The Queens of Music III - 2011 till date

You thought we were done? No way! 

The last ten years have witnessed even greater participation of women in music all over the world. And, of course, Nigeria was not left out. If you have had to google some of the names mentioned before, this going to be different. 

We have had good music and many of them from women we didn’t even know ten years ago. The women from 2000 - 2010 particularly liberated more women to give music a shot. They blazed a trail of excellence that became the standard for women who began coming up. 

What is more interesting is that we still have both groups of women today. And they are all thriving together. But the focus of this article is the queens that have come up since 2011. It was not easy coming up with this list because they have all done well and are all queens.

Tiwa Savage debuted on the Nigerian Music scene in 2012 and has since become one of the biggest female artists on the continent. The 'No 1 African Bad Girl' currently has four albums to her name with the 5th promised to be released this year. Her first album, Once Upon a Time, released in 2013, was nominated for Album of the year in 2014 and Best R&B/Pop Album at the 2014 Headies. The singles from this album remain a favourite of many to date. 

Before starting her solo career, she had worked with several notable international artists and producers like Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Chaka Kahn, Andrea Bocelli, and Kelly Clarkson. Encouraged by the growth of the Nigerian music industry, she moved from the UK and signed with Mavin Records in 2012. She remained there till 2019 when she signed with Universal Music Group. The talented queen has 20 awards to her name alongside many other nominations. She remains a top name in the industry today and was cited as an inspiration by Mavin’s Ayra Starr.

Yemi Alade first graced our screens as a participant in the Peak Talent show in 2009. She later emerged as the winner of the show and was signed to Effyzzie Music Group. However, we were not to hear of her again until 2014, when she released her hit single Johnny. Her music uniquely features a mix of Yoruba, Igbo, and Pidgin. She currently has five albums and two EPs to her name. Called Mama Africa by her fans, Yemi’s music particularly highlights the versatility of the African culture. It is also a celebration of the African woman. This style is why she is welcomed in so many African countries. And it is even said that the majority of her fans are not even Nigerians. She has several international and local awards to her name among several nominations. Yemi is also a social activist and has a foundation named after her parents. 

Although Simi started her career as a gospel/Christian artist and released her first album title Ogaju in 2008, she gained prominence for her song Tiff, in 2014. She has since released four other albums and two EPs. Simi's voice can be described as nothing short of magical and has no doubt enchanted many to be lovers of her music over the years. We can all agree that when it comes to good music for relaxation, Simi is your sure plug. She currently has 14 awards to her name, and I am sure there is a lot more on the way for her.

The Apata sisters are out here boldly writing their names in the sands of time, and we are loving every moment of it. 

Niniola finished as a runner up in the sixth season of the MTN Project Fame West Africa. She released her first single, Ibadi, in 2014 and has since gone to release two albums and an EP. Her 2017 song, Maradonna, has remained a favourite of many to date. And it was certified Gold in South Africa in July this year. Niniola describes her style of music as a mix of Afrobeat and House music. Fela also had a major influence on her and can be seen well represented in music style and music videos. She currently has six awards to her name among several nominations. 

Teniola, the younger sister, took us by storm with her single, Fargin, released in September 2017. We just could not get enough of the humour and the creativity ringing throughout the song. Actually, her debut single was released in 2016 while she was in Magic Fingers Records. Since 2017 Teni has been dropping hit upon hits for us, and she is not slowing down yet. She released her debut album Wonderland earlier this year and had released two EPs in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Teni continues to top ranking list and music charts and has won almost every award she was nominated for. I am quite excited about the feats Teni will claim in the industry if she continues this way, and honestly, I can hardly wait.

Omawunmi is one of the gifts West African Idol gave us in 2007. And while she has positioned herself at the top ever since then, you will agree with me that much of her glorious reign is within the last ten years. And she sure is not done yet. She currently has four albums and an EP to her name, but I don’t think we will ever get over her debut single, In the Music. She is also an actress, and in 2019, she co-produced a movie titled She is.  

Chidinma, also known as Miss Kedike came into the limelight as the winner of the 2010 MTN Project Fame West Africa. But Miss Kedidke isn’t a name she might favour anymore as she transitioned to a Gospel/Christian singer early this year. While a secular artist, she released a self-titled album, Chidinma, and several hit singles. She also has some singles and an EP as a gospel/Christian artist. That was quite a smooth transition if you ask me. 

Sheyi Shay began her music career at a very early age. And this was inspired by her family of musicians. Her mother was a chorister, her sister was a songwriter, and her brother was a DJ. However, she made her mark in Nigerian music in 2011 by releasing two promotional singles Loving your way and No Le Le. In 2015, she released her debut album, Sheyi or Shay, featuring some hit tracks she had earlier released as singles. Sheyi is considered a strong voice in the industry and rightfully deserves her seat at the table of queens. 

Tems is committed to making us proud locally and internationally, and this list will not be complete without her. In 2019, Tems released her hit single, Try me. It caught the attention of the international community. And Dj Khalid asked her to join him on an Afrobeats remix of Know Your Worth in 2020. Her debut EP, For Broken Ears, was released in 2020, and she has just followed it with another EP If Orange was a Place, earlier this month. 

Tems continues to receive praise for her part in Essence, which earned her first Billboard Hot 100 feature. She was on Drake’s Certified lover Boy album. Hopes are high as to what Tems will come to achieve industry. I think she is destined for great things, and she has proven she will have it no other way. 

It is the year 2021 and the start of another decade. The last ten years has taught us that it can only get better, but while we wait for the better, we know we have enough supply of good music to keep us busy.

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