International Music Stars Who Are Nigerians

International Music Stars Who Are Nigerians

For many years, footballers and other sportsmen have been born and raised abroad and later come to ply their trade in their home country, Nigeria. Likewise the music industry. Babanews brings you some international musicians you never knew were Nigerians.

Nas:

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who is the son of popular Jazz musician, Olu Dara of Yoruba descent, is an internationally known American rapper, producer and more. He began his musical career in 1991 and released his debut album ‘Illmatic’ in 1994.

Popular for tracks like ‘Hate Me Now’ and ‘Ether’, Nas’ 2002 album ‘God’s Son’ peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Time Magazine named it the best hip-hop album of the year. Nas visited Nigeria when he attended the 2008 edition of the Soundcity Music Video Awards (SMVA) to present the award for the “Best Hip-Hop .The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas has released eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums and has sold over 30 million records worldwide.

Wale:

Winner of two Grammy awards, Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, better known by his stage name Wale (pronounced Wah-Lay) is one of the Nigerian musical revelations of the current decade. Based in America, he is well known for his hit single “Pretty Girls”. Wale has performed alongside the likes of Lady Gaga, Pharrell, Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifa.

Sade Adu:

Born Helen Folasade Adu to a Nigerian Father and British mother, Sade Adu is an accomplished singer-songwriter, composer and record producer. She achieved stardom in the 1980’s as a lead vocalist for the Grammy and Brit award-winning musical group, Sade. In 2012, Sade Adu was ranked 30th in VHI’s list of 100 Greatest Women in Music. In 2002, Sade was honoured with an OBE by the British Crown for her services to music.

Jidenna:

Popularly known for his February 2015 single, “Classic Man”, Jidenna blends African Ankara prints into his outfit, a move that gives him up as an African. Jidenna Theodore Mobisson, who is signed to Janelle Monae’s Wondaland Records label, was born in Wisconsin to a Nigerian father and a white mother and grew up in Nigeria. In 1995 his family moved back to Boston Massachusetts.  His song “Classic Man” was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 58th Grammy Awards.

Seal:

Many people know Henry Olusegun Olumide “Seal” Adeola Samuel for his headline-grabbing relationship with supermodel Heidi Klum. However, Seal is an accomplished Nigerian musician as well and he has four Grammy awards to show for it. He has a number of hit singles, which have topped the music charts around the world. His greatest hit is undoubtedly ‘Kiss from a Rose’ which was the Batman Forever theme song.

Nneka:

Nneka Lucia Egbuna, a famous Nigerian musician based in Germany,  is one of the most well known female Nigerian musicians in the world. Born to a Nigerian father and a German mother, she emigrated to Germany at age 18 and soon established herself as a redoubtable musical talent. Her songs, recorded in both English and Igbo, have earned her worldwide acclaim.

Chamillionaire:

Though born in Washington DC, Chamillionaire’s parents are both of Nigerian extraction and his real name is Hakeem Seriki. The controversial rapper has won several Grammy awards. His family moved to a rough neighbourhood in Houston, Texas when Hakeem was still a young boy. It was there that he began his career in music. His first album, ‘The Sound of Revenge’ rose to number 10 on the US Billboard chart.

Tinie Tempah:

If you mentioned the name Chukwuemeka Patrick Okogwu among your friends, you are most likely to receive blank stares. Yet that is the real name of the UK-based rapper, Tinie Tempah. He is one of the hottest rappers in the UK and in 2010, two of his singles ‘Written in the Stars’ and ‘Pass Out’ climbed to the number one spot in the UK’s Singles Chart. Tinie Tempah was born to Nigerian parents from Delta State though he has lived his entire life in London.

Skepta:

Joseph Junior Adenuga was born on September 19, 1982. He is better known by his stage name, Skepta.

He is an English Grime artist, songwriter and record producer of Nigerian descent.

Adenuga released his debut studio album Greatest Hits in late 2007 and his second, Microphone Champion in 2009, both independently, while his third studio album ‘Doin’ It Again’ was released in 2011 by AATW, His fourth studio album, ‘Konnichiwa’, was released on May 6, 2016 to critical acclaim, winning the year’s Mercury Prize.

ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM