The Nigerian music industry is one of the fastest growing entertainment industry in the world. With the large opportunities it offers, there are some artistes at the forefront who has been carrying the weight of the industry worldwide.

In this post, I am going to run you through a list of the top 10 best musicians in Nigeria which should answer most of your questions like who is the biggest musician in Nigeria? who is the best musician in Nigeria? who are the top 10 best musicians in Nigeria?

However, the Nigeria music industry is diverse with different genre, and so it might be difficult to drop a list without being biased. I tried as much to put up a list that won't be too controversial.

You might want to know the basics for which I used in compiling this list, there are many factors but I decide to stick with the number of awards they have won.

The top 10 list cuts across different music genre like Afro-pop, Afro-fusion, RnB, blues, Rap, etc. Check out the list below:

Top ten musicians in Nigeria

Wizkid - Total Awards won 65 
Burna Boy - Total Awards won 36
D'banj - Total Awards won 29
Davido - Total Awards won 29
Olamide - Total Awards won 22
2Baba - Total Awards won 21
Tiwa Savage - Total Awards won 20
Falz - Total Awards won 12
Patoranking - Total Awards won 12
Simisola - Total Awards won 12

Lets take a deep look into the list and talk a little about their careers.

10. Simisola - Total Awards won 12
From the bottom of the list, we have one of the biggest women in the Nigerian music industry, Simi.

Born Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, she is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress who was born on 19th of April 1988 (which makes her 33 years old as of the time of writing this post).

She started her career as a gospel singer and released her first studio album “Ogaju” back in 2008. Since then, she kept struggling in the music scene until 2014 when she score her first major hit “Tiff” which shot her to the limelight and went on to be nominated at the 2015 Headies for the “Best Alternative Song.”

During the course of her career, she has released a total of 5 projects which includes Ogaju (2008), Chemistry (with Falz) (2016), Simisola (2017), Omo Charlie Champagne, Vol. 1 (2019), Restless II (2020) - EP. 

She has won over 12 awards during the course of her career which includes awards from:

Nigeria Entertainment Awards (2015)
City People Entertainment Award (2015)
Nigerian Teen Choice Awards (2016)
AFRIMA Awards (2017)
Headies (2018)

9. Patoranking - Total Awards won 12
Born Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie (born 27 May 1990), Patoranking, is a Nigerian reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter. He started his music career doing underground collaborations with artists such as XProject, Konga, Slam and Reggie Rockstone.

Patoranking became a protégé of Dem Mama Records after collaborating with Timaya on his song "Alubarika" which shot him into fame. During the course of his career, he has gradually solidified himself as one of the top A-List artists in the country.

He has released albums since his emergence which includes God over Everything (2016), Wilmer (2019) and Three (2020).

Patoranking has also won over 12 awards in his career which includes awards from:

Nigeria Entertainment Awards (2014)
City People Entertainment Awards (2014)
The Headies (2014 & 2015)
Ben Tv (2014)
MTV Africa Music Awards (2015)
AFRIMA (2016)
Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (2016)

8. Falz - Total Awards won 12
Falz, born Folarin Falana (born October 27, 1990) is a Nigerian rapper, songwriter and actor who began his career while in secondary school after forming a group called "The School Boys" with his friend before his professional career as a music artist began in 2009.

He became more well-known after releasing the song "Marry Me" featuring vocals from Poe and Yemi Alade. He currently operates under his own label called Bahd Guy records.

During the course of his career, he has released a total of 4 projects Wazup Guy (2014), Stories That Touch (2015), 27 (2017), Moral Instruction (2019).

Falz has also won over 12 awards in his career which includes awards from:

Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards
BET Awards
City People Entertainment Awards
9th Nigeria Music Video Awards
The Headies

7. Tiwa Savage - Total Awards won 20
Tiwatope Savage popularly known as Tiwa Savage was born on 5 February 1980. She is arguably the biggest female musician in the country. She was Born in Isale Eko, she relocated to London at the age of 11 for her secondary education.

Tiwa began her music career doing backup vocals for artists such as George Michael and Mary J. Blige. In 2009, she signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music and the moved back to Nigeria in 2012 before signing a deal with Mavin Records headed by Don Jazzy.

Fast forward 2013, she dropped her debut album Once Upon a Time, in 2015, she dropped her second studio album R.E.D in December 2015. In September 2017, she released her EP Sugarcane.

In May 2019, she announced her record deal with Universal Music Group and exit from Mavin Records.

Tiwa Savage has also won over 20 awards in his career which includes awards from:

MTV Africa Music Award
Nigeria Entertainment Award
The Headies
MTV Europe Music Award
City People Music Award

6. 2Baba - Total Awards won 21
Born Innocent Ujah Idibia (18 September 1975), 2Baba like he is fondly called is a Nigerian singer, musician, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, humanitarian, and activist.

Before July 2014, he went by the stage name 2face Idibia. 2Baba is the first winner of MTV Europe, Best African Act Award in 2015. He did a collaboration with other artistes like Cohbams Asuquo and Timi Dakolo in 2019 to release a song for the creation of awareness of the Rights of children.

He kicked off his music career in with the trio called Plantashun Boiz which included Blackface Naija, and Faze. The released two joint projects Body and Soul (2000) and Sold Out (2003) under the Nelson Brown's owned Label (Dove Records) before disbanding in 2004.

During the course of his career, he has released a total of 7 projects namely, Face 2 Face (2004), Grass 2 Grace (2006), The Unstoppable (2009), The Unstoppable International Edition (2010), Away & Beyond (2012), The Ascension (2014), and Warriors (2020).

2Baba has also won over 21 awards in his career which includes awards from:

MTV Europe Music Award
World Music Award
Headies Awards
Channel O Music Video Awards
BET award
MTV Africa Music Awards
MOBO award
KORA award
Afrima Awards

5. Olamide - Total Awards won 22
Born Olamide Gbenga Adedeji on 15 March 1989, Olamide is a Nigerian hip hop recording artist popularly called Olamide Baddo, BaddoSneh or simply Baddo. 

Olamide started his career when he released the debut single, "Eni Duro," in 2010. In the same year, he performed at The Hip Hop World Awards. He studied mass communication at Tai Solarin University but dropped out due to financial problems.

He was signed to ID Cabasa's Coded Tunes record label and was managed by Toni Payne. In 2012, he left Coded Tunes and started his own record label YBNL Nation.

Baddo has released a total of 9 studio albums over the course pf his career which includes,

Rapsodi (2011)
YBNL (2012)
Baddest Guy Ever Liveth (2013)
Street OT (2014)
Eyan Mayweather (2015)
The Glory (2016)
Lagos Nawa (2017)
Carpe Diem (2020)
UY Scuti (2021)

Olamide has also won over 22 awards with presentations from the likes of:

Nigeria Entertainment Awards
The Headies
Nigeria Music Video Awards
Channel O Music Video Awards
TooXclusive Awards
City People Entertainment Awards

4. Davido - Total Awards won 29
David Adedeji Adeleke (born November 21, 1992), popularly known as Davido, is a Nigerian-American singer, songwriter, and record producer.

He rose to fame in 2012 when he released the hit track "Dami Duro" which was a track featured in his debut studio album Omo Baba Olowo that same year.

Davido started pursuing his music career officially in 2011 when he returned back to Nigeria from the UK. Since then he has been one of the biggest names in the industry known worldwide as one of the leaders of Afrobeats.

He has released a total of 4 studio albums which includes Omo Baba Olowo (2012), Son of Mercy (2016), A Good Time (2019), A Better Time (2020).

Davido has been honored with over 29 awards which includes recognitions from:

Kora Awards
BET Awards
Ben TV Awards
Dynamix All Youth Awards
African Muzik Magazine Awards
MTV Africa Music Awards
Channel O Music Video Awards
Nigeria Music Video Awards
Ghana Music Awards
City People Entertainment Awards
The Headies
Nigeria Entertainment Awards

3. D'banj - Total Awards won 29
Born Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, D'Banj is a Nigerian musician, singer, songwriter, rapper, lawyer, entrepreneur and television personality.

D'banj is best known internationally for his 2012 summer hit "Oliver Twist", an uptempo dance fusion of Afrobeats and electronic dance music that topped the African charts in 2011 and was a top 10 hit in the UK singles chart in 2012 reaching No. 2 on the UK R&B chart.

He met with Don Jazzy in the UK in 2001 when he was still looking for a breakthrough as a songwriter and producer.

They both returned to the country in 2005 to take over the blooming Nigerian industry with the song "Tongolo." The song gained nationwide attention and it shot D'Banj to the limelight.

In the years of his career, he has released a total of 4 studio album namely:

No Long Thing (2005)
RunDown Funk U Up (2006)
The Entertainer (2008)
King Don Come (2017)

He also has 2 compilation albums namely:

Curriculum Vitae (2007)
D'Kings Men (2013)

D'Banj has been honored with over 29 awards which includes recognitions from:

BET Awards
Channel O Music Video Awards
Fizz Awards
Ghana Music Awards
The Headies
Kora Awards
MOBO Awards
MTV Africa Music Awards
MTV Europe Music Awards
Nigeria Entertainment Awards
Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA)
Sound City Music Video Awards
World Music Awards
4Syte TV Music Video Awards

2. Burna Boy - Total Awards won 36
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu (born 2 July 1991), known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter,  rapper, and dancer. He is one of the biggest and most successful African artists.

In 2012, he rose to recognition after releasing his single "Like To Party" which was the lead single off his debut studio project  L.I.F.E released in 2013.

Burna Boy has remained consistent in the game since his emergence, and he has had lots of accolades and awards to his name.

Throughout his booming career, he has released a total of 5 albums which includes L.I.F.E (2013), On a Spaceship (2015), Outside (2018), African Giant (2019), Twice as Tall (2020). 

He is one of the most awarded musicians in Nigeria with recognitions from:

South South Music Awards
Nigeria Entertainment Awards
MTV Africa Music Awards
All Africa Music Awards
Soundcity MVP Awards Festival
BET Awards
The Headies
MTV Europe Music Awards
Future Awards Africa
African Muzik Magazine Awards
Ghana Music Awards
Soundcity MVP Awards Festival
Brit Awards
Edison Award
Grammy Awards
Global Music Awards Africa

1. Wizkid - Total Awards won 65
Wizkid, born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born 16 July 1990) is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He has largely been seen as a music legend, taking over the late Fela Kuti and also contributing to the worldwide growth of the Afrobeats.

Star Boy like he is fondly called tops the list of the 10 best musicians in Nigeria 2021 with a total of 65 awards. Throughout his career, he has worked with lots of international artistes including Beyonce, Ty Dolla Sign, Drake, Akon, Chris Brown, Tinie Tempa and many others.

He has recorded 4 studio albums and also one ep throughout his career which includes:

Superstar
Ayo
Sound from the other side (SFTOS)
Made in Lagos
Soundman Vol 1 (EP)

He is the most awarded musicians in Nigeria with recognitions from:

BET Awards
Channel O Music Video Awards
City People Entertainment Awards
Future Awards
Dynamix All Youth Awards
Ghana Music Awards
Billboard Music Awards
African Pride Awards
AFRIMA
African Muzik Magazine Awards
iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards
iHeartRadio Music Awards
MOBO awards
MTV Europe Music Awards
Net Honours
NAACP Image Awards
Nigeria Entertainment Awards
Soul Train Music Awards
Soundcity MVP Awards
Teen Choice Awards
The Headies
4Syte TV Music Video Awards

I hope you agree with my list? Drop your comments below.

Check out more posts like this on Mp3globaly Entertainment

Wrong ranking

Nice one

Where is that guy that sang " I am not regular...when I come through...gagarangaran..."

I love that guy (no homo) die.

Danielmeg:
Wrong ranking

why do you say so? Is there one who shouldn't be in the list?

Emilokoiyawon:
Where is that guy that sang " I am not regular...when I come through...gagarangaran..."

I love that guy (no homo) die.

Speed Darlington?

mp3globaly:
Speed Darlington?

YES!!! Thank you!