Entertainment
Forbes Enlists Don Jazzy, Wizkid And Davido On Top Richest African Musicians
Forbes Africa has released its list of Richest African musicians.
The list was put together using factors such as endorsement value, popularity, show rates, sales, awards, YouTube views, appearance in newspapers, investment, social media presence, influence and others.
Nigerian artistes, Don Jazzy, Wizkid and Davido, are among the top ten richest African musicians.
The top ten are:
1. AKON
Akon has over 35 million albums sold worldwide. He has won numerous awards including five Grammy Award nominations and has 45 Billboard Hot 100 songs under his belt. He tops the list according to Forbes Africa.
2. BLACK COFFEE, SOUTH AFRICA
The multi-award-winning artist’s real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo. He was born in South Africa’s house music province, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and raised in the Eastern Cape province, where Nelson Mandela hailed from, before moving back to KZN to study music.
3. HUGH MASEKELA, SOUTH AFRICA
Hugh was born in Witbank, east of Johannesburg. He has released more than 43 albums and performed with Marvin Gaye, Dizzy Gillespie, The Byrds, Fela Kuti, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Miriam Makeba.
4. DON JAZZY, NIGERIA
Don Jazzy is ranked fourth richest in Africa and also first in Nigeria. Like many artists, his real name is Michael Collins Ajereh, and he started playing music as a child in church before moving to the UK to pursue his career.
5. TINASHE, ZIMBABWE-AMERICAN
Tinashe was a child model by the age of three. The twenty-four-year-old sang before she could talk and made her first appearance in 2000 in the film Cora Unashamed. Her voice also starred in the cartoon feature film The Polar Express alongside Oscar-winning actor, Tom Hanks.
6. JIDENNA, NIGERIAN-AMERICAN,
By the age of 10, Jidenna Theodore Mobisson knew he wanted to do music but was afraid to tell his father who wanted him to be an engineer. He is ranked sixth according to Forbes Africa.
7. WIZKID, NIGERIA
Wizkid is arguably currently the uncrowned king of African music. Grammy Award-winning artist, Alicia Keys and husband Swizz Beatz, danced to his songs Ojuelegba and Caro, with Keys posting a video on her Instagram account with the caption, “This song makes me happy”. Kylie Jenner also posted a video of herself dancing to Wizkid’s music on Snapchat.
8. DAVIDO, NIGERIA
Davido has claimed a high status in just five years. He said it was people like P-Square and D’Banj who made him believe this was possible. He became famous for his widely acclaimed 2012 debut album “Omo Baba Olowo”.
9. SARKODIE, GHANA
Michael Owusu Addo started out as an underground rapper and through the help of Duncan Williams, his former manager, his career was launched. Staying true to his identity, he is a big advocate of Azonto, a Ghanaian genre that is said to have been born out of Kpanlogo, a traditional dance.
His first single off his fourth album, Mewu, sold almost 4,000 copies on the first day of its release in Ghana. He was also the first Ghanaian to win a BET award.
10. OLIVER MTUKUDZI, ZIMBABWE
Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi has 65 albums under his belt, more than the legendary Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. It’s a remarkable career stretching back 41 years with songs that have enlivened parties all over the world.
He is ranked 10th richest musician in Africa.
Entertainment
TikTok and Universal Music Group reaches an agreement to return their songs to the App
After months of an impasse, Universal Music Group and TikTok have reached an agreement that will see UMG’s music return to the App.
In the news revealed in May 2, 2024 it’s reported that the agreement will see TikTok pay more remuneration to UMG’s artists and songwriters, provide them with more marketing tools, and also tackle the growing use of AI.
Readers will recall that UMG had earlier pulled down its catalog from TikTok over disputes on low payment of royalties to its artist, non-regulation of the use of artificial intelligence, and safety issues bothering mental health and bullying.
In response to UMG’s accusations, TikTok claimed that the record label was putting its interest above that of the artists on its books. The social media platform also insisted that it would not be bullied into paying more than it was willing to.
The agreement between UMG and TikTok will come as a relief for artists serviced by UMG’s subsidiaries as they can now resume exploring TikTok’s huge promotional benefits. It will also come as good news for fans who can now interact with their favourite artists signed to UMG.
While UMG and TikTok have resolved their differences, the same cannot be said for TikTok and the United States where the government has directed the Chinese-based company to sell off its US division or face sanctions.
Entertainment
Naira abuse: EFCC, Cubana Chief Priest to settle out of court
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Cubana Chief Priest have agreed to settle out of court concerning the naira abuse case against the nightlife promoter.
Cubana arrived at the federal high court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday for the continuation of his trial.
On April 16, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a three-count charge against him over alleged naira abuse.
He was arraigned the following day. When the charges were read, the social media celebrity pleaded not guilty.
Kehinde Ogundare, the judge, thereafter granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.
The judge ruled that the bail conditions must be perfected within seven days.
Cubana was released to his lawyer who must give an undertaken to produce him later. The trial was adjourned to May 2 for continuation.
During sitting, both parties agreed to settle the matter out of court. The trial was then adjourned to June 5 for the hearing of the settlement report.
The social media celebrity is well known for his luxurious lifestyle.
Cubana is also known for his affiliation with Davido, the Afrobeats singer.
He served as the general manager of Cubana Groups but left the brand in September 2020 and established Club Xhrine in Owerri, Imo.
The nightlife promoter was honoured with a doctor of science in event and luxury hospitality management degree from the European American University in 2021.
In January 2022, Cubana was appointed as a social media aide to Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo state.
Entertainment
Yemi Alade slams colleagues who downplay Afrobeats genre
Yemi Alade, the Nigerian singer, says downplaying the role of Afrobeats in the development of music artistes is “hypocrisy”.
Afrobeats has been one of Africa’s biggest exports in the past years. In 2023, Afrobeats enjoyed massive global recognition, with top Nigerian artistes like Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy — among others — gracing the stages of some of the biggest events and occasions worldwide.
But Wizkid recently sparked controversy after he asked the public not to label him an “Afrobeats artiste”.
The ‘Essence’ hitmaker said although he is African, he “makes all sorts of music”.
He said referring to every song as Afrobeats is why Nigerian artistes are only nominated in “African categories” of music awards like the Grammys.
Similarly, Burna Boy, in 2022, said his style of music is called Afrofusion, and not Afrobeats as assumed.
In a post via her Instagram story on Wednesday, Alade said African artistes are free to define their music genre.
The songstress, however, advised her colleagues not to downplay the role of Afrobeats in their development.
“I don’t see anything wrong in informing your listeners of the genre of music an artist makes especially when you feel it doesn’t define your art,” she said.
“Just announce your genre in peace. Downplaying the role Afrobeats has played in every artist’s development is hypocrisy.”
Alade is arguably one of the top female artistes in the country. She gained fame with the release of ‘Johnny’, her 2014 single.
-
News1 week ago
FAAN reopens Lagos airport runway after Dana Air incident
-
Crime3 days ago
UK-based Nigerian doctor, Tijion Esho loses licences over sex for free Botox injections
-
News5 days ago
‘Mischievous narrative’ — Yahaya Bello’s media office reacts to ‘American school refunding $760k’ claim
-
News1 week ago
Nigeria Air: EFCC vows to arraign Sirika over alleged contract fraud
-
Education1 week ago
UNN suspends, probes lecturer attempting to sexually assault female student
-
Entertainment3 days ago
Gunmen abduct singer Gnewzy in Delta, demand $200k ransom
-
Entertainment5 days ago
Family announces burial arrangements for junior pope
-
World1 week ago
Nigerian lady Clara Chizoba Kronborg certified as world record holder for longest interviewing marathon