Savage
Mrs. Tiwa Savage Balogun is one Nigerian female artist with the phrase “star” written all over her. This Nigerian beauty is a triple threat with her natural songwriting ability, her electrifying stage presence and a voice that stays powerful through many stages.
Mrs. Savage took over Africa with the single “Kele Kele Love”, which went on to become an anthem for women everywhere around 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 off a background singer for George Michael. Her determination didn’t stop there as she went on to do backup singing for a host of artistes including Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Blu Cantrell, Kelly Clarkson, Andreas Bocelli, Ms Dynamite, and much more.
This University of Kent graduate has written for some of today’s A-list artistes and producers and has also received numerous song-writing credits. She has 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 picked up the ‘Best Female Act’ at MTV Africa Music Awards, Best Vocal Performance (Female) (The Headies), and was nominated for the ‘BET International Act Award’.
Her hard work has paid off so much she is a brand ambassador for MTN, Pepsi and Forte Oil.
Asa
While Tiwa Savage is every pop star’s dream, Asa maintains her position at the top of alternative music, exporting Nigeria to the world.
Born Bukola Elemide, Aṣa was born in Paris, France to her Nigerian parents. Her family returned to live in Nigeria when she was two. Aṣa grew up in a small town near Lagos, in the south-western part of Nigeria. Twenty years later, Aṣa returned to Paris where her life as an artist took off.
Whenever Asa came home from school in Nigeria, she discovered musical acts like Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Lauryn Hill, Femi Kuti and Angélique Kidjo. This was while she was in pursuit of educational excellence, and these musical acts are whose footprints she dreamed of following.
She has followed that path in a career which has birthed so many highs and produced some of the best sounds to come out of Africa. Her rich discography include four albums including “Asa” (2007), “Live In Paris” (2009), “Beautiful Imperfection” (2010), “Bed Of Stone” (2014).
Awards for the singer has flowed in from all over the continets, with Asa’s concert dates spanning multiple European cities.
Yemi Alade
Yemi Eberechi Alade simply known as Yemi Alade, is currently Nigeria’s Afro-pop darling. She came into the limelight after winning the Peak Talent Show in 2009, and is best known for her hit single ‘Johnny.’
Africa’s hottest female act comes in with a busy year for her. Yemi Alade’s star has risen meteorically, and this is off her hit single ‘Johnny’, and the singles off her debut album “King Of Queens” including ‘Tangerine’, ‘Kissing’ and ‘Taking over me’.
Endorsement for the artiste have come from CloseUp, who jointly signed her with Davido. She has been actively involved with Coke Studio Africa, and continues to be revered across the continent for all her good works and performances. Her sophomore album “Mama Africa” will be released this year (2016).
Seyi Shay
Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua is professionally known by her stage name Seyi Shay is a Nigerian based English singer-songwriter, recording artist, performer, and record producer.
Seyi has had a long list of international credits, including and producing 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.
In November 2013, she signed an endorsement deal with telecommunications service provider Etisalat. In November 2015, Shay released her debut studio album titled Seyi or Shay. It was supported by the promotional singles "Irawo", "Ragga Ragga", and "Chairman".
Seyi Shay has finally come into her own. Picking up from her 2014 smash hit song ‘Murda’, the singer struck again as her club single ‘Crazy’ with Wizkid received new life after the video.
Picking up from that, she released ‘Jangilova’, which ushered in the deal-clincher ‘Right now’. That has led to the release of her debut album “Seyi or Shay”, and also aided in her new Pepsi brand endorsement deal.
Waje
Aituaje Iruobe known as Waje (an acronym for "Words aren’t just enough"), is a Nigerian singer whose vocal range covers three octaves. Her name first hit the public when she participated in the remake of P-Square’s ‘Omoge mi’ and featured as the female voice in the duo’s 2008 hit track ‘Do Me’. She was also featured on Banky W's ‘Thief My Kele’ and M.I's ‘One Naira’.
Waje has shared the stage with various international artists such as Wyclef Jean in South Africa, opening for Kerry Hilson during a show organised in Calabar, and has also worked with a lot of artists. She released her self-titled debut studio album in 2013.
Waje’s work in social development projects are well documented. She headlined the song ‘Strong girl’ which is the theme song for ONE_Campaign's ‘Poverty is Sexist’ in 2015 and also joined Bono in Lagos, Nigeria for the Lagos campaign in 2015. Waje is currently working with the youths of her community through an organisation she calls Waje's Safe House, where she teams up with other NGOs quarterly to help fight for their cause. The first project supported under Waje's Safe House was the Mental and Environmental Development Initiative for Children, assisting the Project HELP (Help Educate the Less Privileged) which the goal of raising funds for allowing children to continue their studies in the school in Makoko, through Ring Back Tones with her hit singles ‘Oko Mi’ and ‘I wish.’