Some weeks ago, we talked about the richest musicians in Nigeria. Today’s discussion will focus on the richest female musicians.
With Nigerian music doing well in the charts globally, it’s no surprise that Nigerian musicians making money through live concerts, soundtracks for popular movies, songwriting, playing instruments and endorsement deals.
Although the industry is dominated by men, the female musicians are pulling their weight too. Nigerian female musicians have the best vibes, vocals, songwriters, soloists and multiple awards to show for their efforts. They are the spice of the music industry which is why they should never be taken for granted.
Top 10 richest female musicians in Nigeria
1. Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage is the richest female musician in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of N5 billion. Born Tiwatope Savage on February 5, 1980, in Isale Eko, Lagos State, Nigeria, Tiwa began her professional music career at 16 when she did backup vocals for superstars like George Michael, Mary J Blige, Chaka Khan, Blu Cantrell, Emma Bunton, Kelly Clarkson, Andrea Bocelli and Ms Dynamite.
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The British-Nigerian singer has enjoyed a successful career as a solo artist performing in international shows and signing lucrative deals. Her song Kele Kele Love brought her to the limelight in 2013. Since then she has released back to back hits. She also has endorsement deals with many top brands in Nigeria like Pepsi, Nestle Maggi Chicken Cube, Forte Oil and Konga.
2. Yemi Alade
Yemi Eberechi Alade is a Nigerian Afropop singer, songwriter, actress and activist. She released her debut album King of Queens on 2 October 2014 which produced her most successful single, Johnny. Other successful singles on the album are Kissing, Tangerine and Taking Over Me featuring Phyno. In 2016, she released her second album titled Mama Africa which produced singles like Na Gode, TumBum and Ferrari.
Mama Africa won the World Best Album at the 2016 Independent Music Awards. Alade won the MTV African Music Awards for Best female in 2015 and 2016 consecutively and was nominated for Artiste of the Year in 2015. The awards made her the first female artist to win the MAMAs for Best Female twice consecutively and nominated for Artiste of the Year. She was also the first African female to be nominated for the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs).
Alade has won The Headies Award for Best Performer in 2018 and 2019. The singer is the second Nigerian and Afrobeats artist as well as the first female to hit 100 million views for a single video on YouTube after Davido. In addition, she made the most viewed female African music video and the first Nigerian female artist to hit 1million views on YouTube in 24 hours.
In 2020, Alade joined other musicians across the world to perform at The Global Goal: Unite for our Future sponsored by the Global Citizen. The concert aimed to highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic especially in the most remote places in Africa and the world at large. Yemi Alade sings in English, Igbo, Pidgin, Yoruba, French, Swahili and Portuguese. Her net worth is estimated at over N2 billion.
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3. Omawumi
Omawumi Megbele, stage name Omawumi, is a lawyer, singer, actress and songwriter. She rose to stardom when she finished as the first runner-up in the West Africa Idol in 2007. Her first single, In The Music, was widely praised and accepted. In 2009, she released her debut album Wonderwoman which was a hit. Her second album The Lasso of Truth was released on April 10, 2013. In Her Feelings followed in 2019 which comprises Afro-fusion and Jazz to R&B with successful tracks that include For My Baby, Mr Sinnerman, Away, True Loving, Tabansi and Green Grass.
Omawumi dropped her fourth studio album tagged Love Deep High Life (LDHL) in 2021 which featured Phyno, Waje, Brymo, and Ric Hassani. She has performed alongside superstar artists like P-Square, 2face Idibia, Phyno, D’Banj, Banky W, M.I, Sasha, 9ice, Chaka Demus and Pliers, Carl Thomas, Angie Stone and Donell Jones, Angelique Kidjo, etc. Her net worth is estimated at over N1.2 billion.
4. Chidinma
Chidinma Ekile known by her stage name, Chidinma, is a gospel singer and songwriter. She rose to fame after winning the third season of Project Fame West Africa in 2010. Chidinma became the first female musician to peak at number 1 on the MTV Base Official Naija Top 10 chart with the music video of her single, Emi Ni Baller. Her second single Jankoliko, which was assisted by Sound Sultan, was a huge success in 2011. Shortly after, she released her debut album Chidinma through the music platform Spinlet. The album was supported by Jankoliko, Carry You Go, Kedike and Run Dia Mouth.
Chidinma won Best Female West African Act at the 2012 Kora Awards. She recently signed with Eezee Concept and released a gospel song, Jehovah Overdo. Chidinma’s estimated net worth is over N1.1 billion.
5. DJ Cuppy
Florence Otedola, also known as DJ Cuppy, is a Disc Jockey and producer. She is the daughter of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, and sister of celebrity fashion blogger and Nollywood actress, Temi Otedola. Despite being the daughter of a billionaire, DJ Cuppy has done well for herself and she has a lot of hit songs to prove it. Some of her hit songs are Vibe, The way I am, Green Light, Currency, Werk, Abena and Gelato.
Cuppy was also named in Forbes Magazine’s 30 under 30 class in 2020. The talented artist has toured around the world for performances, major artist collaborations, and charitable engagements. Her estimated net worth is over N1.1 billion.
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6. Seyi Shay
Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, professionally known as Seyi Shay is a British-Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress. Seyi Shay was the lead singer of the defunct girl group, From Above under Matthew Knowles’s management. After she relocated to Nigeria, she signed to Fly time Music and launched a solo career.
In 2012, Seyi Shay released the single, Irawo. She released another single Killin’ Me Softly, featuring Nigerian singer Timaya in 2013. Later, she released Ragga Ragga and Chairman as the third and fourth singles. Seyi Shay released her debut studio album Seyi or Shay in November 2015 featuring all her hit singles. In 2017, she released the critically acclaimed single Yolo Yolo produced by DJ Coublon.
Yolo Yolo became Baileys’ commercial soundtrack for West and Sub-Saharan Africa. She also sang Gimme Love in 2019 and did the remix featuring American artist Teyana Taylor later that year. Seyi Shay has also bagged a couple of endorsement deals and featured in reality TV shows. Her estimated net worth is about N900 million.
7. Asa
Bukola Elemide, stage name Asa, is a French-born Nigerian singer, songwriter, and recording artist. In 2004, Asa was introduced to Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo, who later became the producer of her first and platinum-selling album, Asa. The album charted on radios across Europe, Asia, and Africa and went on to win the prestigious French Constantin Award in 2008. She was voted the best fresh talent of 10 singers or groups by a jury of 19 music-industry specialists in Paris.
Her second album, Beautiful Imperfection, was released in 2010 and went platinum in 2011. By 2014, Aṣa had sold 400,000 albums worldwide. Other albums Asa released are Bed Of Stone (2014), Lucid (2019) and V (2022). Asa’s estimated net worth is over N800 million.
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8. Simi
Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, stage name, Simi, is a singer, songwriter and actress. She began her career as a gospel singer before transitioning into secular music.
Simi became famous in 2014 after releasing Tiff, a song that was nominated for Best Alternative Song at The Headies 2015. Since then she has been releasing back to back hits which have also earned her multiple awards. Her song Duduke which she released in 2020 while she was pregnant has become an anthem among pregnant women in Nigeria. Simi is estimated to be worth about N800 million.
9. Waje
Aituaje Iruobe, professionally known as Waje, is arguably the best female vocalist in Nigeria. The talented singer’s vocal range covers three octaves. Waje first found fame when she featured in the remake of P-Square’s Omoge Mi as well as the duo’s hit track, Do me. She did some collaboration with Banky W, M.I, Patoranking and Tuface Idibia. Waje has also released successful solo songs with three albums. She went into acting and was one of the judges at The Voice Nigeria. Her net worth is estimated at over N700 million.
10. Nneka
Nneka Egbuna is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress. The singer was born in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria to a German mother and a Nigerian father. She first gained fame after performing as an opening act for dancehall reggae star, Sean Paul at Hamburg Stadtpark in 2004.
In 2005, Nneka’s debut album, Victim of Truth, was released across Europe, Nigeria and Japan which garnered positive reviews. Other successful albums she released are No Longer at Ease (2008), Concrete Jungle (2010), Soul Is Heavy (2012), My Fairy Tales (2015) and Love Supreme (2020). Nneka sings in English, Igbo and Nigerian Pidgin. Her net worth is estimated at over N600 million.
Richest female musician in Africa
Tiwa Savage is the richest female musician in Africa with an estimated net worth of $12 million. She also owns exotic cars like Rolls Royce Phantom, Bentley Bentayga and Mercedes Benz V Class.
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