What Kind of Music is Popular in Nigeria? A Comprehensive Guide
Nigeria is a country with a rich and diverse culture. One aspect of Nigerian culture that is particularly well-known is its music. Nigeria has a wide variety of music ranging from traditional folk music to modern pop. In this blog post, we will look at the different types of music popular in Nigeria and explore their history.
We will also discuss the current state of Nigerian music and highlight some of the most famous artists and songs. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Type of music
Folk music
Traditional folk music is the most popular in Nigeria. This type of music is typically played on traditional instruments such as the talking drum, the udu, and the shekere.
Folk songs are often about everyday life events and topics such as love, war, agriculture, and religion. Some of the most famous Nigerian folk songs include “Igbo Ijo” by Fela Kuti and “Onyeoma” by Sunny Neji.
Pop songs
Another type of music that is popular in Nigeria is modern pop music. This genre has been heavily influenced by Western styles of music such as hip-hop, R&B, and soul.
Pop songs are usually sung in English or Pidgin English, often focusing on social and political issues. Some of the most popular Nigerian pop songs include “Feeling Good” by P-Square, “One More Night” by Mavins, and “Duro” by Tekno.
Afrobeat music
In addition to traditional folk music and modern pop songs, Afrobeat is a fusion of African rhythms and Western styles of music that was created in the 1970s by Fela Kuti.
Afrobeat songs are typically upbeat, and they often feature horns, guitars, percussion, and vocals. Some of the most famous Nigerian Afrobeat artists include Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Lagbaja, and King Sunny Ade.
Gospel music
Finally, it is worth mentioning that Nigeria has a thriving gospel music scene. Gospel music is a type of Christian music that is typically characterized by its spiritual lyrics and soulful melodies. Some of the most popular Nigerian gospel singers include Sinach, Tasha Cobbs, and Don Moen.
What is Yoruba drumming?
Yoruba drumming is a style of African music that originated in West Africa. It’s sometimes referred to as ‘drum and dance’ or simply ‘drumming.’ This form of music was born out of the need for expression during the slave trade.
The origins of Yoruba are unclear, but it appears to have evolved from several other musical traditions within West Africa, including the Kongo people and their practice of kwitans.
Drummers use drums made from hollowed-out tree trunks or gourds, goatskin stretched over a wooden frame, calabash shells, large water vessels, and iron bars; both cow skin and animal hide are also used.
They are beaten with sticks called kudus (frequently referred to as “knobkierie”) by players seated on stools known as ekele (a term derived from an English word meaning “to sit”). The ekele can be adjusted to allow the drummer’s feet more room when playing in a standing position.
Yoruba drumming has many variations: each group has its own repertoire that varies according to location and social status. Although the ekele is typically played by men only in rural areas, women often play it at community events such as market days, ceremonies, or funerals because they can keep up with the rhythm much better than men do!
What is the most important instrument in Yoruba music?
The most important instrument in Yoruba music is the Oke. It has a lot of functions, and it plays a major role in the Yoruba musical instrument. The oke consists of skin stretched over an iron tube which is covered with gut and animal skins.
It has three strings, two that are usually plucked by hand and one that is played by striking it with sticks or other instruments.
Some instruments like Ebi (drum) kolam (bells) accompany the Oke in playing various rhythms to help out the performer in various situations.
There are many variations of this musical instrument ranging from Western-style folk instruments to jazz, rock, and blues styles and African, Cuban, and Brazilian styles used in popular music around the world today.
You can also find them being used as tribal drums, percussion instruments for drumming techniques, etc. In any case, they all have something unique about them that makes them different from each other; however, their similarities remain compared to others, such as woodwinds, brass or strings, etc.
What is the popular music style from Nigeria that relies on the traditional Yoruba rhythms?
The Yoru style is one of the popular music styles from Nigeria that relies on the traditional Yoruba rhythms. The Yoru tradition is an art form of dance and song, which includes elements such as drumming, poetry recitation, music-making, and visual arts.
Yoruba people are credited with developing this unique style of dance and music. The origin of this style can be traced back to the times when Yemoja was worshiped by the ancient Oyo Kingdom people. This is because her shrine was located in Oyo land.
However, it is believed that other parts of Yorubaland also had their own versions of this unique art form, like Benin and Ife in present-day Nigeria.
This amazing instrument has a huge following in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, etc., where they have adapted it into their traditional African rhythm system known as kwaito which plays a major role in bringing African culture to mainstream consciousness around the world today.
Types of music popular in Nigeria
Hip hop is the most popular type of music in Nigeria. This genre has been around since the early 1990s, but it was not until recently that its popularity skyrocketed due to artists such as Wizkid and Davido, who gained worldwide fame with their songs such as One Dance, What’s Up With That? and What’s Up with You?
Other types include Afrobeat (which originated in Nigeria), highlife music, or Afropop. These genres are characterized by their slow tempo and use of African instruments such as drums, guitars, and keyboards.
They combine traditional elements from other parts of Africa like Ghanaian Highlife, Nigerian Afrobeat’s; Congolese Soukous; South African Mbaqanga, etcetera.
The influence of traditional music on the modern Nigerian music
Traditional Nigerian music has had a huge influence on modern popular songs, especially in the areas of rhythm and melody.
The most obvious example is Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat which took its inspiration from traditional Yoruba talking drums as well as Highlife – another genre that originated around 1900 when British colonialists introduced brass instruments like trumpets into their military bands.
People loved hearing these sounds so much that they created their own versions (or copies) at home with whatever materials were available: pipes made out of cardboard boxes; bamboo sticks cut up into smaller pieces then strung together with string or wire; tin cans filled full water would act as bells etcetera.
What makes this type unique is how it uses both western influences such as jazz but also takes inspiration from traditional African rhythms like those found in Nigerian Highlife music.
The influence of traditional music on modern Nigeria is easily seen through the work of artists like Fela Kuti and King Sunny Adé, who took inspiration from their country’s rich musical heritage when creating new works for contemporary audiences around the world.
The most obvious example is Afrobeat which incorporates elements taken directly from Yoruba talking drums as well as Highlife – another genre that originated around 1900 when British colonialists introduced brass instruments into their military bands (and people loved hearing these sounds).
What makes this type unique is how it uses Western influences such as jazz and takes inspiration from traditional African rhythms like those found in Nigerian high life music or soukous played in Congo.
Nigerian Contemporary Music
The contemporary music scene in Nigeria has been growing at a rapid pace in the past few years. There are several reasons for this, but one of the most important reasons is the increasing access to education and the consequent increase in the number of talented young people who are able to create and perform contemporary music.
One of the earliest examples of contemporary music in Nigeria was the work of Femi Kuti, who started experimenting with electronic music in the 1970s. Since then, there has been a steady stream of new artists and groups working in this genre, and it is now one of the most popular forms of music in Nigeria.
Pop music and its popularity in Nigeria
Pop music is the most popular type of music in Nigeria, and it has been for many years. This genre is characterized by its simple chord progressions, melodies, and lyrics which are often easy to remember and sing along to.
It tends to be more upbeat and danceable than other genres, making it a favorite among Nigerians of all ages. Nigeria’s most popular pop songs include Psquare’s Ifeoma; Dbanj’s Oliver Twist; Wizkid’s Ojuelegba; Tiwa Savage’s Ma Lo, etcetera.
What makes pop music so appealing in Nigeria is its ability to cross-cultural boundaries and appeal to people from all walks of life. Pop music will always make you feel happy and upbeat, regardless of how old you are or how rich you are.
There are a lot of popular pop songs in Nigeria, including Psquare’s Ifeoma; Dbanj’s Oliver Twist, Wizkid’s Ojuelegba, Tiwa Savage’s Ma Lo Etcetera.
What makes pop music so appealing is its ability to cross-cultural boundaries and appeal to people from all walks of life. Whether you’re young or old, rich or poor, Pop music will always be there to make you feel happy and upbeat.
Music stars in Nigeria
These days, music stars in Nigeria aren’t only found on television or radio but also on social media platforms such as Instagram, where they can interact with fans directly. What’s more?
Some of these artists have even become celebrities themselves! It seems like every other week, we hear about another Nigerian artist breaking records for number one hits and selling out concerts across Europe, Asia America, Latin America, Africa, Middle East, South America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, China-Japan, Korea Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, Myanmar, Burma, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos Mongolia, North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Herzegovina.
What is the main music in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, we have a lot of different music genres that are played across the country. The most popular genres include Yoruba and Nigerian hip hop, which is very famous in the southwest region of Nigeria.
We also have Igbo Hip Hop, which is very popular in the southeast region of Nigeria, and Edo Rap which is quite popular in the eastern region of Nigeria. If you want to know more about Nigerian music, here are some songs:
Nigerian Music Videos – YouTube
Some other types of music from our country include Afrobeat and Afro Pop which are mostly played by artists like P-Square, R2bees, and others. In addition to these, there are many more regional music styles like Hausa Pop which originates from the northern part of Nigeria.
Who started music in Nigeria?
The first person to start music in Nigeria was King Sunny Ade. He had his own record label and started recording African popular music at the age of 25.
Sunny Ade is known for being the pioneer of Afrobeat, a genre of popular music originating from Nigeria that combines western rhythms with traditional Nigerian sounds. In 1967, he released “Ekpere Ikpe,” which became an instant hit, and launched his career as a musician. His most successful recordings include “Africa Must Be Free” (1968), “Mighty God” (1969), “King Sunny Ade” (1970), and many others. He also founded the band Orchestra Baobab in 1970.
He died on January 1, 2006, after suffering from liver cancer at the age of 76 years old.
Nigerian singer/songwriter Iyanya has also been described as an early pioneer of Afrobeats by fellow Nigerian musician DJ Jimmy Jatt who stated that ‘Iyanya came into this country before anybody else did.’
Other prominent artists like Reminisce and Davido have also made their mark in the Nigerian music industry in recent times, becoming some of Africa’s top-selling artists. Other notable musicians who have been influenced by or had influences from Afrobeat include Patoranking, Stonebwoy, Mafikizolo, Kcee, Tiwa Savage , Wizkid, among others.
What are the traditional musical instruments in Nigeria?
The traditional musical instruments in Nigeria are:
Drums (drum and palm)
Flutes (bamboo, bamboo tubes, and metal)
Clappers (Gada/kpanlogo/Nfrii)
Cymbals (cowbells and drums).
Chimes.
Singing bowls.
They are made from bamboo wood or carved woodblocks shaped like human faces. Gourd cylinders blown into musical notes by a musician. You can blow through the holes at one end of these instruments to play them like whistles or recorders.
A drumming group with many different percussion instruments such as bells, clappers, and gongs along with singing bowls and pipes; horns for calls; large hand-held flutes called kpanlogo; smaller hand-held pipes called Nfrii and wooden pipes called Gada for solo play, which are similar to flutes but have more range than most in this category.
Castanets are known as Gada; bells are known as Jaja. Instead of using sticks, such as drums, cymbals, or xylophones, these are played rhythmically with hand-clapping. There is no equivalent to this type of percussion ensemble in Western classical music.
What is juju music from Nigeria?
Juju music is a genre of music that originated in Nigeria. The term “juju” comes from the Yoruba language and means “voodoo.” The music is often associated with voodoo, hoodoo, and other traditional African religions and practices.
The genre started in the 1970s with musicians like Mike Peters, who began to combine Highlife (Nigerian blues) with soukous (Congolese rumba). Juju musicians also incorporated other influences such as Western pop, jazz, and reggae into their music.
In addition to its popularity in Nigeria, juju has gained a significant following among the diaspora communities throughout Africa and elsewhere around the world.
Is Afrobeat a genre of music?
Afrobeat is a genre of music that African people on the continent create. The first Afrobeat artist was Joseph Kabasele, who recorded his album called ‘Kalinda’ in 1968. In the 1970s, bands like Highlife, Bembeya Jazz, and Fela Kuti were also recording their albums using Afrobeat music.
The type of music varies from one region to another, but it has been popular all over Africa and even internationally.
How big is the Nigerian music industry?
According to the experts, the Nigerian music industry is worth $50 million annually. This amount has been generated by a lot of talented artists in the country. The music industry is on the rise, and most of its artists are doing well because of their talent.
The whole music industry can be divided into two categories:
The artists mentioned above are highly successful in their careers and have enjoyed tremendous success; some have also achieved international fame. A few others have made it big at home with one or two hit songs which they released through various platforms like radio stations, television stations, and other digital platforms like YouTube, etc.
As you know, Nigeria’s population is over 160 million people, so this gives us an idea that there will be more potential out there waiting for them to do what they want to do, especially if they want to get noticed by the public get paid for it.
In fact, we should applaud these musicians who are taking our country to another level by adding value to our lives through their artistry!
Who is the richest musician in Nigeria in 2020?
I can’t think of a musician in Nigeria who is richer than the likes of Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, and other Nigerians who have made their names on the global stage.
For the record, Wizkid is estimated to be worth $100 million while Tiwa Savage’s net worth stands at $20 million. This means that even though they are Nigerian artists, they are still some of the richest musicians in Nigeria!
If you’re wondering about other popular singers like Davido and Nosa Ighalo, then I’d say that both are way ahead of most of us when it comes to money because each has an estimated net worth upwards of $30 million.
Other Nigerian celebrities like Dele Adedoyin, aka P-Square, have also been making headlines for their wealth as well with each earning around $8 million from music alone.
There are many more musicians in Nigeria who earn handsome amounts from music, but if we go by pure numbers, then I think we would need to include names like D’banj, Banky W, and Seyi Shay, among others whose net worth exceeds our imagination!
Who is the best Fuji music in Nigeria?
Fuji music is a group of musicians from Nigeria who are known for their afro-pop music. They were formed in 2008 and consist of Oluwatosin Omotosho, Riky Rick, Peter Okoye, Segun Arinze, Fred Okoya and Femi Kuti. The band has released two albums titled “Culture” (2009) and “Black Magic” (2012).
There is many great Fuji music in Nigeria, but I would like to recommend an artist called VASO. His latest song titled “Tale” has gained him huge popularity across the country. His last album was released in 2014, and it is still one of the best albums released by a Nigerian artist this year.
Patoranking, Banky W, and Lira are others with who he has worked with. In addition to that, he recently came out with another single called “Turning Back Time.”
What is the number one song in Nigeria?
This is very difficult to answer because there are so many songs that you can find on the internet. But I would say “Wassup” by Wizkid and “Ojuelegba” by Burna Boy are the most popular in Nigeria right now. However, all of these songs are great!
The song that I listen to all the time is “Reggae Music (Remix)” by Shatta Wale and Dr. Sid. Nigeria has a lot of different kinds of music, like pop, rock, hip hop, and reggae, so it’s hard to pick one.
Here are my top 3 favorite Nigerian songs:
Do you really love me? – Davido ft Drake
Fall – Seyi Shay ft Lil Kesh & DJ Xclusive
All Eyes on Me – Patoranking ft Mr. Eazi
Which songs are trending in Nigeria now?
The recent songs that are trending in Nigeria now are:
1. Ayo Oluwa Y’all (Lil Kesh)
2. Jangulo(Yemi Alade)
3. Ekiti Girl (Teddy B)
4. Iyagbe Ogunde (Yemi Alade & Faze)
5. Eku-eku (Album Version) (Ekselen ft Phyno, Wizkid, Duncan Mighty Olamide).
6. Dance for Me (Elite Edition Album Version) (Patoranking & Mr. Eazi).
7. Wetin Mi Shogun? (Olamide & Dremo ft 2face Idibia, Patoranking and Davido)
8. Rain of Blessing (Davido Remix Ft Skales and Tiwa Savage)
Why is music very important in Africa?
In Africa, music is a very important part of the culture. The African people love music, and it is one of the most popular forms of entertainment in many parts of the continent.
There are various types of musical instruments used by different tribes and ethnic groups across Africa, including drums, bells, horns, flutes, and stringed instruments like guitars. Other musical traditions include singing, dancing, and poetry recitation.
The instrument that Africans use to express their emotions through music is known as the ‘talking drum.’ This type of drum is used for communication among members of different tribes or communities.
In fact, most tribal languages have some form of words that can be expressed through rhythm and melody so as to relay messages from one person to another over long distances.
Since prehistoric times, music has played a vital role in shaping African cultures. It was during this period that early civilizations developed a set of rules which governed when certain songs could be sung at certain places or times during a day or night because they considered music to be sacred; hence it was not allowed to be performed at other times except on special occasions such as birthdays etc.
Which African country has the biggest music industry?
The music industry in Africa is growing at a rapid pace and is expected to expand exponentially in the next decade. Some of the African countries with the most potential are Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Ghana.
In 2016 alone, the number of paid music downloads increased by 44% compared to 2015. The majority of these were downloaded from mobile devices, which indicates that the industry is quickly moving towards digital content consumption.
It would have been South Africa a few years ago, but the recession and a lot of political strife there have drained a lot of its market share.
However, I am sure that as we move forward with our country’s economy, it will once again start making waves on a global scale!
Who’s Nigeria’s music legend?
In the music industry, there are a lot of legends. Some of them include:
The father of Nigerian music – Fela Kuti
Mekonnen Seyoum started Ethiopic Jazz, a form of Afro-jazz from Ethiopia, and became one of the most influential musicians in Africa.
Shehu Umaru, popularly known as Sunny Ade, is a famous musician who has achieved worldwide fame for his work with jazz and blues. He is also the founder of Nigeria’s Nollywood movie industry, which he pioneered with Nigerian film producer Samuel Eto’o.
I am sure you have heard this name before, but if not, then here’s another legend that needs to be mentioned!
Okpe Scandella or simply known as ‘Tiger’ or ‘Bomfunk MC,’ is an Afrobeat artist from Nigeria who rose to prominence after their release from prison, where he served five years for drug trafficking charges.
Before his incarceration, Tiger was a founding member of Lagbaja Boys and signed to legendary record label FFRR Records (formerly Fresh Records).
During his time in jail, Tiger made it his mission to learn about Western popular music such as rap, rock, and pop so that he could adapt them into African languages like Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, thus creating what we now know as Afrobeat Music.
In 1997 Tiger released his first solo album called “Afrodisiac,” which established him as one of Africa’s greatest talents alongside Luta Band and Femi Kuti.
What is the musical genre from Nigeria used to wake up the worshippers?
I believe Yoruba music is used to wake up the worshippers. Nigeria and West Africa speak the Yoruba language, which has over 30 million speakers. Yoruba culture is mostly influenced by the Igbo culture, which makes it unique from other cultures of Africa.
Music plays a big role in the Yoruba culture, and that’s why they get up early in the morning to listen to music before work or school. The melodies are usually played on drums and other musical instruments such as gongs, flutes, pipes, etc., but sometimes vocalists also sing lyrics that are about the life experiences of Yorubas.
While some say these tunes serve as inspiration for people who want to achieve success, others suggest that these songs inspire them to be great lovers because they make the heart sing when listening to these tunes.
What do you call a fusion of West African with black American music?
It is called Afro-fusion. This genre of music is a fusion of different cultures and styles such as R&B, Hip Hop, Funk, Jazz, and Latin music.
In the early 1970s, afro-fusion was born in New York City when bandleader Fela Kuti took his band to England to perform at The West African International Festival in 1974. As a result of this trip, he returned with the idea that his style of African music should be fused with American jazz.
In 1976 he formed the Nigerian Highlife Orchestra, which was one of the first bands to mix Afrobeat (Africa) with Jazz (America). Later, other musicians joined Fela’s orchestra like Femi Kuti and Tony Allen, who went on to form Black Nationalism and popularize this genre throughout Africa and America.
In America, afro-fusion can be heard in artists like George Clinton (P Funk), Musiq Soulchild (Hip Hop), Gwen Stefani (Gwen Stefani), Bilal Oliver (Soul/Funk), or Anthony Hamilton (Jazz).
There are also many famous singers that have made their mark by blending different genres, such as Beyonce Knowles or Rihanna. Some bands that are considered part of this genre include Groove Armada & Basement Jaxx, among others.
The future of Nigerian music
The future of Nigerian music is an exciting one.
What kind of sounds will emerge from this country next? What artists will become household names and break into international superstardom? What trends in the industry are on their way out while others come back into fashion once again?
The answer to these questions remains unknown, but there’s one thing we do know:
Nigeria has always been known as a place where creativity flourishes, so it should be no surprise that its musical scene continues evolving at such a rapid pace.
What’s more, other countries like Ghana and Cameroon also have thriving music scenes too!
Conclusion:
So, what kind of music is popular in Nigeria? In short, many different types of music are popular in Nigeria, and they vary from traditional folk songs to modern pop songs. There are different kinds of music, and each has its own history and style.
So, if you’re interested in Nigerian music, be sure to check out all of the different genres that are available!
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