From people like Tiwa Savage to Simi and Yemi Alade, the richest female musicians in Nigeria now boast of millions of dollars or billions of naira in their bank accounts.
The entertainment industry in Nigeria has evolved over the years. In the last 35 to 40 years, we have watched with admiration how the industry has grown and is even able to compete with its contemporaries from other countries. Besides the quality of music being dished out, we also have the issue of gender coming up.
Unlike some industries where the prevalence of females is quite low, the Nigerian music industry has always had women in the spotlight for the past 40 years and although the ratio of male to female musicians in the country is not much, the few of them who have dared to venture into the industry is doing quite well for themselves.
Here is a look at the richest female musicians in the country as well as how they have made their fortune.
Current Richest Female Musicians in Nigeria
10. Niniola – $1.5 million
- Full name: Omawumi Megbele
- Date of birth: 12 April 1982
- Years active: 2007 till date
- Net Worth: $3 million
- Sources of wealth: Music, acting, endorsement deals
Nicknamed Nigeria’s “Queen of Afro House,” Niniola makes it among the richest female musicians in Nigeria with a net worth of $1.5 million. She enjoys massive followership in the country as well as in other parts of the African continent including South Africa where her song, Maradona became a national anthem of the sort. The song was also sampled in Beyonce’s 2019 album The Gift. She has released the following albums This is Me (2017), Colours and Sounds (2020), and 6th Heaven EP (2021)
She was born on 15 December 1986 and is a native of Ekiti state and has been active on the Nigerian music scene since 2014. She made her fortune from her album sales, music shows, and a few endorsements. There have been speculations that she has likely ventured into entrepreneurship but all those are mere speculations as there is no proof to that. She has won several awards including a Grammy Recognition Certificate, All Africa Music Awards, Nigerian Teens Choice Awards, and The Headies.
9. Seyi shay – $1.8 million
- Full name: Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua
- Date of birth: 21 December 1985
- Years active: 2001 till date
- Net Worth: $1.8 million
- Sources of wealth: Music, acting, endorsement deals
It was in 1985 in the United Kingdom that Seyi Shay was born. She is among other things, an actress, songwriter, and singer. She started her career in 2001 and in 2015, she released her album, Seyi or Shay, and then in 2018, she dropped her EP, Electric Package. She has many non-album singles. She has won several awards including The Headies and City People Entertainment Awards.
With a net worth of $1.8 million, her main source of income is mainly from her music and endorsements. Recently she was one of the 4 judges on the music talent show, Nigerian Idol. As an actress, she made an appearance in the 2018 Nigerian film Lara and the Beat alongside other music stars including Vector and DJ Xclusive.
8. Waje – $2 million
- Full name: Aituaje Iruobe
- Date of birth: 1 September 1980
- Years active: 2003 till date
- Net Worth: $2 million
- Sources of wealth: Music, acting, endorsement deals
Born Aituaje Iruobe, Waje has a net worth that is estimated at $2 million. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka graduate of Social Work has been in the Nigerian music scene since 2003 although it was in 2007 that she started getting the real attention she has always deserved, leading to her being featured by P-Square in Do Me. Waje ould go on to release albums including W.A.J.E (2013), Red Velvet (2018), and Heart Season (EP) (2021).
Her sources of income include her music, endorsement deals, as well shows. Waje co-owns Hermanes Media, with Omawumi, a media company, which specializes in film and TV production and adverts among other things, and in more recent times, Waje has been one of the four judges of the popular TV show, The Voice Nigeria.
7. Teni – $2 million
- Full name: Teniola Apata
- Date of birth: 23 December 1992
- Years active: 2016 till date
- Net Worth: $2 million
- Sources of wealth: Music, endorsement deals
Born Teniola Apata in 1992, Teni might have only started her career fully in 2016, but she has achieved so much to earn her a place as one of the richest female musicians in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $2 million. The younger sister of another successful Nigerian singer Niniola, Teni joined Dr. Dolor Entertainent in 2017, leading to the release of her successful single, Fargin.
Since then, she has continued to hold her ace with the release of more hit songs including Askamaya and Case. She has already released the following albums and EPs, Billionaire (2019), The Quarantine Playlist (2020), and WONDALAND (2021). Teni has also won some important awards including the Headies, Soundcity MVP Awards Festival, Nigeria Entertainment Awards. and Net Honours.
Teni’s wealth was built through her music career and like many others, through endorsement deals including with brands such as Budweiser, Pepsi, and Glo.
6. Simi – $2 Million
- Full name: Simisola Ogunleye
- Date of birth: 19 April 1988
- Years active: 2006 till date
- Net Worth: $2 million
- Sources of wealth: Music, acting, endorsement deals
Born Simisola Bolatito Ogunleye, the Covenant University Mass Communication graduate is one of the best female voices in Nigerian music. She is also among the richest female musicians in Nigeria with a net worth of $2 million. Simi started her career in music in 2006 and then in 2008, she released her first album, Ogaju which enjoyed some level of success. This was followed by her EP with Falz, Chemistry in 2016, and then Simisola in 2017. Her latest album, Omo Charlie Champagne, Vol. 1 was released in 2019, while in 2020, she released her latest EP, Restless II.
Also an actress and a sound engineer, Simi has won awards such as the Nigeria Entertainment Awards, City People Entertainment Awards, The Headies, and Future Awards Africa. She made her fortune from music and endorsement deals including with brands such as Glo. Simi has also made her acting debut in Kunle Afolayan’s 2019 film, Mokalik.
5. Chidinma – $3 Million
- Full name: Chidinma Ekile
- Date of birth: 12 April 1982
- Years active: 2007 till date
- Net Worth: $3 million
- Sources of wealth: Music, acting, endorsement deals
Born Chidinma Ekile in 1991, Chidinma is one of the most loved Nigerian female singers. She came to fame in 2011 after she won the third season of the reality TV contest, Project Fame West Africa. She soon followed that with the release of various chart-topping songs including Jankoliko.
Chidinma has won numerous awards in her career thus far including the Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) and Kora Awards. In 2021, the talented singer revealed that she had switched to Gospel music and she released her first EP as a gospel singer, New Season in the same year. Before that, she released Chidinma in 2012. Also an actress, Chidinma has appeared in the 2017 Nigerian movie, The Bridge.
She built her net worth of $3 million from her career as an entertainer as well as from the numerous endorsement deals she has scored in the past including with MTN Nigeria. She is also a businesswoman who has her clothing line known as NMA Clothings.
4. Omawumi – $3 million
- Full name: Omawumi Megbele
- Date of birth: 12 April 1982
- Years active: 2007 till date
- Net Worth: $3 million
- Sources of wealth: Music, acting, endorsement deals
Born in 1982, Omawumi has been active in the music industry since 2007. She came into the limelight after being the first runner-up in the popular music show, “Idol”. The Delta State-born talent was has worked with some big names in the Nigerian music scene such as MI, Tuface Idibia, Timaya, and P Square. She has also appeared on camera as an actress.
Her net worth is an estimated $3 million. mainly from her music, acting gigs, and endorsement deals with brands such as Globacom, Konga, Mortein, and Malta Guinness among others. She has won various awards including the Headies Awards. The singer has released the following albums: Wonder Woman (2009), Lasso of Truth (2013), Timeless (2017), and Love Deep High Life (LDHL) (2021).
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3. Yemi Alade – $4.5 million
- Full name: Yemi Eberechi Alade
- Date of birth: 13 March 1989
- Years active: 2009 till date
- Net Worth: $4.5 million
- Sources of net worth: Music, touring, endorsement deals, acting
Nicknamed Mama Africa, Yemi Alade is one of the most talented and entertaining female singers in Nigeria. Also hard-working, she has been able to build for herself a net worth that is estimated at $4.5 million.
The University of Lagos graduate got her break into the music scene in 2009 after she won the Peak Talent Show. Since then, she has worked with Effyzzie Music Group and Universal Music Africa labels. Alade has also released the following albums King of Queens (2015), Mama Africa (The Diary of An African Woman) (2016), Black Magic (2017), Woman of Steel (2019), and Empress (2020), most of which became successful. She has won many awards including All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), African Muzik Magazine Awards, MTV African Music Awards, and Soundcity MVP Awards amongst others.
Also an actress, songwriter, and activist, Yemi Alade has made her fortune from her entertainment business as well as through the many endorsement deals she has with brands such as Lush Hair, Close Up, Nairabox, and NP Gandour.
2. ASA – $5 million
- Full name: Bukola Elemide
- Date of birth: 17 September 1982
- Years active: 2004 till date
- Net Worth: $5 million
- Sources of wealth: Music, endorsement deals
It is not surprising to find Asa as one o the richest Nigerian female musicians, boasting of a net worth that is estimated at more than $5 million. One of the most globally celebrated artists from Nigeria, Asa has been in the music scene since 2004. The Paris-born vocalist got her start after she met ace Nigerian music star and producer Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo in 2004. The two began working together, leading to her first album Aṣa (Asha). She has since released others such as Beautiful Perfection (2010), Bed of Stone (2014), and Lucid (2019). She has won awards including the Prix Constantin, Headies, and French Music Awards Victoires de la Musique.
was born in France but she spent her childhood growing up in Nigeria. Her music is inspired by an array of Nigerian/ African singers like Angelique Kidjo. her music filled the Nigerian airwaves in 2008, and pleasantly so, characterized by rich content, Nigerians welcomed Asa’s music so well.
1. Tiwa Savage – $6 million
- Full name: Tiwatope Savage
- Date of birth: 5 February 1980
- Years active: 1996 till date
- Net Worth: $6 million
- Sources of wealth: Music, acting, endorsement deals
With a net worth of $6 million, Tiwa Savage is currently the richest Nigerian female musician. She is also one of the most consistent as she has remained on the scene for much longer than many others and from all indications, she is not leaving any time soon.
Having worked with big names in the industry including people like Don Jazzy and Wizkid, she has released different EPs and albums including Once Upon a Time (2013) R.E.D (2015) Sugarcane (2017) Celia (2020), and Water and Garri (2021). She has also won many awards including n the Channel O music awards as well as the MTV Europe Music Award.
Tiwa Savage came by her fortune through her earnings from album sales, music shows, acting, and endorsements from various brands such as MTN Nigeria, Pepsi, Forte Oil, and Cadbury among others. Recent happenings from the scandal of the leaked sex video have seen her lose some of these endorsements.
