The Queens of Music II - 2000 to 2010

The 21st century ushered in a new wave all over the world. Since the 2000s, many industries have witnessed increased participation from women. These women did not just show up to fill the hall. They took over the front row. And we can say the world is a better place with that needed shift. 

While the music industry has always been a levelled playing ground for both males and females, this wave of increased women participation also swept into the music industry. More women were empowered to come in and be who they are. And of course, that meant more great music for us.

The religious revival of the 1980s took its toll on the music industry in the early 2000s. The century opened with an influx of female gospel artists into the music industry. 

Tope Alabi, who has grown to be a legend in the Gospel music space, released her debut album, Ore ti o Common aka Uncommon Favour, in the year 2001. The album became an instant hit and catapulted the singer into fame. Its first track, Baba Mimo Mimo, was based on Awilo logomba’s Makossa, which shook the continent. And it greatly appealed to the growing Christian community in Nigeria.

20 years later, Tope has proved over and over again that she is worthy of her crown. Her talent and music continues to awe and win the hearts of many. As she is fondly called, Aunty Tope is a mentor to many successful and upcoming gospel artists in the industry.

Keffe lived a short life, but she made a good mark while she was here. Her first album, Trip, was released in 2000, and her second album Branama was released in 2003. This album was a great success, reaching record sales of 9 thousand cassettes in 3 weeks and over two million CD/VCDs in a month. Kokoroko is also one of her best-known songs. She died of lung failure on June 12, 2014.

Shola Allyson started as a secular music artist majoring in folk and soul music but has since transitioned to gospel music. Her music still has the structure and style of the soul genre. She released her first studio album, Eji Owuro, in 2003, and the song has remained a favourite love song of many to date. 

Before this, Shola was a professional backup and has worked with Daddy Showkey, the late Gbenga Adeboye, Yinka Ayefele, Pasuma, and Obesere. She holds an HND in Music Technology and is also a voice coach, counsellor, and consultant.

Many fans of Lagbaja know at what point a sweet sonorous voice is about to come on, and it is a part we all look forward to here. We all love Lagbaja’s music, and this lady is a big factor in that love. Her name is Ego.

Although she left Africano to pursue a solo career in 2007, she still receives praise for her part in Lagbaja’s Konko below, Nothing For You, and Far Away. In 1988, she won the Most Promising Female Act of the Year award at the Fame Music Awards. And in 2006, she won the award for The Best Vocal Performance (Female) at the Hip Hop World Awards. Someone get me a crown already!

TY Bello entered into the music industry as a member of the band KUSH. Lara George was also a member of the band. With the other 2 members, they managed to release an album before each went their separate ways. In 2008, she released her first album Greenland. I can bet the hit track is playing in your head already. She is also a photographer and was the official photographer of Goodluck Jonathan while he was President. Her latest album, Awake, was released in late 2020. Her music explores love, arts, and culture.

Weird Mc can best be described as a queen of her own class. Although she released her first album, Simply Weird, as far back as 1997, she rose to fame with her hit single Ijoya. The track was part of her 2006 album, After Da Storm.

The name Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu doesn’t sound familiar, right? What of Sinach? I bet you are singing Way Maker in your head already. Sinach released her first album in 2007 while working as a staff of Christ Embassy where she was also a member of the choir. She has 12 albums to her name and has performed in over 50 countries. 

She has written over 200 songs, and her song Way Maker has been covered by over 60 local and international Christian artists. She has several international awards among several nominations to her name. She is the first African artist to top the Billboard Christian songwriters chart, and she was no1 on the chart for twelve weeks straight.

However short this list is, one queen that must be on it is the Jazz queen herself, Asa. 

Her teachers at the IMFP school of Jazz music told her she was ready to start her career and needed no schooling. Now that is what you call Talented. Her first studio album, ASA, was released in 2007. And she has released 4 more albums after that. Be My Man remains my favourite song of hers. Which one is yours?

While it is tempting to say these women had the works of earlier women to build on. The truth is that these women cleared the ground they are standing on. Their music radiates excellence that has come to be a standard for the women that came after that. The crown sits well on their head.

Are there any artists from this period you think should be on this list? Kindly share your thoughts in the comment section.

The magic of Essence

The word Essence has been popping up often of late. And it is all for the right reasons. In Wizkid’s words, he said, ‘Tems and I created magic.’ It has been almost a year since the song was first released, and we couldn’t agree more. Someone is probably wondering what the noise is about. But this song has amassed enough accolades to shut up any Critic. 

Essence is a track on Wizkid’s 2020 album Made in Lagos. And while the album has done well for itself, appearing on several local and international charts with several international nominations, the Essence track has particularly stood out well. Listen here - Made in Lagos 

Essence is the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200. It ranked no1 on US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard) and UK Afrobeats Singles. It also features on 7 other international charts and has reached 1 million on Shazam.

The music video was released on 9th April 2021 and was shot in Accra, Ghana. The video carries an air of sensuality with its very colourful settings. It was on Barack Obama’s favourite song playlist of 2020 and Spotify’s Song of the Summer playlist released in June.

Essence remix featuring Canadian singer, Justin Bieber and Tems was released on 13th August and was quick to make its mark. In 23 hours, the song had surpassed a million views on youtube, ranked 30 on the US Apple music chart and 21 on Apple music's global music chart. Popular Us DJ, DJ Khaled, has also endorsed the remix. And hopefully, this would go beyond an endorsement to Wizkid featuring on one of his albums. 

Now, that’s good stuff.

The Queens of Music - The 1950s to 1999

The music industry has always been male-dominated, and the situation is not different in the Nigerian music industry. However, we cannot say females have not been well represented either. 

Through the rise and exit of different genres from the 1960s till date, we continue to celebrate an increasing number of female voices in the Nigerian music Industry. And these are not just any voices. They are queens who have refused to drown in the flood of male voices. Women who have risen above discrimination and marginalisation and permitted other women to do the same. 

Hold on! This is not a post on feminism. I’m just here to celebrate good music and its creators. One of the beautiful things is how we have them spread across different genres. 

In the 1980s reign of Reggae music, there was Evi Edna Ogholi, the queen of reggae. Her single Happy Birthday has retained its spot as the best birthday song to date. I think we can agree on that much. After a long break of 19 years, during which she moved to France, she is fully back and released an album last year. 

The name Onyeka Onwenu still rings the bell loud in the hearts of many. The talented singer, activist, politician, journalist, and actress has many accolades to her name. Her musical career started in 1981 while still working as a staff of the NTA. Her songs cover a broad range of topics - love, tolerance, national unity, and lifestyle. She transitioned to Christian/gospel music in the early 1990s and continues to blaze the trail to date. Click here to listen - Onyeka Onwenu

I know the fans of waka music will not forget Salwa Abeni anytime soon. The singer started her musical career in 1976 and has remained active to date with a whopping 34 albums to her name. Although she was named Queen of Waka by Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, this musical genre was actually popularised by Batile Alake in the 1950s. 

However, the queens of the 20th century will not be complete without mentioning the legendary Christy Essien-Igbokwe, dubbed Nigeria's First Lady of songs. She was particularly passionate about the welfare and development of children, and many of her works reflected this. 

She held 45 international and national awards during her lifetime and has won 5 posthumous awards to arrive at a whole 50! She is credited as the brain behind the formation of PMAN - Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria. Her song, Seun Rere, will have you dancing and thinking about your life at the same time. I stan a queen that can do both.

Also worthy of mention is the ageless Sade Adu. Now that is a name and a title. Although regarded as one of the most successful female British artists in history, she is Nigerian-born and hails from Ekiti state. She is the first Nigerian to win a Grammy ever.

One has to admit that these women did not thrive or enjoy good public reception because of their gender. It was not about sexual appeal. They were extraordinarily good at what they did, and one can unquestionably see it in their music. Of course, they were not the only female artists of their time, but they stood out and have rightfully earned the honour of being called queens.

Is there any artist from this period you think should be on this list? Kindly share your thoughts in the comment section. 

Reggae in Nigeria

All over the world Reggae is held as being synonymous with Jamaica. And it is not so hard to come by. In Nigeria, the reception is not different. It is a genre that dominated its music industry in the mid-80s. And it has remained a favourite of many to date. 

Reggae is a musical genre that emerged in Jamaica in the 1960s. It draws its principal influences from an earlier musical genre called Ska. Ska also birthed rocksteady. Other influences of the reggae genre include American Jazz and Rhythm and Blues. Following its emergence Reggae quickly rose to become a global sound, with a large audience base in Britain and Africa.

The rise of Majek Fashek, a member of the band, Jahsticks, established the reggae sound in Nigeria. His 1988 album, Prisoner of Conscience, had the single, Send down the Rain. The song has perhaps remained the biggest Nigerian reggae song to date. The song went on to win 6 PMAN music awards. And he was dubbed the Rainmaker to this effect. Listen here - Majek Fashek

Majek’s sound was influenced by Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, and like most Nigerian musicians, the legendary Fela Kuti. These influences belonging to 3 different genres are reflected in Majek’s music style, which he referred to as Kpangolo.

However, we have other notable Nigerian reggae musicians like Daniel Wilson, also referred to as Mr. Ragamuffin. His songs Mr. Ragamuffin and Original Bad Boy were the chart-toppers of their time. 

The pioneers also include Orits Williki, Peterside Ottong, Jerri Jheto, Daddy Showkey, Ras Kimono, Rymzo, De king, High school band of Victor Eshiet, Andy Shoreman, Alex Zitto, Evelyn Ogoli, Wale Man, and Isaac Black. While you might not know everyone listed here, one or two names must ring a bell.

Listen here -Reggae

Each one had its unique blend of reggae and other musical genre influences. The hard work of these pioneers has helped to pave the way for other Nigerian artists with a preference for this genre. 

Reggae music continues to grow as a style in the Nigerian music industry with wide acceptance in religious circles. Notable gospel musicians like Buchi have greatly influenced its popularity and acceptance in the Christian community. Listen to his songs here - Buchi 

Reggae music is a genre for all seasons. It is the type of music to help you cool off on a sunny afternoon and dance away the cold on a rainy day. And while it is a long way from what it used to be in the mid-80s when it rose to prominence, it is not going into extinction anytime soon.