Top 50 Most Awarded Musicians In Africa
Awards are like the medals that validate the lives and work of musicians. The most awarded music artists in Africa are therefore the most valid; the most important and the most successful musicians the continent can boast of.
Musicians certainly boast of their awards; it shows that they deserve the love they get from the audiences, and it increases their earning potentials. Show promoters can testify to how difficult it becomes to commit an artist for a stage performance once that artist has received a major award- the kind of money and legality it takes can be tiring.
Africa’s musical heavyweights have performed at the biggest stages and arenas all over the world, and have gained as much recognition abroad as they have gained at home. The paragraphs below list them and their achievements.
Top 50 Most Awarded Musicians In Africa
1. Angelique Kidjo
Angelique Kidjo is a Beninese songstress; she is the voice of Africa; a musical colossus, and a shining star whose light will never go out. To prove her mettle beyond all doubt, she is also the most awarded African musician- maybe of this generation.
Fluent in Fon, Yoruba, English, French and Gen; she has made music in more languages that most people would think it possible to do.
Interestingly, Angelique Kidjo did not find her rise to the top easy. Conflict in her native Benin forced her to move from place to place; she made music in different locations including France and Cameroon, and as a result her talent was noticed and appreciated beyond the continent.
Owing to her natural abundance of amazing talent, and her ability to speak different languages, she has been able to appeal to a larger audience, and as a result she has racked up over 140 awards- most of them coming from international bodies.
Some of her awards include; polar music prize, 3 Grammy awards, and Mobo awards. She has even received special awards such as the Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International in 2016, as well as national honors from Benin Republic, Luxembourg, and other countries.
2. Sarkodie
Michael Owusu Addo was born on July 10, 1988. He is the number one rapper in Ghana and West Africa with the stage name Sarkodie. Sarkodie is a singer, producer and songwriter; but most notably he is a rapper.
His might comes from the fact that he has held the rap genre in a chokehold, not only in Ghana, but in the whole of the region. In fact, it is going to be difficult to find another rapper like him in the whole of Africa- his longevity, creativity, and adaptability have seen him stand firm when other rappers have come and gone.
He has reigned supreme in Ghana his home country, and he has stood above everyone else in Nigeria. The combination of the two West African markets should be enough to give him a strong edge above his competitors, but he has done collaborations with artists from all over the continent, including singers from east Africa.
Furthermore, he performs in Twi, English, and pidgin; which gives him different dimensions, different genres, and awards from different angles.
Sarkodie has around 108 awards, both local and international.
3. Wizkid
Wizkid has held down afropop in Nigeria and most of Africa for the last 10 year. He is like a car with a small body but a huge price tag; something like a Rolls Royce or Lamborghini. Starboy brings dynamism to the table; no matter who he is collaborating with, or no matter the genre of the song, he always brings his own flavor.
It is that flavor that has made him the people’s champion for more than a decade; and he has sold out every arena worth mentioning.
He is just as loved overseas as he is on the continent because of his abundance of talent, and his professionalism. His trophy count is at 80, and most of the awards are local. However he has a Grammy attached to his name for a song he did with Beyoncé; it is titled Brown Skin Girl.
4. Shatta Wale
Shatta Wale is a Ghanaian musician; one that is just as popular as anyone else. Shatta Wale has stayed at the top of the industry for around 6 years; and he has grown to the status of legend. He has also spread his love around the continent, and beyond.
Shatta Wale has also asserted himself on the world stage with collaborations with top stars like Beyonce and Meekmill, as well as artists from Jamaica, Tanzania, and South Africa among other places.
Shatta wale’s trophy haul has been helped by the fact that there is no one to challenge him in Ghana; as far as the Dancehall genre is concerned; Shatta Wale is king. The king has won a bout 72 awards, although most of them are local.
5. Burna Boy
Burna Boy may one day yet top the list of musical award recipients; he has everything to make it possible; the talent, the energy, and the passion for greatness. He showed this passion through some of the titles of his songs and albums; African Giant, Sitting On Top Of The World, Twice As Tall, On A Space Ship, among others.
The Nigerian singer has taken the world by storm; yes, the world- not just Nigeria or Africa for that matter. He won a Grammy award in 2021 for the best global music album.
He has sold out every arena worth mentioning; most recently the 80,000 capacity London Stadium; a feat never accomplished by an African.
He presently has about 54 awards; but those awards would probably push other artistes’ off the table because most of them are international awards, from well recognized bodies. As was mentioned earlier; at the rate he is going, Burna Boy may end up being the king of Africa.
6. 2 Face
2 Face is a legend; he built the modern Nigerian music industry as we know it, and he did that with his sweat and tears. All the current music stars in Nigeria, and to some extent Africa owe him a debt of gratitude because he brought life back to the industry, and showed what could be done.
No doubt, his best years were in the late 90’s and early 2000- when he was a member of the Plantashun Bois, and when he became a solo artist under the management of Kennis Music, but even now he continues to command attention owning to the fact that he is just great.
2 Face is a legend; his 51 awards, prove that point without any doubt. The best part is that most of these awards are international awards, from renowned awarding bodies.
7. Davido
Davido is a Nigerian musician; he has been one of the industry giants for the last ten years. Davido has stayed consistent in the industry; he has operated like a company; working with the talents of so many people who surround him.
Davido has long challenged wizkid for the top spot; he has also sold out most of the top arenas all over the world.
Davido is one of the artists in Nigeria and Africa with the highest fan base; his following is from social media and everywhere else that people can be found. He has made so much money and now he sometimes lavishes it on expensive cars, and sometimes he gives it away for no reason.
Davido is one of the most awarded musicians in Africa; he presently has 48 awards under his belt, while there is yet every chance of him getting more because he has everything it takes.
8. Akon
Akon is just as African as anyone; he is one of the biggest artists to have come out of Africa- from Senegal specifically. Even at the height of his music fame and fortune, he always identified himself as an African. In fact the opening line of one of his songs says “from Senegal, West Africa.”
Akon has always been interested in building the music and entertainment industry of Africa; he has proved this by featuring on the songs and shows artists from all over the continent, regardless of whether they are established names or upcoming artists.
Akon has 36 awards at the moment; but the sheer weight of these awards stands him out; they include Grammy awards and BETs; as well as other top rated awards.
9. D Banj
Dapo Oyebanji was all the rave back in the early 2000’s. That was when he was with legendary producer Don Jazzy at Mohits Records.
D Banj almost stole the show from 2 Face; he was threatening to overshadow everyone in the industry. He sold out big arenas both on the continent and overseas, and he earned award after award until he lost count.
One small betrayal later, he left to join up with Kanye West in America, and that was when things went south. He has lost much of his fan base and relevance, but the awards he earned during his time serve as a reminder of his stature. D Banj has 28 awards to his name.
10. Diamond Platinumz
Diamond Platinumz is the most popular musician in Tanzania, and probably the whole of East Africa. He is also a record executive, and philanthropist.
Known as the King of Bongo Flava because of his unique style of beat and music, he has sold out a long list of arenas abroad, and has done collaborations with most of the top selling artists on the continent.
More than just a musician; his grace to grace story has been a source of inspiration to young people in the country and region as a whole; young people have taken to music and entertainment as a way out of poverty instead of crime.
Such a stellar career would be a failure if he did not top it off with trophies which will outlast whatever money and fame he makes in the business. Diamond Platinumz has not disappointed; he has racked up 28 awards, and most of them are continental accolades.
11. Stonebwoy
Stonebwoy is a Ghanaian star artist whose genres include Afropop, Dance Hall, and Reggae. Many artists have come and gone over the years, but since 2012 he has stayed relevant in the industry, and has continued to grow his fan base, especially across the continent like Nigeria and South Africa.
He is a versatile artist, and he has even done collaborations outside his genres and still pulls off fantastic displays. His displays are even more fantastic when he goes on stage.
For his talents he has racked up 27 awards, but fans don’t have to worry because he has the energy to win many more awards in the coming years.
The following is a more extensive list of the most awarded musicians in Africa, as well as their countries and awards.
| Rank | Artist | Country | Awards |
| 1 | Angelique Kidjo | Benin Republic | 140 |
| 2 | Sarkodie’s | Ghana | 108 |
| 3 | Wizkid’s | Nigeria | 80 |
| 4 | Shatta Wale’s | Ghana | 72 |
| 5 | Burna Boy | Nigeria | 54 |
| 6 | 2 Face | Nigeria | 51 |
| 7 | Davido | Nigeria | 48 |
| 8 | Akon | Senegal | 36 |
| 9 | D’Banj | Nigeria | 29 |
| 10 | Diamond | Tanzania | 28 |
| 11 | Stonebwoy | Ghana | 27 |
| 12 | Sauti Sol | Kenya | 26 |
| 13 | Olamide | Nigeria | 23 |
| 14 | Tiwa | Nigeria | 24 |
| 15 | Kuami | Ghana | 23 |
| 16 | Tems | Nigeria | 21 |
| 17 | Alikiba | Tanzania | 20 |
| 18 | D-Black | Ghana | 19 |
| 19 | Black Coffee | South Africa | 17 |
| 20 | Master KG | South Africa | 17 |
| 21 | Ice Prince | Nigeria | 17 |
| 22 | P Square | Nigeria | 17 |
| 23 | Mafikizolo | South Africa | 16 |
| 24 | Samini | Ghana | 16 |
| 25 | M I | Nigeria | 16 |
| 26 | Simi | Nigeria | 16 |
| 27 | Yemi | Nigeria | 16 |
| 28 | Flavour | Nigeria | 13 |
| 29 | Timaya | Nigeria | 13 |
| 30 | Medikal | Ghana | 14 |
| 31 | M.anifest | Ghana | 12 |
| 32 | Jose | Uganda | 12 |
| 33 | KiDi | Ghana | 14 |
| 34 | Patoranking | Nigeria | 12 |
| 35 | Efya | Ghana | 11 |
| 36 | Mdee | Tanzania | 11 |
| 37 | Fireboy | Nigeria | 9 |
| 38 | Falz | Nigeria | 9 |
| 39 | Banky | Nigeria | 8 |
| 40 | Youssou | Senegal | 9 |
| 41 | Black Sherif | Ghana | 7 |
| 42 | Joey | Ghana | 8 |
| 43 | R2bees | Ghana | 9 |
| 44 | Sho | South Africa | 7 |
| 45 | Fuse | Ghana | 8 |
| 46 | Phyno | Nigeria | 5 |
| 47 | Tinny | Ghana | 5 |
| 48 | Nasty C | South Africa | 6 |
| 49 | Macky | Zambia | 4 |
| 50 | Mr Eazi | Nigeria | 4 |
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Closing
The most awarded artists in Africa casts a sharp relief between the countries with developed entertainment industries and others. The countries with most artists on this list are well ahead of the others; the quality of music, and the financial capacity to market the music that is produced is a factor that makes some and limits others.
Of course there will be exceptions to every rule which is why Angelique Kidjo- an outsider by the country she comes from, has surmounted everyone.