It’s been a great year for Nigerian music and its artistes. We’ve got had offered out concert events, great albums and singles and even primary record deals with global labels.
We noticed trendy acts breaking new ground with new sounds even as for some of the vintage artistes, this year changed into an opportunity to maintain their champion.
Right here is the authentic listing of the most important Nigerian artistes of 2016 in no specific order.
WIZKID
Despite not releasing an album this year, despite only releasing one official single, despite doctors’ orders curtailing his December performances, 2016 was still a remarkable year forWizkid.
His winning of the Artiste of the Year award at theHeadies coupled with his collaboration with Canadian rapper Drake on the chart-topping ‘One Dance’ proved that.
The cheers he got from the audience at shows he attended over the last week are further proof.
KISS DANIEL
His well received debut album, New era, released him into the stratosphere and earned him the Album of the yr award on the 2016 Headies.
This coming at the heels of his hit singles including ‘Mama’ and ‘Jombo’.
OLAMIDE
Truly the most prolific rapper of this era. There appears to be no stopping the Bariga-born artiste.
This year he launched his modern album, Glory, his sixth in as a few years.
MR EAZI
Ghana-based, Nigeria-born artiste used to be the way to describe him. Now we just call him Mr Eazi and everyone knows who we are talking about.
It wasn’t that much of a surprise when he won the Next Rated award at the Headies judging by the back-to-back hit singles he has released his year, including ‘Skin Tight’ and ‘Hollup’.
FALZ
This triple threat of a comedian, rapper and actor had one of his best years in 2016.
Falz collaborated with singer Simi on their EP, Chemistry and also continued to play a leading role in Funke Akindele’s hit comedy series, Jenifa’s Diary.
He then capped off a tremendous year by co-hosting the Headies to critical acclaim with Adesua Etomi.
DAVIDO
He signed a major record deal with Sony BMG to start off the year and released an EP, Son of Mercy, as the year ended, thus, overcoming the uncertainty that shrouded him in the period between.
Phyno
As if filling a 25,000-capacity stadium in Enugu was good enough, this rapper also had the biggest song of the year with Olamide; ‘Fada Fada’.
Tekno
No list of Nigerian artistes of 2016 would be complete without the mention of this pop star.
This year Tekno continued where he left off last year, churning out hits after another.
Yemi Alade
Her second album Mama Africa was in March of this year and had the singles ‘Na Gode’ and ‘Ferrari’.
Simi
It has been a good year for Simi too. She released a joint EP with Falz and also featured with him for the Headies Video of the Year award-winning track, ‘Soldier‘.
Adekunle Gold
On the back of his debut album, Gold, and the impressive singles from it, such as ‘Orente‘, ‘Sade’ and ‘Pick Up’, 2016 has seen Adekunle transform from his humble beginnings to a certified star.
Aramide
In a year dominated by pop singles, this R&B singer found a space for herself and her music with her well received debut album, Suitcase.