Top 10 African Musicians impacting the World

Fela Kuti (1938-1997)

As a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, Fela Akinkulapo-Kuti was a great musician and composer who pioneered the Afrobeat music movement. Even after his passing, his music still serves as a beacon of light inspiring minds around the world. He paved the way for many artists to come, just by being an activist who fought for the greater interest of his countrymen.

Miriam Makeba (1932-2008)

=“Mama Africa” is the name that was graciously given to Miriam Makeba, a South-African singer-songwriter and all around activist. She is known for standing tall in her political views and fearlessly speaking out against apartheid as well as the overall Civil Rights movement. As the first musician to achieve world-wide popularity, Miriam Makeba is known for her powerful voice and intense impact.

Angelique Kidjo

Hailing from Benin, singer-songwriter and activist Angelique Kidjo is known globally for her diversity and creativity through various artforms.Pairing her unique multilingual fusion of Afrobeat, jazz, reggae, and pop with traditional African instruments, Angelique has won many Grammy awards for her impactful contributions. As the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, she created the educational Batonga Foundation for the betterment of like-minded people.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

This South-African male choral group is known for their unique style of isicathamiya and mbube. Blending vocal harmonies, this group began recording in the mid-1970s, thus gaining great acclaim in their home country and internationally in 1986. Grammy awards and decades of world-touring is carried by this group to this day.

Brenda Fassie

This South-African musician and dancer was nicknamed the “Queen of African Pop” due to her versatile and dynamic voice. Brenda Fassie began performing as a child in Cape Town where her rise and influence began. Openly standing up against apartheid regime, Brenda strategically fused bubblegum pop music with Zulu Jive and other local sounds.

Ali Farka Toure

As a Malian singer and guitarist, Ali Farka Toure is known for his great contributions of African influence in American blues music. Staying true to his roots, Ali incorporated calabash and bongos with his lyrics sung in various African languages and occasionally in English. Ranked as the 76th best guitarist of all time by the Rolling Stone Magazine, Ali Farka Toure is appreciated around the world.

Youssou N’dour

Award-winning Senegalese musician and songwriter Youssou N’Dour is celebrated as a global musical innovator. He serves as a key figure in the multicultural mbalax musical style, uniting various musical cultures with one another. As a political icon, Youssou N’Dour was also nominated as the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and eventually served as Senegal’s Minister of Culture and Tourism. Music and politics merge as his touring continues on.

King Sunny Ade

Performing a popular Nigerian musical style known as Juju, King Sunny Ade is a multi-instrumentalist hailing from Ondo. His musical style consists of a fluid, highly rhythmic traditional feel to create a multi-layered dense sound. King Sunny Ade introduced new stylistic concepts to international audiences, and remains as one of the most groundbreaking figures in Afro-pop history to this day.

Lucky Dube (1964-2007)

This famous South-African reggae artist began his musical career playing traditional Zulu mbaqanga music. Switching to Reggae in 1984, Lucky Dube was the first South African artist to have an album released under Motown in the following years. Lucky Dube won several South African Music Awards and continues to impact hearts and minds worldwide.

E.T. Mensah (1919-1996)

Emmanuel Tettey Mensah was one of the most influential Ghanaian highlife musicians. Respectfully known as “The father of modern highlife,” Mensah is widely responsible for the evolution of Ghana’s music. Pleading for indigenous rhythm to replace fading foreign music of waltz, rhumba, and more, he evolved a music type through the use of African rhythms, culture sounds, and native instruments.