African Music has evolved over the years. Just
like the continent itself , the citizens and
countries therein , the average African music
has seen some degree of westernization
coupled with the fact that some of the African
songs came with a captivating African dance
moves to help popularize the songs. The
original background of jams and sounds from
the African perspective often makes a perfect
blend with the western pop kind of music
creating a powerful party beat that is more
than compelling to dance to. There are a few
Africa musicians who have acquired a great
deal of wealth by appealing to the average
African’ s sense of good music . They have
become so popular with what they know how to
do best; you practically have to put down a ton
of cash to invite them to grace your occasion.
Internationally, they are fast becoming sought
after names in the music and entertainment
industry making Africa proud. Answers Africa
brings you the top 10 wealthiest African
Musicians.

10. Jose Chameleone
Joseph Mayanja popularly known by his stage
name as Joe Chameleon or Jose Chameleone
was born in 1979 and is a popular reggae
musician from Uganda. Singing mostly in
Luganda, English and Swahili , Jose started his
career at an young age in the early 1990 s as
disco MC at Maganjo Mizuri night club while he
was still a student at the Progressive
Secondary School, Kampala Uganda. He
eventually became affiliated with
Kenya’s Ogopa DJs record label .
Jose Chameleone ’s style of music is a perfect
combination of Ugandan folk music, Central
African rumba, zouk on a background of
reggae. He released one of the most popular
songs in the East Africa: VAlu Valu and has
popularized some of the phrases he uses in his
songs to become regular and everyday
words such as Basiima Ogenze, Nekolera
Maali, Shida Za Dunia among others . He is
regarded as a music star who restructured the
popular local music in Uganda at the wake of
the 21st century.
Jose Chameleone is the biggest money maker
in the Eastern Africa and has acquired a range
of 4 wheels as his “ testament” which
include; Cadillac escalade , Mercedes Benz ml
200 super custom convertible and a Premio .
He also owns a big mansion among the elites
of Uganda in Seguka hills located at the
outskirts of Kampala.
9. Banky W
BankyW whose real name is Olubankole
Wellington was born on March 27, 1981 in the
United States is a Nigerian R & B artist and
generally regarded as the King of African
R& B , he grew up in Lagos where he began
singing in church at an early age and upon
completion of secondary school moved to New
York to study Engineering. He won and was
featured in numerous competitions while he
was still a student . His talent in music has
made him one of the richest African musicians.
He has been a brand ambassador for Estisalat
mobile in Nigeria and is currently the face
for Samsung products in the west African
nation. Out of his generous heart , Banky W has
started off Mr capable foundation; an education
charity organization with the aim to aid in the
education of children from poor families.
8. Hugh Masekela
Born on April 4, 1939 , Hugh Ramopolo
Masekela is a South African singer and
trumpeter, flugelhornist , cornetist and
composer. He is one of the most talented Jazz
artists in Africa. His talents got him nominated
for a Grammy Award in the “ Best
Contemporary Pop Performance –
Instrumental” music category in 1968. In 2010 ,
President Zuma honoured him with the highest
order in South Africa: The Order of Ikhamanga ,
and 2011 saw Masekela receive a Lifetime
Achievement award at the WOMEX World Music
Expo in Copenhagen. The US Virgin Islands
proclaimed ‘Hugh Masekela Day’ in March
2011, not long after Hugh joined U2 on stage
during the Johannesburg leg of their 360 World
Tour. U 2 frontman Bono described meeting and
playing with Hugh as one of the highlights of his
career. He also received other awards : 27 April
2010, Ghana Music Awards: 2007 African
Music Legend award , 2005 Channel O Music
Video Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award ,
2002 BBC Radio Jazz Awards: International
Award of the Year, nominated for Broadway ’s
1988 Tony Award as Best Score (Musical) , with
music and lyrics collaborator Mbongeni
Ngema, for “Sarafina !”. Masekela owns a
professional studio in Botswana, and
makes good money on invitations
to major festivals across the world and the
sales of his albums .
7. 2 Face Idibia
Born in Jos , Plateau State, Nigeria , Innocent
Ujah Idibia who is more popularly known by his
stage name as 2 Face Idibia , is a Nigerian
singer-songwriter , actor and record producer .
Started off as a member of the defunct
Nigerian R & B /hip hop group Plantashun Boyz .
He has 5 Albums to his name and has
received numerous nominations for which he
won 40 of the Awards to date and there were
just about 6 other nominations he received
where he did not win . The ‘ African queen’
singer is one of the kings of African music. He
has a vast investment in real estate across
Nigeria, earns around $ 50k to $80 k per show
and owns a night club in Nigeria just to name a
few .
2Face has established an NGO called 2Face
Idibia Reach- Out Foundation . In 2009, 2 Face
was appointed as ambassador the National
Agency for Food and Drug Administration and
Control. He released a song “Man Unkind” in
order to raise awareness on the menace of
fake and sub - standard food and drug products
in Nigeria . and he is the first non - Liberian to
become an honorary member of the Liberian
music society in recognition for his outstanding
contribution to the growth of music in Africa .
6. Fally Ipupa
Fally Ipupa is a singer and songwriter from the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the early
days of his musical career between 1999 and
2006, he was a part of the band of Koffi
Olomidé, Quartier Latin International after
which he started his own solo career. His
released his first album: Droit chemin in 2006 ,
and his secondalbum Arsenal de Belles
Melodies (A 2 BM) in 2009 . Fally Ipupa won the
Kora Awards for Best Artist or Group from
Central Africa in 2007 and 3 years after, he
won the MTV Africa Music Awards 2010 for
Best Video (for Sexy Dance) and Best
Francophone. Fally Ipupa is credited for
modernizing the Lingala music . He is a poster
boy for a number of clothing brands in Paris ,
where he also performs at sold out shows ,
making a lot of money.
5. Salif Keita
Salif Keïta , a proud citizen of Mali was born on
the 25th of August , 1949. He has seen the
transition of African music through the ages .
Keita is an afro-pop singer and songwriter
whose unique style of music has earned him
the title and reputation as the “ Golden Voice of
Africa”. He is a direct descendant of the
founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita .
While this sounds interesting , it means that
given his royal heritage, he should never have
become a singer under the Malian caste
system , which was deemed to be the role of a
griot. Those who know Salif Keita regard him
as a very humble man despite his riches. The
acquired his private island and a number of real
estates in France .
4. Koffi Olomide
Koffi Olomide whose real name is Antoine
Christophe Agbepa Mumba was born on Friday,
July 13, 1956 . The DR Congolese music star is
a soukous singer , dancer , producer, and
composer and has up to 7 albums up his
sleeves which are well patronized in the
market. It is reported that Koffi Olomide
charges up to 100 ,000 euros per show . His
album Haut de Gamme : Koweït , Rive Gauche is
among the listed 1001 Albums You Must Hear
Before You Die. Koffi Olomide is widely
accepted as one of Africa’s biggest and most
successful musicians today and is among the
Answers Africa list of richest musicians in
African music.
3. D ’banj
Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo who is more popularly
known as the Koko Master or D ’ banj ( adopted
from a combination of his first name Dapo and
his surname Oyebanjo ) was born June 9 ,
1980) , is a Nigerian singer- songwriter and
harmonica player . He has won quite a lot of
awards including the MTV Europe Music
Awards for Best African Act 2007, MTV Africa
Music Awards 2009 Artist of the Year. BET
Awards of 2011 for Best International Act ;
Africa. D ’banj released an international hit song
in 2012 “Oliver Twist ” which has brought more
light along his way. Oliver Twist is an uptempo
dance fusion of Afro- Beats and electronic
dance music that topped the African charts
2011 and was a top 10 hit in the UK singles
chart in 2012 reaching No 2 on the UK R & B
chart.
D banj is the first African artist signed to Kanye
west’s GOOD music label. He was as
a campaigner for President Goodluck Jonathan
and has a series of koko lounges; a high end
club in Nigeria and other investments including
Koko water. D banj also made $1 million
dollars when he was paid by a T .V station to
star on his own reality show called the Koko
Mansion. He has a crib in Atlanta worth of $ 1. 5
million and reportedly charges on the upside of
$100000 per show currently .
2. P -Square
The Nigerian R& B identical twin brother
musicians are among the wealthiest musicians
in Africa. Peter and Paul who go be the name
P- Square produce and release their albums
through Square Records. In December 2011 ,
they joined Akon’ s Konvict Muzik label and in
the upper year, also signed with Universal
Music South Africa in a record distribution deal.
The duo currently make more than $ 150 ,000
per show . Square ville, P -Square ’s crib which
is located at Ikeja is worth $ 3 million and as
part of their brand support, they also have a 3
years deal with Globalcom; a Nigerian
telecommunication company as brand
ambassadors where they are paid a million
dollars a year .
1. Youssou N ’dour
Youssou N ’ Dour is a Senegalese singer
who was born on the 1 st of October, 1959 . He
is a talented composer , percussionist,
songwriter, actor , businessman and a
politician. He was once described as “ perhaps
the most famous singer alive ” in Senegal.
Youssou N ’ Dour was among those that
reshaped a style of music known in the Serer
language as mbalax which is a popular
Senegalese music type . It is attributed to him
as the richest musician in Africa. He owns the
biggest media house in Senegal with radio and
TV stations with a lot of investments in real
estate. He once also served as a Senegalese
cultural ambassador. In April 2012 , N ’dour was
appointed the tourism and culture minister in
the cabinet of new Prime Minister Abdoul
Mbaye. Source : http://answersafrica.com/top-10-richest-african-musicians.html

I actually opened this thread to see if Kofi Olomide and Fally Ipupa will be on the list.
.....now, I don't doubt the list.

Didnt you guys say D Banj was broke?

Trash list
Wat abt kwam 1,obsere , KSA.
D list is incomplete without ds men.

Hmmmm!

More blessing and may God bless us all