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21st century

The Nigerian music industry is one of biggest in Africa and is becoming far more noticed across the globe. It embodies music that is not only catchy but creative and entertaining. Nigerian music has evolved over the years, from strictly traditional tribal music to music that incorporates different tunes and beats from around the world. The types of genres in Nigeria are limitless as Nigerian traditional beats are adaptable to other genres. The genres in Nigeria range from Jùjú music, Afro-Jùjú, Highlife, Fuji to Hip-hop, Contemporary etc. However, the most recognized genres in Nigeria in the 21st century are Afrobeat, Dancehall and Reggae.

Afrobeat

Afrobeat is the biggest genre in Nigerian music and was invented by Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Afrobeat is a fusion of Highlife, Jazz and funk, which Fela Kuti assimilated together to form tunes that stood out to the rest of Africa . Over the years with the growth of the artists in the Nigerian music industry, several artist have added their own twist to this genre, from adding their own instrument or speaking their tribal language like Igbo and Yoruba. Popular known Afrobeat musicians include D'banj, Wizkid, Donjazzy, P-square and Femi Kuti. Although Fela Kuti passed away years ago his particular brand of Afrobeat, which is fusion of Jazz, Highlife and Funk, still lives on through his son Femi Kuti

Femi Kuti

Taking the lead from his father,Femi Kuti is now in recent times considered the Prince of Afrobeat, producing tunes with a fusion of jazz, highlife and funk. His career kicked off 26 years ago, but he began his music at the age of 15 when he played the saxophone on his fathers music band Egypt 80, However started his own music group called Positive Force. He is known internationally as he has worked with the likes of Mos Def, Common and Jane’s Addiction, who he toured with across America, in order to reach an audience that wasn't familiar to him . Femi Kuti is popularly known for tracks like Beng Beng Beng, Wonder Wonder, and his rendition of his Fathers song Water no get enemy. His music style is constantly evolving as he collaborates with younger Afrobeat musicians like Wizkid, bring out a fusion of Afro- Pop, Hip- hop and Afrobeat. He currently a judge on Nigerian idol, a local version of the idol franchise.

Femi Kuti Playing his Saxophone

Wizkid

Wizkid during a stage performance

Wizkid is one of the youngest artist in the Nigerian music industry with many awards under his belt like Bet awards best international act of 2012 and the headies music artist of the year 2012. He is one of the only young artists to perform alongside Femi Kuti on a track titlted Jaiye Jaiye, which can be considered a modern version of Afrobeat, a mesh of hip-hop, jazz and highlife. Wizkid started his music at the age of 11 but had his musical breakthrough in 2009, with his release of Holla at your boy and got signed into Empire Mates Entertainment headed by a popular Nigerian R&B singer Banky W. He incorporates his traditional language Yoruba in to his music, which give his music a different sound. On the Forbes Africa top 10 Most Bankable African Music Artists he is ranked No 5 because of his several accolades over the years and his affiliation with several international acts like Tinie Tempah, Big Sean and Wale.

D'banj

D’banj also known as the Koko master is one of the most popular Afrobeat musician, he has also contributed to the global presence of Nigerian music as he has featured songs with African American musicians like SnoopDogg, Kanye West and Big Sean. He is also signed to Good music, an American record label founded by KanyeWest. D’banj prides himself in his philanthropy as he is an ambassador for so many brands and nonprofit organization. On October 9th 2014 he became the first African ambassador for beats by Dre headphones, an earphones company acquired by Apple in May for $3bn, he also gets his own custom-made earphones. He is also an ambassador for a popular nonprofit organization,ONE ,whose goal is to end poverty and preventable disease in Africa. D’banj is the advocate for the Do Agric it pays Campaign to raise awareness about agriculture and raising funds to make resources available to Farmers in order to increase Agriculture in Africa. Years before he became a solo artist his popularity was from his music group Mo-hits which was headed by one of the best producers in Nigeria Don-jazzy.

Dancehall and Reggae

The African Caribbean fusion is one that has been popular and growing over the years, in this genre African musicians incorporate Jamaican patios into their lyrics and beats. This genre of music although very popular in Jamaica, became well known in the African region around the 19th century, because of the Nigerian Reggae musician Majek Fashek who attracted international attention to this fusion . African Reggae became better known as other Nigerian artists like Ras Kimono and Blaccky began to incorporate Patios into their music. This genre is gaining far more presence in Nigeria with recent artists Like Burna Boy and Patoranking who attract a younger audience

Patoranking

Although he is fairly new to the music scene he has made a name for himself by successfully meshing African beats to reggae. He successfully in February 2014 released a song, with a major Nigerian artist Tiwa Savage titled Girlie O, which influenced his Career significantly.

Women of music

One of Today's Successful Female Afrobeat artist Tiwa Savage of Mavin Records

In the Nigerian Music Industry the female artists are as well-known and are as popular as the male artists. Over the years most Nigerian female artist stuck to the contemporary African music, but in the 21st century several female artist began to diversify into other genres like Rap, Hip-hop and Afrobeat. Some of the popular female Nigerian rappers include, Weird Mc, Eva Alordiah, and Sasha P. While in terms of Afrobeat there are so many Female artist but only few have very successful over the years like Omawumi Megbele and Tiwa Savage.

External links

Femi Kuti's Website

One Campaign Website

One/Do Aagric it pays campaign

Sasha P's website