Over the years, Nigerian music has evolved into an intriguing blend of the various indigenous languages fused with a dash of Pidgin English, this has produced a sound unique to Nigeria. It’s no surprise that Nigerian Afro-pop music is widely celebrated across the continent of Africa and beyond.
It has become impossible to separate a Nigerian singer from his ethnicity, from the Jos-flavored Northern rhymes of Chocolate City’s M.I Abaga, Ice Prince and Jessy Jags to the Lagos street flows of Olamide and his YBNL Crew; our varied culture and language have set Nigerian sound apart from the rest.
5. TEKNO
The Pana crooner has burst onto the scene with hit song after hit song for the last 3 years. Though born and bred in Northern Nigeria. Tekno Miles has his heritage from Ebonyi State.
The Singer and Songwriter has smash hits such as Wash, Pana, Duro, Rara to his name.
4. FLAVOUR
Born in Enugu as Chinedu Okoli in November 1983, Flavour, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and performer. Flavour honed his music in the eastern capital city of Enugu, performing occasionally at the Villa Tuscana Hotel before his major breakthrough with the Hit single Nwa Baby in 2005.
Flavour has gone on to churn out hits such as Ada Ada, Wake Up, Golibe among others. His selling point over the years has been his unique style – a blend of Igbo Highlife and contemporary pop sounds.
3. RUNTOWN
Runtown was born on 19 August 1989 in Enugu but grew up partly in Abuja and Lagos, where he finished his primary education. After the death of his father, he moved to Abuja with his mother, who was working in the Ministry of Health.
In 2014 he released “Gallardo”, a song which features vocals from Davido and was released as the first single off his debut studio album Ghetto University.
On 23 November 2015, Runtown released his debut studio album titled Ghetto University via MTN Music Plus through Eric Many Entertainment. The album generated over ₦35million on the music portal thus earning him a spot in the list of “Top 5 Most Streamed Artist. He has how ever stayed relevant ever since in the entertainment scene.
2.PHYNO
Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike was born in October 1986. Phyno was Born and raised in Enugu and is without a doubt among the top 5 musicians from Eastern Nigeria.
He started his musical career as a producer in 2003 as a Student of the Institute of Management and Technology Enugu, he later relocated to Lagos to continue his music career.
Phyno is a rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Arguably the most famous rapper to come out of the east side. Phyno has thrilled the Igbo audience with his mesmerizing use of Proverbs, Adages and smooth rhymes in his songs.
Even non-Igbo listeners are left in awe of his effortless rap style. Recently Phyno has ventured more into mainstream pop, singing sometimes more than he raps with hit songs – Fada Fada, Connect amongst others. Other hits from Phyno include Oringo and Parcel.
1. DON JAZZY
Collins Micheal Ajere as one of the top 5 musicians from Eastern Nigeria was Born in Umuahia, Abia state but was raised in Ajegunle Lagos with his three siblings. Don Jazzy at age 12, began to play the bass guitar. He also gained knowledge of traditional and percussion instruments. Ajereh enrolled in business management studies at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo state.
He alongside his former partner D’Banj founded Mo’hits and after its break up, Don Jazzy founded Mavis, a record label he has turned into one of Africa’s largest Record Houses; home to Tiwa Savage, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello. Dija et al
Critics may say he shouldn’t be on this list, though primarily a Music Producer, Don Jazzy simply oozes creativity, he isn’t your regular Producer, most of his hits are laced with his unique vocals.
He has also featured a number of chart-topping songs such as the Mavin crews Janta Manta, Mongo Park etc.The fact is, there is hardly any Mavin/Mo Hits song without his vocals.
