Nigeria's Top Ten Female Vocalists...

Assembled below are 10 totally 'badazz' musical sensations you’ll ever hear from the Nigerian shore orginally done by Marapolsa but re-written here on SDK. 

Just to be clear, the reference point here is still “vocalists”, and not just anybody who can open their bucca to make melodies from it. It takes more than just the singing art or form to be conferred with such a revered yet simple title. So with that understanding, please peruse this list and let us know what you think about it...

10-CYNTHIA MORGAN

Cynthia Ikponmwenosa Morgan (born 23 September 1991), popularly known by her stage name Cynthia Morgan, is a Nigerian born songwriter and singer whose style of music is a fusion of pop, hip hop, dancehall and rap. Though she's more into rap and dancehall, but bae can sing. This is very obvious from her "Don't Break My Heart" single which brought her into limelight. A song she followed with another hit single “Lead Me On”, both of which received significant airplay.

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9-NIYOLA

Niyola has been into music since she was 8, and in 2000 emerged at the first runner up in the AMEN starlet competition. She later linked up with Trybe records, and then Westside music where she released her debut album with singles Me n U, No More and Dem Say. Her profile took a serious upturn when she signed with EME and everyone really started taking notice. Her single Toh Bad became her IT song, and show cased not only her singing ability, but her ability to convey emotions through her song so effortlessly. Song writing wise she’s also quite stellar, and her subsequent singles, No Comment, Love To Love You, and Last Bus Stop have done well to cement her name as one of the top divas in Nigerian music.

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8-CHIDINMA

This Project Fame winner from 2010 hit the ground running right after she was crowned with the hit single, Jankolikoko featuring Sound Sultan. Though she’s not your stereotypical vocalist, she knows how to deliver songs in a way that every class of people in Nigeria can rock with. Her single, Kedike has become her trademark tune winning her awards after awards including Best Female West African Act at the KORA awards in 2012, and giving her the tag name Ms Kedike. Following that up shortly after with another mega hit Emi Ni Baller. Her more recent singles, Oh Baby, Jolie, and Kite have done well to keep her status at a consistent level. Giving her all the makings of someone that’ll be around for the long haul.

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7-SEYI SHAY

If there was anything else Seyi Shay could have done better than singing, I bet it would still be singing. She’s like one of the baddest female singers to come outta Nigeria. Ms Shay boasts of an impressing list of international music credits from singing to songwriting.

She was privileged to be the lead act for a now defunct UK-based girl group where she got the opportunity to not only tour with, but also open a show for one of the world’s utterly successful music divas, Beyoncé. After working with a fine crop of international artistes including Michelle Williams, Justin Timberlake and Chip (just to mention a few), she returned to her home country and began to shine right from her very first release, Loving Your Way. It was succeeded by other breaking singles Irawo, Ragga Ragga, Murda, Crazy, Jangilova and more recently, Right Now. Seyi’s voice is quite the rare type, her heart is deeply souled up in it and the sound is totally disarming. Ms Shay is signed to Island Music and most recently, a Pepsi Brand Ambassador.

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6-RUBY GYANG

Although Ruby might need an introduction to some, but that moment when she opens up her mouth to belt out riveting notes is all the announcement that does her perfect and fitting justice. 

That she doesn’t have an exhaustive list of a musical discography like most her counterparts do, still doesn’t undermine the fact that she is very well made up for in the voice department with a crazy pitch on which she bathes her savvy dexterity over. With a vocal range that covers four octaves, Ruby has slayed songs Okay, Down and Good Man to spectacular relish. Her soul-stirring appeal has won her the hearts of many good music lovers, even MI, Jesse Jags, ClassiQ and Ese Peters. She is currently signed to the indestructible crew of Choc Boi Nation.

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5 - TIWA SAVAGE

Nobody badder than Mrs Billz, I tell you. First, she boasts a degree in professional music from the Berklee College of Music, and in 2006, she featured on the UK platform for X-factor where she placed third in runner-up. A vocalist per excellence, Tiwa has lent her sonorous voice to international music legends like Mary J Blige, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Whitney Houston and Andrea Bocelli just to mention a few. 

After she had amassed an exhaustive amount of vocal and lyrical credit, she returned back to Nigeria's shores with the motive to dominate and rule....AND SHE DID!

 Tiwa blessed us with sound treaties that showed her acuity in the vocal department. Kele Kele Love, Love Me, Without My Heart, Ife Wa Gbona, Olorun Mi and Wanted, are some of the songs she slayed with her voice. She has an impressive list of vocal features with Waje, Sean Tizzle, Solidstar, Skuki, Pasuma, Isaac Geralds and many many others, as well as mates from her record label, the Supreme Mavin Dynasty.

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4-OMAWUMI

First daughter of Warri soil, Omawumi Megbele is a born certified music diva. At the premiere edition of West African Idols, Omawonder placed first runner-up in the year 2007 and her profile has not gone down since then. Her selling point?

Having an uber strong voice that just cannot be missed and then a very out-going personality. Omawumi began to thrill us with records from her repertoire which she slayed with rich vocal flavour. Music releases that have become reminiscent of her signature soprano will include Serious Love Nwantiti and In The Music off her debut LP, Wonder Woman. She continued the trend with If You Ask Me, I Go Go and Bottom Belle, all of which served as promotional singles for her second album, Lasso of Truth – an afro-themed musical collection that culled some real life experiences. We definitely cannot miss other material like Stay Alive (Jeje Laye) and Warn Yourself. Before she entered into hiatus, Somori, Finally and Megbele are the treaties she left us with while we earnestly anticipate her re-emergence.

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3- YEMI ALADE

Yemi rose from total obscurity and worked her way relentlessly to becoming unarguably Africa’s best female artiste at present. Girl can SING for the world! 

She blew our minds with her majestic poise and her sweet ringing soprano at the debut edition of Peak’s talent hunt show in 2009 and welcomed us officially to her music world with the release of Fimisile which followed that closely with more stellar efforts Ghen Ghen Love, Bamboo and Johnny especially, which later became the lead single for her debut album, King of Queens. Ms Alade laced her fierce voice on Duro Timi, Catch You, Temperature and a couple other tracks that showed how recklessly skilled she is in the vocal artistry. Fresh off a music tour that saw her heating up the stage in choice locations around the world, she is set to drop her second studio album, already titled “Mama Africa“. You can always bank on Yemi Alade’s voice at any time of day and it’s an unusual feat that has given her quite the edge. Rather than impede her, she’s usurped the opportunity to enjoy a healthy musical association with her colleagues.

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2-ASA

Asa can very much be likened to the African Adele. Not because they sound alike or anything of such, but for the similarities they share in their music and how it propels emotion. Asa can sing to save a dying soul, I mean literally. And hers is an art that she has perfected over time, having tailored after the likes of Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo. When you add that with the sojourn she enjoys abroad, it perfectly explains why she is a force to reckon with. 

Asa’s self-titled debut contained records that were hugely successful hits especially 360, Fire On The Mountain, Eye Adaba and Jailer. In like manner, her sophomore disc contains notable releases like Be My Man, Why Can’t We and Baby Gone. Her latest effort, Bed of Stone is still pulling reviews globally by reason of it’s musical showmanship. Asa credits music legends Fela, Bob Marley, King Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey as her influences.

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1-WAJE

It is not so surprising that Waje seats unopposed at the number one spot. I mean, this is what you get when you are otherwise referred to as ‘The African Soul’ and have been conferred (although unofficially) with the title of Africa’s Vocal Powerhouse. 

Since her days with P-Square and Mr Incredible where she was the vocal sensation behind their music hits Do Me and One Naira respectively, Waje’s beacon has continued to burn the brightest and she drew inspiration from music legends Beyoncé, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin to showcase on her self-styled singles Oko Mi, Onye, Grind, I Wish, Higher, No Be You, and Black and White all housed on her debut album, W.A.J.E (Words Aren’t Just Enough). 

Waje has stayed consistent in her craft by churning out newer singles Omini Knowest, Coco Baby, Mma Mma and the very latest, Left For Good. Her big, strong voice covers over three octaves which leaves her without a rival...for ow!

Tomorow we will look at the male folk....