Highlife music is one of the most popular music genres in Nigeria. This genre is one of the earliest in West Africa, originating from Ghana and creeping into Nigeria in the 1950s. Nigerian music has since evolved into other genres, particularly Afrobeats. However, we still remember Nigerian highlife singers of all time, particularly in the wake of the gwo gwo ngwo challenge that has become a sensational trend across social media platforms.
Therefore, below is a list of the top 10 Nigerian highlife singers of all time.
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List of Nigerian highlife singers of all time
10. Flavour n’Abania
The list begins with the king of modern highlife music, Chinedu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour n’Abania. Flavour began his music career when he played drums at his local church at the age of 13. In 2005, he deducted his first album N’abania, which was a moderate success. However, his second album Uplifted, broke national barriers. The album features popular songs such as “Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)”, “Adamma” and Oyi Remix”, featuring Tiwa Savage.
Other popular songs include “Ada Ada”, “Golibe” and “Ololufe”, featuring Chidinma.
9. Sonny Okosun
Sonny Okosun was one of the leading Nigerian highlife singers from the late 1970s to mid-1980s. Born on January 1, 1947, in Enugu State, Okosun was an indigene of Edo State. He founded the popular Ozzidi band. Before that, Okosun was a member of some notable bands such as the Postmen, Victor Uwaifo’s Maestros and the Paperback Limited – which was later renamed Oziddi.
Although Okosun is known for his versatility in music genres, he is known for his highlife songs like “Fire in Soweto”, “High Life” and “Which Way Nigeria”. He also sang in various Nigerian languages, such as Esan, Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa. By the late 1870s, Okosun began to be popular for singing protest songs about Pan-Africanism, freedom and a few other social and political issues affecting Africans. In 2008, he died of colon cancer at the age of 61.
8. Celestine Ukwu

Celestine Ukwu was a Nigerian Igbo highlife musician during the 1960s and 1970s. He was best known for his hit songs “Ije Enu”, “Igede” and “Money Palava”. Born in 1940 in Enugu State, Ukwu began his music career by joining Mike Ejeagha’s group Paradise Rhythm Orchestra in 1962 at Enugu as a vocalist and maraca player.
After touring the Republic of Congo with Mr. Piccolo’s band, he returned to Nigeria and formed his band, known as Celestine Ukwu & His Music Royals of Nigeria, in 1966. However, the band ended following the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. After the war, Ukwu formed another band, Celestine Ukwu & His Philosophers National, with whom he released several albums, including Igede Fantasia which was a commercial success. His songs have also been featured on various world music compilations, including The Rough Guide to Highlife and The Rough Guide Psychedelic Highlife.
Ukwu died in an auto crash on May 7, 1977.
7. Prince Nico Mbarga
Prince Nico Mbarga was a Cameroonian-Nigerian highlife singer. He was born on January 1, 1950, to a Nigerian mother and a Cameroonian father in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Mbarga was mostly known for the hit song, “Sweet Mother”, which he recorded with his band Rocafil Jazz.
“Sweet Mother” may be Mbarga’s only notable hit song but it sold over 13 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling song in history by an African recording artist.
Mbarga died in a motorcycle accident on June 23, 1997, in Calabar, Cross River State, while trying to buy spare parts for his car. He was 47 years old at the time of death.
6. Sir Warrior and the Oriental Brothers International

Born in 1947, Christogonus Ezebuiro Obinna, popularly known as Dr. Sir Warrior or Ultimate Dr. Sir Warrior, was a Nigerian Igbo highlife musician, guitarist and bandleader. He was one of the pioneers of highlife music in Nigeria and the leader of the popular Oriental Brothers International Band.
The band was famous for several decades during which Sir Warrior recorded 12 platinum and 10 gold hits. He introduced the oyorima concept, which Flavour now mentions in his music.
Sir Warrior and the Oriental Brothers International have been credited for keeping many Igbos sane following the civil war. The song “Ofe Owerri” and others are still classic hits today. He died on June 2, 1999, after a brief illness.
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5. Jim Rex Lawson

Rex Lawson, also known as Cardinal Rex, was one of the best-known highlife singers of the 1960s when his band dominated the music industry in Nigeria. He was born on March 4, 1938, in Buguma, Rivers State to a Kalabari chieftain father and an Igbo mother from Owerri.
Lawson began his career in Port Harcourt as a bandboy for Lord Eddyson’s Starlight Melody Orchestra. He later played with Sammy Obot, Bobby Benson, Victor Olaiya, Chris Ajilo and other Ghanaian and Nigerian musicians and bands. Lawson led the Majors Band and recorded hits, including “So ala teme”, “Yellow Sisi”, “Gowon Special” and “Jolly Papa”.
He died in a car accident on his way to Warri, Delta State, for a performance on January 16, 1971. He was 32 years old. His band continued performing as Professional Seagulls after his death.
4. Victor Olaiya
Victor Abimbola Olaiya, OON, popularly known as Dr. Victor Olaiya, was a Nigerian trumpeter known for his highlife style of music. Born on December 31, 1930, in Calabar, Cross River State, Olaiya was originally from Ijesha-Ishu in Ekiti State.
Olaiya began his career when he played with the Sammy Akpabot Band. He was a trumpeter for the Old Lagos City Orchestra and joined the Bobby Benson Jam Session Orchestra. In 1954, Olaiya formed his band, the Cool Cats, renowned for playing popular highlife music at the state ball when Queen Elizabeth II of the UK visited Nigeria in 1956, the state balls when Nigeria became independent in 1960 and when Nigeria became a republic in 1963.
Olaiya also shared the stage with the American jazz legend, Louis Armstrong. He was given the rank of lieutenant colonel (honorary) in the Nigerian army and his band played for the troops at various locations. Later on, Olaiya renamed the band to All Stars Band when they played at the 1963 International Jazz Festival in Czechoslovakia. He died on February 12, 2020, at age 89.
3. Oliver De Coque

Oliver Sunday Akanite, better known by the stage name Oliver De Coque, was a Nigerian guitarist and one of Africa’s most prolific highlife musicians. He was born on April 14, 1947, and hailed from Ezinifite in Anambra State.
Oliver De Coque started playing music at the age of 11 and became an apprentice of juju musicians, Sunny Agaga and Jacob Oluwale, for which he became well known by the locals. By 1973, he had gained international recognition and his guitar work was featured in Mbarga’s Sweet Mother. In 1977, Oliver De Coque released his debut album, Messiah Messiah. In total, he recorded 93 albums, with some of the popular singles, including “People’s Club of Nigeria”, “Nempi Social Club”, “Biri Ka Mbiri”, “Ana Enwe Obodo enwe”, “Nnukwu Mmanwu” and “Identity”.
Oliver De Coque was known for his extraordinary guitar play and ogene genre blending modern music with traditional Igbo harmonies. He died on June 20, 2008, from a sudden cardiac arrest.
2. Victor Uwaifo

Victor Efosa Uwaifo, MON, was a multi-talented highlife musician who won the first gold disc in Africa released in 1965 and seven other gold discs in Guitar Boy, Arabade, Ekassa series and Akwete music. Born on March 1, 1941, in Benin City, Uwaifo briefly worked with Stephen Osadebe and Fred Coker before he formed Melody Maestros in 1965.
The band released “Joromi”, which became a hit in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. As a result, Uwaifo made history in Nigeria when he won the first golden record in Nigeria, West Africa and Africa in 1996. He died on August 28, 2021, at the age of 80.
1. Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe

Topping the list of Nigerian highlife singers of all time is Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, popularly known as Osita Osadebe. He was born on March 17, 1936, in Atani, Ogbaru LGA, Anambra State, and came from a line of singers and dancers.
Osadebe enjoyed a career spanning over four decades. His hit songs include “Osondi Owendi,” “Nwannem Ebezina,” “Kedu America” and “Onuigbo.” He died on May 11, 2007, from severe respiratory difficulties.
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