NewStats: 3,262,373 , 8,176,961 topics. Date: Monday, 02 June 2025 at 04:33 AM 3w631z

Aside boasting of a cultural diversity unlike any other, Africa is also home to many locally and internationally renowned musical legends, many of whom are pioneers of different African music genres that have become part of the authentic African sound.

Here are the 6 of the African music legends you should know.

1. Fela Kuti

This great musical legend is renowned for his ‘high octane performances’. Fela, widely considered as the greatest African artist to have ever lived, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician and composer who rose to fame in the 70s with his band ‘The Afrika’70’.

He was also a ionate political activist and is considered the pioneer of the music genre known as Afrobeat.

He was popular for singing in Yoruba his native tongue and pidgin English.

2. Miriam Makeba

This South African beauty is considered to be the most popular female artist to come out of Africa.

This Grammy award winner who is often referred to as ‘Mama Africa’ is still recognized all over the world for her unique sound and stage performances.

Her music dealt with the socio-political plight of South Africans under Apartheid and she is considered to have defined the very sound of South African music.

3. Ali Farka Toure

Ali Farka Toure was a multilingual Malian singer and guitarist renowned for his brand of music that fuses African American jazz with Malian traditional music.

He is considered to be one of the finest musicians to come out of Mali and is adept in performing songs in 10 languages from Mali, which is considered an impressive feat indeed.

4. Youssou N’Dour

This brilliant Senegalese singer, songwriter, composer and percussionist is one of the pioneers of the popular music style known in Wolof as Mbalax.

He is a celebrated singer, songwriter and composer and is very highly regarded internationally.

This is largely due to his brilliant fusion of Mbalax with Cuban, Latin, Hip-hop and elements of pop.

5. Brenda Fassie

Brenda Fassie was a highly regarded South African pop singer fondly referred to as the Queen of African Pop.

Her songs were known to top the charts and each of her albums became multi-platinum sellers in South Africa.

Even in her death, she continues to inspire many, particularly a whole new generation of rising artists.

6. King Sunny Ade

King Sunny Ade is a Nigerian musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and a pioneer of modern world music.

He is considered to be one of the most influential musicians of all time and is quite literally music royalty seeing as he was born to a royal family in Ondo, Nigeria.

He is popularly known for playing ‘juju music’, a popular form of Nigerian music in the 80s. He toured across Africa and gained popularity in the US and Europe with his band ‘King Sunny Ade and His African Beats’.

He was the first person to introduce the pedal steel guitar to Nigerian pop music.

Which Do You Think Is The Most Celebrated Legend Among Them?

http://fabinfos.com/must-read-6-african-music-legends-know/

Pictures

Blackface.

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one day...una go halla my name one day ooooooooooo

Where's Lucky Dube?

Vic o

Kushykush, watchu have to say about Baba Fela. Thought you said he is no legend


Baba Fela, Papa 70, Anikulapo..... Young forever baba...

Incomplete list! Please include Angelique Kidjo and Chaka Chaka

I know some small brats will come and ask y wizkid and davido are not there. Tell them it’s a list of musicians not noisemakers!

Where is Majerk Fasherk?

Where is Victor Uwaifo?

Where is Ebenezer Obey?

Where is Osita?

Where is Mike Okri?

Where is Bright Chimeze?

Where is Angelique Kidjo? Lucky Dude? Ras Kimono?

Onyeka Onwenu nko, Christy Essien , Papa Wemba Igbokwe, Angelina Kidjo, KoffiOlomide, Awilo Longomba Prince Nico Mbaga, Sunny Okosun Lucky Dube, Ebenezer Obey, Majek Fashek, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Bright Chimezie Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Osadebe, Oliver de Coque Raskimono et al.. They're also legends as well and their songs will forever remain evergreen in our hearts

Ebenezer Obey

Cardinal Rex Jim - Lawson is greater than all of them....

Lucky Dube and Majek Fashek should be on that list, unless it's genre based.

Where is oliver da kukou??,op ,you are a partiality.....

wizkid is next on the list .. haters pack well

Where is Salif Keita, Papa Wemba, Angélique Kidjo, Kofi Olomide and many more? OP, this your list get as e be. Go do more research please.

Samikay

Addition to Fela and those Op already mentioned, the following:

Sir Victor Uwaifo

Sunny Okosun

Majek Fashek

Rex Lawson

Ebenezer Obey

Lucky Dube

Chief Osita Osadebe

Yvonne Shaka Shaka.

Papa Wemba

Awilo Logomba.

Orlando Owoh
Angelique Kidjo

Salif Keita

Alpha Blondy.

Christie Essien Igbokwe.

So Onyeka Onwenu, Oliver De Coque and Stephen Osita Osadebey are not African legends?

Biased and crappy list...

Include AIRFORCE1 too at least he's a legend in idiocy and smoking too

Fela Anikulapo Kuti
The Abami Eda
Seru bawon and jawon laya of Nija Kingdom
Oko Omoge of Ojuelegba
The maestro!

andymofia:
Where's Lucky Dube?

The list was compiled by a dunce. We all know that Late Dube is/was a legend.

DaddyKross:
Kushykush, watchu have to say about Baba Fela. Thought you said he is no legend


Baba Fela, Papa 70, Anikulapo..... Young forever baba...

Fela is a drug addict who sings about the people's pain.

In the next 20 to 30 years, these current nonsense singers won't be there.
Trust me

Good list!


Africa get talent.

Hehe

Who made this list?

So the person doesn't know barrister
Abi ayinla omo wura?

iyke926:

The list was compiled by a dunce. We all know that Late Dube is/was a legend.

I just weak for the OP

A list without Angelique Kidjo is a useless list... a multiple Grammy winner of which I doubt if anyone one your list have any.

So many songs for Hollywood

Please read and be educated

what was the criteria for this list because to me the list is not complete

KushyKush:


Fela is a drug addict who sings about the people's pain.

Dem suppose castrate you nii. Ewu