The Most Famous
MUSICIANS from Nigeria
Top 5
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Nigerian Musicians of all time. This list of famous Nigerian Musicians is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.
1. Dr. Alban (b. 1957)
With an HPI of 62.04, Dr. Alban is the most famous Nigerian Musician. His biography has been translated into 38 different languages on wikipedia.
Alban Uzoma Nwapa (born 26 August 1957), better known by his stage name Dr. Alban, is a Nigerian-born Swedish musician and producer with his own record label, Dr. Records. His music can best be described as Eurodance/hip-hop reggae in a dancehall style. He has sold an estimated 16 million records worldwide and is most famous for his worldwide 1992 hit "It's My Life", from the album One Love.
2. Fela Kuti (1938 - 1997)
With an HPI of 59.05, Fela Kuti is the 2nd most famous Nigerian Musician. His biography has been translated into 45 different languages.
Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) was a Nigerian musician and political activist. He is regarded as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music genre that combines West African music with American funk and jazz. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers". AllMusic described him as "a musical and sociopolitical voice" of international significance. Kuti was the son of Nigerian women's rights activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. After early experiences abroad, he and his band Africa '70 (featuring drummer and musical director Tony Allen) shot to stardom in Nigeria during the 1970s, during which he was an outspoken critic and target of Nigeria's military juntas. In 1970, he founded the Kalakuta Republic commune, which declared itself independent from military rule. The commune was destroyed in a 1978 raid that injured Kuti and his mother. He was jailed by the government of Muhammadu Buhari in 1984, but released after 20 months. He continued to record and perform through the 1980s and 1990s. Since his death in 1997, reissues and compilations of his music have been overseen by his son, Femi Kuti.
3. Tony Allen (1940 - 2020)
With an HPI of 50.06, Tony Allen is the 3rd most famous Nigerian Musician. His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.
Tony Oladipo Allen (20 July 1940 – 30 April 2020) was a Nigerian and French drummer, composer, and songwriter who lived and worked in Paris, France. Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti's band Africa '70 from 1968 to 1979, and was one of the founders of the Afrobeat genre. Fela once stated that "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat". He was described by Brian Eno as "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived". Later in life, Allen collaborated with Damon Albarn on several projects, including Gorillaz, the Good, the Bad & the Queen and Rocket Juice & the Moon.
4. Babatunde Olatunji (1927 - 2003)
With an HPI of 39.47, Babatunde Olatunji is the 4th most famous Nigerian Musician. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Michael Babatunde Olatunji (April 7, 1927 – April 6, 2003) was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist, and recording artist.
5. Fela Sowande (1905 - 1987)
With an HPI of 36.45, Fela Sowande is the 5th most famous Nigerian Musician. His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.
Chief Olufela Obafunmilayo "Fela" Sowande MBE (29 May 1905 – 13 March 1987) was a Nigerian musician and composer. Considered the father of modern Nigerian art music, Sowande is perhaps the most internationally known African composer of works in the European "classical" idiom.
People
Pantheon has 5 people classified as Nigerian musicians born between 1905 and 1957. Of these 5, 1 (20.00%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Nigerian musicians include Dr. Alban. The most famous deceased Nigerian musicians include Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, and Babatunde Olatunji. As of April 2024, 2 new Nigerian musicians have been added to Pantheon including Babatunde Olatunji, and Fela Sowande.
Living Nigerian Musicians
Go to all RankingsDeceased Nigerian Musicians
Go to all Rankings
Fela Kuti
1938 - 1997
HPI: 59.05
Tony Allen
1940 - 2020
HPI: 50.06
Babatunde Olatunji
1927 - 2003
HPI: 39.47
Fela Sowande
1905 - 1987
HPI: 36.45
Newly Added Nigerian Musicians (2024)
Go to all RankingsOverlapping Lives
Which Musicians were alive at the same time? This visualization shows the lifespans of the 4 most globally memorable Musicians since 1700.
