Top Yoruba music artists of all time
Here we gathered for you top Yoruba music artists. Yoruba culture is very rich, with many beautiful examples of art masterpieces. Checkout Yoruba music and some of the brightest Yoruba musicians.
Best Nigerian Yoruba musicians
- Babatunde Olatunji
Source: UGC
READ ALSO: Interesting facts about Yoruba culture
Born on April 7, 1927 – April 6, 2003, Olatunji was a great drummer, social activist, educator, and recording artist. Babatunde Olatunji was born in a village of Ajido in Lagos State.
In 1950 Babatunde Olatunji moved to the USA when he started to communicate with such jazz musicians as John Coltrane and John Hammond. In 1957 Babatunde Olatunji was signed to Columbia label, and with the help of Coltrane, he founded the Olatunji Center of African Culture in Harlem.
In 1959 Babatunde Olatunji released his first set of six records under the name “Drums of Passion.” This album is still in print and recognized as one of the greatest jazz and world music drum albums. Drums of Passion also became the name of Babatunde's band.
During the time of his active career, Babatunde became one of the most known Yoruba musicians and released 17 music albums.
- Fela Kuti
Source: UGC
Fela Anikulapo Kuti (15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) is another one among world famous Nigerian Yoruba musicians. He became famous as musician, multi-instrumentalist, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music style and human rights activist. At the peak of popularity, he was called as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers."
He was born in Ogun State and studied music at Trinity College of Music. While studying, he formed his own band and played jazz and highlife.
In 1967 Fela moved to Ghana, where he started to call his music "Afrobeat." In 1969, together with his band Fela Kuti visited the United States where he discovered Black Power and Black Panther Party that made a huge influence on his music.
After returning to Nigeria his band was renamed The Afrika '70. Fela Kuti music style included afrobeat(which he created), funk, jazz, highlife, psychedelic rock, and traditional African chants.
- Lagbaja
Source: UGC
Yoruba music, he is Afrobeat musician, singer and songwriter. Lagbaja is a word from the Yoruba language that means "nobody in particular." The musician uses a mask, and his name symbolizes the faceless and the voiceless in the society.
Traditional Yoruba drums are the most prominent part of every song of this musician. He has released 12 music albums, and wont several notable awards, among them 2006 Channel O Music Video Awards – Best Male Video "Never Far Away."
- Tiwa Savage
Source: UGC
READ ALSO: Top 10 best musicians in Nigeria
Tiwatope Savage-Balogun was born on 5th of February 1980. She is one of the brightest and most beautiful representatives of Yaruba and whole music scene of Nigeria of our days. She sings in English and in her native Yoruba language.
She is a successful singer, songwriter, performer and actress. She was born in Ikeja, Lagos State. When Tiwa was 11 years old, she moved to London with her family.
She sang backup vocalist for George Michael, participated in UK edition of The X Factor, and signed a deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. To date Tiwa has released three studio albums and one composition album.
- Banky W.
Source: UGC
The real name of the musician is Olubankole Wellington, he was born on 27 March 1981. Today he is known in Nigeria as a singer, rapper, actor and politician. He was born in Yoruba family, that moved in the United States but when Olubankole was five years old, his family came back to Nigeria.
Banky W. released his breakthrough debut studio album “Back in the Building” in 2005. With the help of a scholarship program, Banky W. moved to New York in 2012, where he founded his music label E.M.E. After returning to Nigeria, he continued the work as director of the music label.
In 2013 he released his second album "R&BW" that became a big deal on the Nigerian music scene. To this day Banky W. released 5 studio albums and 8 singles.
- Davido
Source: UGC
Full name of the musician is David Adedeji Adeleke, he was born on November 21, 1992. He is among the most popular singers in the country. He sings in English and his native Yoruba language.
Davido’s debut album “Omo Baba Olowo” (2012) became very successful, his next big album was released in 2016. The singer also released a number of successful singles.
Davido became the first African artist to win a BET Award and he also won MOBO Awards as the best African act 2017.
- Wizkid
Source: UGC
READ ALSO: Wizkid's profile and background
The real name of the artist is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, he was born on 16 July 1990. He is another young and famous Nigerian Yoruba singer and songwriter. Wizkid is involved in the music industry since the age of 11, and he achieved great success at the music scene of Nigeria and abroad.
The musician works in such genres as Afropop, Afrobeat, reggae and hip-hop. He released his first studio album "Holla at Your Boy" in 2010, and in 2013 Forbes ranked him as one of the Top 10 Richest African Artists. The next album “Ayo” brought him even more success and fame.
Now Wizkid has world tours, collaborations with such famous artist as Drake, and endorsements with Pepsi and other famous companies. Among the received awards of the artist, there are MTV Europe Music Award, MTV Africa Music Award, Billboard Music Award, and many others.
- Olamide
Source: UGC
The full name of the singer is Olamide Adedeji, he was born on 15 March 1989 in Bariga, Lagos State. Most of his songs are recorded in his native Yoruba language. Olamide released his first album “Rapsodi “ in 2011. To date, the hip-hop musician has released 7 albums and 5 singles. The list of his awards includes Nigeria Entertainment Awards and The Headies Awards.
Thanks to these musicians, Yoruba songs are known not only in Nigeria. These artists sing in Yoruba language and represent the culture of their native tribe. This is just a short list of top artists, there are so many Yoruba musicians that we cannot fit in one post.
READ ALSO: Top 10 Nigerian gospel artistes in 2018
Source: Top 50 best Nigerian Yoruba musicians
Source: Legit.ng
