Top Earning African Musicians

Best Selling African Musicians

Africa is rising up to claim its rightful stake on the global music arena. African musicians are increasing becoming globally vocal.

To be able to appreciate the effort taken by African musicians, we look at some of the best-selling African musicians who are still alive.

8. Jiddena

Jiddena Theodore Mobisson Al Amin, simpy known as ‘Jiddena’, is an American-born Nigerian R&B rapper. He was born in 1995 in the US, of Nigerian father and American mother.

Among his notable work outside the music industry is his collaboration with Michelle Obama, the former US First Lady, on an educational program, which included several shows and concerts, with the aim of sensitizing the importance of education among the vulnerable youths.

Some of the R&B hit singles by him include ‘Yoga’ and ‘Classic Man’ which he recorded with Wondaland Records. His success is evidenced by his wealth tag of $1 million.

7. Tinashe

Tinashe Jorgensen Kachingwe is an American-born R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. She was born in 1993 in the United States, of Zimbabwean father and Danish mother.

Probably Africa’s top-ranking female artist, Tinashe’s sonorous voice has been featured more in films than on the music scene. Some of the famous films in which her voice has featured include Cora Unashamed, and Polar Express, among others.

Some of her famous music hits include:

  • ‘Chainless’
  • ‘My High’
  • ‘Boss’
  • ‘Stargazing’
  • and ‘Vulnerable’, among others.

As a manifestation of her successful career in the music industry, Tinashe’s wealth tag of $6 million makes her Africa’s richest female artist.

6. Sarkodie

Born in 1988, Michael Owusu Addo, popularly known as ‘Sarkodie’, is one of the most popular Ghanaian musicians. Sarkodie is a rapper who has made great success through his record label dubbed ‘Sarkcess Music’.

His music success has earned him a huge fortune, making him Ghana’s richest musician. This is clearly manifested in his wealth tag of $7 million.

Some of his big hits include:

  • ‘Whine Fi Me’
  • ‘Living Legend’
  • ‘Megye Wo Girl’
  • ‘You Go Kill Me’
  • ‘Love Rocks’
  • ‘Good Bye’
  • ‘Onyame Nhyira’
  • ‘Chingum’
  • and ‘One Time For Your Mind’.

Apart from his Sarkcess Music, Sarkodie is one of the leading philanthropists in Ghana who has contributed immensely to the welfare of poor children both morally and monetarily through his own Sarkodie Foundation.

This effort has been amply recognized by the Ghanaian authorities thus awarding him with the presidential Youth Ambassador position.

5. Davido

David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as ‘Davido’ is a Nigerian musician, songwriter, and producer born in 1992. Davido is one of the hottest pop stars in Africa.

He enthralled himself into music fame through his popular release by the title ‘Dami Duro’. He has registered many successes including The Headies Awards.

Some of Davido’s popular hits include:

  • ‘All of You’
  • ‘Overseas’
  • ‘Skelewu’
  • ‘The Money’
  • ‘Owo Ni Koko’
  • ‘Aye’
  • ‘Dami Duro’
  • ‘Gobe’
  • ‘Gbon Gbon’
  • ‘Ekuro’
  • ‘One of a Kind’
  • ‘Back When’
  • ‘Feel Alright’
  • ‘Tchelete (Goodlife)’
  • ‘Naughty’
  • and ‘The Sound’, among others

His successful sale has added to his wealth tag which currently stands at $16 million.

4. Wizkid

 Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as ‘Wizkid’ is a Nigerian musician born in 1990. He is currently Africa’s hottest hip-hop star. Through his record label, ‘Starboy Entertainment’, Wizkid has received mega endorsement deals with international companies including Pepsi, MTN, among others.

Some of the popular hits by Wizkid include:

  • ‘One Question’
  • ‘Holla at Your Boy’
  • ‘Show You the Money’
  • ’Oluwa Lo Ni’
  • ‘Tease Me/Bad Guys’
  • ‘Pakurumo’
  • ‘Don't Dull’
  • ‘Bombay’
  • ‘Jaiye Jaiye’
  • ‘Joy’
  • ‘On Top Your Matte’
  • and ‘Love My Baby’
Apart from hit singles, Wizkid has made some of the biggest international collaborations of an African musician including:
  • ‘One Dance’ with Drake
  • ‘Slow Down’ with R2Bees
  • ‘Girl’ with Bracket, ‘Bad Girl’ with Jesse Jagz
  • ‘Sexy Mama’ with Iyanya
  • ‘Pull Over’ with Kcee
  • ‘Fine Lady’ with Lynxxx
  • and ‘The Matter’ with Maleek Berry.

His singing, recording, and endorsements have brought him a fortune whose tag currently stands at $20 million. Bearing in mind that Wizkid is a rising star, he is highly likely going to become Nigeria’s richest musician in not-so-distant future.

3. Don Jazzy

Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as ‘Don Jazzy’ is a Nigerian musician born in 1982. Don Jazzy is both a musician and a record producer. Through his record label, Mavins Records, Don Jazzy has been able to produce albums for various musicians across West Africa.

His success is amplified by his wealth tag of $35 million, making him Nigeria’s wealthiest musician. Some of the notable albums released by Don Jazzy include ‘Curriculum Vitae’, ‘Mushin2Mohits’, ‘Turning Point’, ‘No Long Thing’, ‘The Entertainer’, and ‘Funk You Up’, among others.

2. Black Coffee

Nkosinathi Maphumulo, popularly known as ‘Black Coffee’, is a South African DJ and Record Producer. Apart from being a Record Producer and DJ, Black Coffee is also a musician in his own right.

Some of his popular albums include:

  • ‘Black Coffee’
  • ‘Africa Rising’
  • ‘The Journey Continues’
  • ‘Have Another One’
  • ‘Music is King’
  • ‘Home Brewed’
  • and ‘Pieces of Me’, among others.

Through Soulistic Music, his Record Label, Black Coffee has not only been able to produce his own music but also molded other music talents across Southern Africa. Black Coffee is South Africa’s richest musician and the second richest in Africa. He holds a wealth tag of $60 million.

1. Akon

Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, or simply ‘Akon’, is a Senegalese musician born in 1973. His chest boasts of 45 Billboard Hot 100 songs! His popular albums have been able to record over 35 million sales.

He holds the Record Label ‘Konvict’. Apart from being an artist, he is also a Record Producer and Songwriter. So far, Akon is Africa’s richest musician with a wealth tag of about $80 million.

Despite not being so active in 2018, his albums continued to bring in huge fortune. His fan-base is global and he is one of the few African musicians that have successfully created music with an all-around global appeal.

Some of his popular albums include:

  • ‘Trouble’
  • ‘Konvicted’
  • and ‘Freedom’.
His top hits include:
  • ‘Locked Up’
  • ‘Lonely’
  • and ‘Smack That’.

He has also done collaborations with several artists. Some of his top collabos include ‘I Wanna Love You’ (with Snoop Dogg), and ‘Hold My Hand’ (with Michael Jackson).

The final verse . . .

Africa continues to incrementally stake its claim on the global music scene. African music is the voice of Africa. It is great when the voices of Africa’s sons and daughters continue to echo in every corner of the planet.

Herein, we have captured just a few of these voices that have taken over from veterans such as Oliver Mtukudzi, Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, among many other legendary African musicians.

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