In the realm of the music industry, Africa remains a constant reference throughout the World. But, the most successful musicians in Africa are the ones who are truly amazing. Additionally, all of these rich musicians from Africa appear on the Forbes list. They have been placed as the highest-earning musicians in Africa by their estimated net worth.
The majority of the top highest-earning artists in Africa are Nigerians. Furthermore, it should not be a surprise that Akon is among the richest artists in Africa as most of his money comes from endorsement deals as well as the label he owns. However, Youssou N’dour is the richest musician in Africa with an estimated net worth of $145 million.
The Top 10 Richest Musicians In Africa
1. Youssou N’dour
Youssou N’Dour is a songwriter, singer, actor, businessman, and politician from Senegal. He started his musical career in 1979 and he has been in the music industry for more than 40 years and continues to earn millions of dollars through his music. He has been awarded numerous awards, including the Grammy award for a best contemporary world music album for his album Egypt in 2005.
The New York Times described his voice as an arresting tenor, a supple weapon deployed with prophetic authority. Youssou N’Dour owns a TV station and a record label. He also owns various restaurants, as well as a clothing brand called “Youssou N’Dour Seduction”. In April 2012 Youssou N’Dour was appointed Minister of culture and tourism in Senegal. The musician has an estimated net worth of $145 million.
2. Akon
Akon is a Senegalese American singer, record producer, songwriter, businessman, philanthropist, and actor. He was born Aliaume Damala Akon Thiam on the 16th of April 1973 in St. Louis, Missouri, US. Akon owns two records label that signed the most successful artists like Lady Gaga and T-Pain. It has been reported that he made over 35 million dollars in sales for his albums and songs over the decades.
In addition, Akon has also been an artist and record producer with Micheal Jackson and Snoop Dogg. He has been able to claim two spots on the Hot 100 Billboard charts twice. Additionally, Akon has been nominated for the Grammy Awards five consecutive times. He has also been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most popular artist selling master ringtones around the globe. The net worth of Akon is estimated to be about $80 million.
3. Black Coffee
Black Coffee was born as Nkosinathi Inno Maphumulo on the 11th of March 1976 in South Africa. Black Coffee is a DJ as well as a record producer. He is also the proprietor of a record label named Soulistic Music Record Label. He is the most successful musician from South Africa.
Black Coffee is well-known around the world and he has been awarded numerous awards across the globe and in South Africa. He bagged the Awards for Breakthrough DJ Of The Year in the year 2015. Black Coffee has an estimated net worth of about $60 million.
4. Wizkid
Wizkid was born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, on July 16, 1990, in Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. He is a Nigerian artist and singer who began his musical career at the age of 11 singing in a church choir. He was signed to Banky W’s record label called Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E) in 2009. Wizkid rose to prominence following the release of his track Holla at Your Boy. He then established his record label known as Starboy Entertainment in 2013.
In 2016 He gained international fame after the release of his song One Dance with Drake which topped the charts in 15 countries across the globe. Wizkid has also been featured by Beyonce on the track Brown Skin Girl. In the year 2018, Wizkid was recognized in Guinness World Records as the first artist to be featured in Afrobeats from Africa. Wizkid earns lots of money from his endorsement deals with big brands like Pepsi, Guinness, Glo, and MTN. Wizkid’s net worth is estimated to be about $21 million.
5. Davido
Davido was born David Adedeji Adeleke on November 21st, 1992 in Atlanta, Georgia, US. He is, however, a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He owns the record label DMW Record. Additionally, he has signed a contract with Sony Music Entertainment. He is also co-owner of HKN Music, another record label owned by his brother Adeleke Adewale. He is acknowledged as one of the richest musicians in Africa.
Although Davido comes from a rich family, he has stated that all his riches are derived from music and endorsement deals. Some notable endorsement deals for Davido include MTN, Infinix Mobile, and Guinness Nigeria. Davido’s net worth is estimated at $20 million.
6. Don Jazzy
Don jazzy is one of the most successful musicians in Africa. He was born Michael Collins Ajereh on November 26, 1982, in Umuahia, Abia State. Nigeria. He is a Nigerian record producer, singer, songwriter, actor, and businessman. Don Jazzy co-founded the record label named Mo’Hits Records with D-Banj in 2004.
In 2012, he decided to create a new record label dubbed Mavins Records where he has signed artists like Tiwa Savage, Di’Ja, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, and many more. Don Jazzy has won the award for Producer of the year for four consecutive years. Don Jazzy has an estimated net worth of about $18 million making him one of the richest musicians in Africa.
7. Burna Boy
Burna Boy is a Nigerian professional musician and singer who made his debut in the music industry in the year 2010. He gained prominence within the music industry following the launch of his hit single Like to Party in 2012. However, the hit song was released as part of his new album L.I.F.E was released in 2013. He has been awarded numerous awards including a Grammy award.
He also appeared in the Apple Music Up Next artist in the year 2019. Many believe that Burna Boy is related to Fela Kuti, The King of Afro Beat. Burna Boy isn’t yet married but is currently in a relationship with Stefflon Don who is also a musician and songwriter based in the UK. Burna Boy has an estimated net worth of $17 million.
8. 2 Baba (2face)
Innocent Ujah Idibia popularly known as 2Face Idibia or 2Baba is a well-known Nigerian R&B artist, singer, songwriter, stage performer, recording artist, and entrepreneur. While at IMT in Enugu He began writing songs and lyrics. 2face dropped out of his studies to pursue a career in music in the year 1996. This was the moment he came across his stage name 2 face on his music tracks.
However, 2baba has a stage name. On the 2nd May of 2012, 2Face Idibia married Annie Macaulay, a Nollywood actress. The couple is blessed with six gorgeous children, which include: Nino, Justin, Isabella, Ross, and Innocent Idibia. 2Face Idibia has been awarded numerous awards over the last two years in the world of music. 2Baba has an estimated net worth of $16.5 million making him one of the richest musicians in Africa.
9. RudeBoy
Paul Okoye also known as Rudeboy or King Rudy is a Nigerian musician, performer, and producer who was born on November 18th, 1981. He was born in Jos, Plateau State, and he grew up in Anambra State, Nigeria. He came into the limelight for being an active member of the P-Square group, which was comprised of himself and his twin brother. Paul Okoye and his brother received their secondary education in the St. Murrumba Secondary School in Jos, Plateau State.
They enrolled in the Music and Drama School where they started to perform and dance to songs by artists such as Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, and many others. Paul as well as his twin brother Peter gained admission to the University of Abuja where they completed their tertiary education. His hit single titled Reason With Me was the track that had the most views on Youtube at the time of its release in 2019. Rudeboy is estimated to have a net worth of $16 million.
10. Timaya
Inetimi Timaya Odon also known as Timaya is a Nigerian musician, singer, and music composer who was born on 15th August 1980 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. While he was born in Rivers state, Timaya is originally from Bayelsa State, Nigeria. He comes from a huge family of fifteen children of which he is the youngest.
After the success of his debut song Dem Mama, Timaya chose to stay with K-Solo to be his music producer as he had recorded seven songs for Timaya in his first album. The album came out in 2007 and was a hit across the country. The musician has an estimated net worth of about $12 million making him one of the richest musicians in Africa.
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