2023 was a year that inarguably delivered on the music front; stars like Rema and Asake returned in the form they closed 2022 in, while new artists like Odumodublvck and Shallipopi made their own breakthroughs. As icing on the cake, each member of the big 3, Nigeria’s trio of its putative biggest artists, new projects in 2023; a rare delight for music fans. What might have slipped under the radar, though, was a bevy of female stars in ascension, who quietly made strides through the year holding a promise of even greater things to come. In 2024, it is hoped that they will stay on those paths, and perhaps begin the gender revolution that Nigerian music so badly needs.
A relative paucity of female performers at the highest level has plagued Nigerian music since its earliest days, but this has never stopped the few women in the game from matching, and often surpassing the achievements of their male counterparts. Alhaja Batile Alake and Salawa Abeni go without much credit in Nigerian music lore, but they were among the pioneers of the Waka genre, which artists like Asake and Seyi Vibez still draw loosely from. Other notable female names are inconspicuously tucked in other chapters of our music history, like the Lijadu Sisters’ Afrobeat exploits in the ‘70s, Nelly Uchendu, Onyeka Onwenu and Christy Essien-Igbokwe dominating South Eastern music through the ’80s and ’90s, Weird MC holding her own in the male-centric rap industry at the turn of the millennium, and Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade holding down the Nigerian (and indeed, African) female pop scene for nearly the last decade. Currently, Tems and Ayra Starr have, in the last few years, sat at the zeitgeist of Nigerian music’s global run, working with RnB, Pop and native Afropop as they explore themes of freedom, love and power.
A number of these stars still have much to offer in the future, especially Tems, whose debut album is one of the year’s most anticipated projects. Here are five other artists on the cusp of stardom, having already made their mainstream introductions, they’re poised to not only complete the list of performers but compete for the highest spots in 2024.
Bloody Civilian
25 year old Emoseh Khamofu, AKA Bloody Civilian, made her introduction on the most auspicious of stages: featuring on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever album that housed stars like Rihanna, Future, and Burna Boy. It arrived barely two weeks after her debut track, How To Kill A Man, and it was a testament to the singer’s talent that she earned her spot among these stars, relatively unknown as she was. Since then, she’s released two EPs, Anger Management and its sequel, forming her major creative output of 2023. The latter starred a few acts in remixes of the original songs, inserting artists like Fave, Joeboy, and Odumodublvck seamlessly into fan-favorite songs like Escapism and I Don’t Like You.
Before its release, though, her eye for smart collaboration was already beyond doubt, as her enchanting feature on Odumodublvck’s Blood On The Dance Floor so effectively displayed. This contribution earned her a number-one spot on Turntable’s Hot 100 singles chart. The Abuja-based songstress has spoken in the past of her intention to flip Nigeria’s lopsided music scene, and in 2024, she will seek to make similar exploits under her flag.
Song you should listen to:
Qing Madi
“I’m just craving on somebody’s babe/ I can’t get that love, love for myself”, Chimamanda Chukwuka, aka Qing Madi, sings on Ole, where she stars opposite BNXN in a real-life quagmire that does not get much airtime in music lyrics: the feeling of falling for somebody who is already in a relationship. Ole won popular appeal for its catchy lyrics and BNXN’s display of his renowned chemistry in features. Yet, it was more. It was a portal into a world where vocal talent, creative melody-making and clever storytelling exist in equal measure, and all housed in an eighteen-year-old woman.
In November, Madi did with the hit single what any smart rising star would: snowballed it into an EP. Her eponymous debut packed established fan favourites like Ole, See Finish and Why together with promising fresh tracks like Vision and American Love. Last year ended spectacularly for the teenager, as she performed beside BNXN on his tour of the U.S. and received credits for background vocals on Wizkid’s S2 EP. Qing Madi will seek to expand the frontiers of her popularity and continue her ascent in 2024.
Song you should listen to:
Lifesize Teddy
Mavin’s newest signee sits outside many conventional boundaries. She is a female rapper, a part-time poet and is big on anime themes. Yet, as she admitted in an interview with Culture Custodian at her activation, her uniqueness and raw emotions are some of her biggest assets. Born Banigo Apiafi Treasure, the 23 year old rapper courted music from an early age, eventually getting enticed into rap by legends like Kanye West.
Now with two EPs to her name, the Mavin-standard debut eponymous project released in August, and her follow-up, POISN, that arrived three months later, Lifesize Teddy continues to unravel layers to her artistry. Aside from her mainstay of Rap, occasional dabbles into RnB, Dancehall and even Afropop should keep her platter interesting enough for the dance-loving Nigerian palate, and holding a membership card in one of Nigeria’s foremost labels means she has every tool she needs to make her presence felt in 2024.
Song you should listen to:
Morravey
Morravey’s strikingly beautiful voice made its first major appearance on In The Garden, off Davido’s Timeless, and now, one year and a fantastic debut EP later, the novelty of it has not worn off. While it remains her greatest asset, the saccharine melodies she applies it to are a close second. Under Davido’s newly refurbished Davido Music Worldwide, which bears affiliations to Sony Music West Africa, Morravey has the industry backing she needs to make an impact in an industry that ultimately requires more than just brilliant music.
Real name Daniella Daniel, the 21-year-old singer hails from Port Harcourt city and was in fact in her third year studying medicine and surgery at Rivers State university before a surreal text from Davido put an end to that chapter and opened a new one. Her decision to set aside schooling for music confers extra pressure on the singer to make a major dent in the industry, but her confidence in God and her own ability should see her to a long and healthy career.
Song you should listen to:
Kold AF
Kold AF might be the least known of the artists of this list, but that is in no way indicative of her ability. The Delta state indigene, born Aninooritsewarami Oritsesan, has made quiet strides over the last two years. She released a two-single pack, Kold Szn, in 2022, while her musical output last year was contained in her debut EP, Kollide. On the project co-owned by French producer, BGRZ, the artist revels in her tonic cocktail of Reggae and RnB, working through the different stages of romantic relationships like flipping through a picture album.
Following her convocation from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University with a Bachelor of Laws, a lot more time on her hands may inspire a debut album in 2024, or at least another strong EP. Whichever medium Kold AF chooses to convey the next major entry to her growing discography, her invigorating capacity to appreciate and transcribe emotion will ensure her music remains fresh and exciting.
Song you should listen to: