Navigating the music industry as a newcomer can leave any artist feeling burdened under the weight of several responsibilities; even more so when the journey begins at an early age. However, with a solid team and adequate support systems around them, some acts are able to defy all odds and emerge victorious on their paths to much sought-after stardom. Take Davido, who broke out with his hit single, “Dami Duro” at 18 years old, or Wizkid, who put out arguably one of the best contributions of Afropop, ‘Superstar’ just weeks to his 21st birthday.  

Today, Afropop’s stars are only getting younger, with talents emerging from all parts of the country with both the childlike wonder of a newbie and the confidence of a veteran. Here’s a look back at some of the best young acts that paved the way, and a new class of artists dominating music conversations in the country today. 

OLD-CLASS OF ARTISTS

BENITA OKOJIE

Benita Okojie was always surrounded by music. As a young child, she used to make medleys of Benin and English songs with her mother and sister. That history played a huge part in establishing her as one of Nigeria’s pre-social media child pop stars when her debut single, “Osemudiamen” was released to commercial success in 1998. In the three decades since “Osemudiamen,” Okojie has continued to enjoy success as a gospel singer while pivoting to working as an actress on occasion. Her early success laid the foundation for a number of child stars to  break out in the years to come. 

WIZKID

There can be no discussion about Afropop without the outsized contributions of Wizkid, who has been a critical part of the genre’s journey to global music’s high table over the last decade and a half. Wizkid broke through with his debut single, “Holla At Your Boy,” released under Empire Mates Entertainment on January 2, 2010, when he was 19 years old. Since then, the Surulere-born star’s trajectory has been an upward incline that has shaped the tone, texture, and style of Afropop. His debut album, ‘Superstar,’ is regularly referenced by many as an undisputed classic in the Afropop canon while other projects have also deepened his legend. 

DAVIDO

Emerging in the wake of the continental success of Afropop forebearers like 2Face and P Square, Davido had originally aspired to being a mysterious behind-the-scenes creative behemoth like Don Jazzy. However, he found himself thrust into the limelight when his breakout single, “Dami Duro,” landed him in the stratosphere at just 18-years-old, and set the stage for a run that’s still unfurling new layers into its second decade. Davido added a new level of dynamism and pomp to Nigerian and African music that instantly elevated the game and made him one of the genre’s foremost avatars, widely admired for his collaborative prowess and ever-evolving curatorial instincts. 

BURNA BOY

Port Harcourt has long been an important city for Afropop, and in Burna Boy, the city found  its great export. The gravelly-toned singer was always regarded as a generational talent thanks to a sonic malleability that made him stand out clearly from his peers, from his late teen start. Right from the beginning, no two Burna Boy songs have sounded the same as he pulled from Reggae, Dancehall, Hip-hop, and R&B for a sound that he has always called Afro-fusion. He kickstarted his international campaign with the release of  2019’s ‘Outside’ and has continued to be one of the most inspiring acts of his generation as well as a reference point for popular music from Africa. 

ICE PRINCE 

Hip-hop has always been a critical influence in Afropop; and the middle belt and Northern parts of Nigeria have served as incubators for some of Nigeria’s biggest Hip-hop stars. Jos rapper, Ice Prince, came on the scene courtesy of M.I. Abaga, but he was determined to make a name for himself and did so with a number of pop-rap anthems that ruled the lands during the 2010s. His smash hit, “Oleku,” is a cornerstone record in Afropop history while other songs like “Superstar” and “Whiskey” propelled him to the history books without losing touch of his Hip-hop sensibilities. 

 

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NEW CLASS OF ARTISTS

KHAID

At just 19, Khaid has showcased a broad spectrum of musical abilities under the glaring lights of mainstream audiences. He ascended the scene’s ranks armed with Afropop-influenced songs like “Anabella” and “Carry Me Go,” all efforts which snagged him a Rookie of the Year nomination at the 2023 Headies. In just a few short years, Khaid has been able to showcase and blend a myriad of influences, borrowing elements of AfroTrap on ‘DIVERSITY’ and straight up lover-boy anthems on ‘Emotions.’ These, in addition to the singles and features under his belt, have positioned Khaid as one of the more promising hitmakers orbiting the Afropop landscape. 

QING MADI

It’s more and more common for artists to emerge after experiencing viral moments on the internet and 18-year-old Qing Madi is no stranger to the TikTok effect. The Benin-born artist enjoyed her moment in the sun when the uncompleted version of her debut single, “See Finish,” began making the rounds on TikTok and Instagram. After unburdening herself on the debut, her followup singles, “Why” and a BNXN cosign for “Ole” set Qing Madi on a journey hardly anyone could have anticipated. With several standout singles and an eponymous debut EP under her belt, Madi shows clear signs of being one of the leading faces from this current upcoming generation of music. 

MUYEEZ

Born Moshood Abdulmuiz, Muyeez is one of the youngest entrants in the Nigerian music scene after arriving under Seyi Vibez’s label, Vibez Inc still in his early teens. The Abuja-based artist made his debut on “Instagram,” delivering a staggering performance alongside his label boss and later on “247,” with other members of Vibez Inc. One self-titled EP and a follow up sophomore release just weeks after, Muyeez is evidently adamant on staking a claim as one of Nigerian music’s brightest budding acts. 

TAVES

While Taves’ “Folake” earned him a spot at the top of most ‘up next’ lists, preceded by the BNXN seal of approval following a cover for  BNXN’s “For Days” , the Ibadan-born artist had been releasing music long before that. Those years of experience prepared the 20-year-old for his recently released debut album, ‘Are You Listening,’ stacked with emotive, love-struck numbers sure to leave a searing impact on the fabric of Nigerian R&B music. 

SHINETTW

ShineTTW released his debut single, “No Religion” to instant acclaim with over 175K views on Youtube. The earworm track pieces together the singer’s background by chronicling his experiences as a young man in Lagos. What helps him stand out amongst other trail blazers is the confidence that shines across his vivid lyricism.  ShineTTW’s penchant for emotionally resonant tracks was beautifully showcased across his newly released debut EP, ‘THE CHOSEN ONE’, a clear nod to his relentless efforts to fulfil his destiny  through music. 

[Featured Image Credits/The NATIVE]

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