African countries
This is a list of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa. It includes both fully recognised states, states with limited or zero recognition, and dependent territories of both African and non-African states. It lists 56 sovereign state ...
List of Algerian musicians
The following is a list of Algerian musicians:
A
* Abderrahmane Abdelli, musician
* Ahmad Baba Rachid
* Amar Ezzahi, singer of Chaabi music
B
* Bellemou Messaoud
* Boualem Boukacem, singer, poet, musician
C
* Cheb Mami, prince of Ra ...
Benin
Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north ...
*
Angelique Kidjo
Angelique or Angélique may refer to:
* Angélique (given name), a French feminine name
Arts and entertainment Music
* Angélique (instrument), a string instrument of the lute family
* ''Angélique'', a 1927 opéra bouffe by Jacques Ibert
* ...
*
Wally Badarou
Waliou Jacques Daniel Isheola "Wally" Badarou (born 22 March 1955) is a French musician. Born in France with ancestry from Benin, West Africa, Badarou is known for his close association with the English group Level 42, and for his prolific work ...
Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...
Franco and Afro Musica
Franco and Afro Musica is a twelve piece kwasa kwasa band from Gabane, Botswana.
The band was founded by Frank "Franco" Lesokwane. As is the norm in the soukous (Congolese rumba) circles for artists to go by more than one names, Lesokwane also go ...
Matsieng
Matsieng is a Setswana traditional music trio formed in 2005 in Gaborone, Botswana. They burst into the scene with their 2005 festive season album, Semakaleng. Known for their explicit lyrics, the trio has toured Botswana, Malaysia and South Afr ...
Zeus
Zeus or , , ; grc, Δῐός, ''Diós'', label=Genitive case, genitive Aeolic Greek, Boeotian Aeolic and Doric Greek#Laconian, Laconian grc-dor, Δεύς, Deús ; grc, Δέος, ''Déos'', label=Genitive case, genitive el, Δίας, ''D ...
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso (, ; , ff, 𞤄𞤵𞤪𞤳𞤭𞤲𞤢 𞤊𞤢𞤧𞤮, italic=no) is a landlocked country in West Africa with an area of , bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the ...
Cheikh Lô
Cheikh N'Digel Lô (born 12 September 1955) is a Senegalese musician.
Early life
He was born to Senegalese parents in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and began playing drums and singing at an early age.
Career
In 1976, he joined Orchestre Volta J ...
Farafina
Farafina is a music and dance group from Burkina Faso, established in 1978. The eight-member group is Burkina Faso's best known musical group, and one of Africa's most internationally prominent musical groups.
History
The group was founded ...
Burundi
Burundi (, ), officially the Republic of Burundi ( rn, Repuburika y’Uburundi ; Swahili language, Swahili: ''Jamuhuri ya Burundi''; French language, French: ''République du Burundi'' ), is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley at the ...
*
Khadja Nin
Khadja Nin (born 27 June 1959) is a Burundian singer and musician.
Nin was born in Burundi, the youngest of a family of eight. Her father was a diplomat. She studied music at an early age like most of her brothers and sisters. With her except ...
Cameroon
Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...
Cesaria Evora Cesaria may refer to:
* Cesaria River, an old name for the Cohansey River
*Cesária
''Cesária'' is the fifth album by Cesária Évora. The album, consisting of Cape Verdean morna and coladeira songs, was released by Paris-based Lusafrica on 1 ...
*
Gil Semedo
Gil Semedo Moreira (born October 25, 1974), better known by his stage name Gil Semedo, is a Cape Verdean recording artist, songwriter, businessman, and record producer. He rose to prominence in 1991 following the release of "Menina", the first si ...
Côte d'Ivoire
Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...
*
Alpha Blondy
Seydou Koné (; born January 1, 1953 in Dimbokro), better known by his stage name Alpha Blondy, is an Ivorian reggae singer and international recording artist. Many of his songs are politically and socially motivated, and are mainly sung in hi ...
*
Magic System
Magic System is an Ivory Coast, Ivorian coupé-décalé band from Abidjan. It was founded in 1996 and comprises Asalfo, Goude, Tino, and Manadja.
Magic System's recordings in the Zouglou dance style have featured in the charts throughout Africa ...
*
Ernesto Djédjé
Ernesto Djédjé (1948–1983) was an Côte d'Ivoire, Ivorian musician from Daloa. His parents were Wolof people, Wolof and Bété people, Bété. Djédjé began playing music at fifteen when he became a guitarist with Ivoiro Star, a leading do ...
*
Tiken Jah Fakoly
Doumbia Moussa Fakoly (born June 23, 1968 in Odienné), better known by his stage name Tiken Jah Fakoly (), is an Ivorian reggae singer and songwriter.
Early life
Doumbia Moussa Fakoly was born on 23 June 1968 in Odienné, Kabadougou Region, nor ...
Serge Beynaud
Serge Beynaud (real name Guy Serge Beynaud Gnolou but sometimes also called Beynaud; born 19 September 1987 in Yopougon, Abidjan) is an Ivorian singer, songwriter and music producer, associated with styles such as Coupé-Décalé and Loko loko.
' ...
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...
(
Congo-Brazzaville
The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...
)
*
Youlou Mabiala
Gilbert Youlou Mabiala (born 3 March 1947), popularly known as Prince Youlou, is a Congo music recording artist, composer and vocalist, in the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). He was once a member of the Congo Music band TPOK Jazz whi ...
Werrason
Noël Ngiama Makanda known professionally as Werra Son, is a Congolese musician December 25, 1965 in Moliambo, a small village in western DRC, in Kikwit region, Kwilu District. Werrason is one of the founding members of musical band Weng ...
*
Papa Wemba
Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba (14 June 1949 – 24 April 2016), known professionally as Papa Wemba (), was a Congolese singer and musician who played Congolese rumba, soukous, and ndombolo. Dubbed the "King of Rumba Rock", he was one of the ...
*
Ferre Gola
Ferre may refer to:
People
* Ferre Grignard (1939-1982), Belgian skiffle-singer
* Ferre Spruyt (born 1986), Belgian speed skater
* Todd Rivaldo Ferre (born 1999), Indonesian footballer
*Ferré Gola
Ferré Gola, also Ferre Gola, whose full ...
*
Fally Ipupa
Fally Ipupa N'simba (born December 14, 1977), known by his stage name Fally Ipupa, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, philanthropist, guitarist and producer. From 1999 until 2006, he was a member of Quartier Latin International, the music ...
*
Mbilia Bel
M'bilia Bel (born January 10, 1959) is a Congolese rumba, rumba and world music singer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She is known as the "Queen of Congolese and African Rumba". She rose to fame after first being discovered by Sam Ma ...
Youlou Mabiala
Gilbert Youlou Mabiala (born 3 March 1947), popularly known as Prince Youlou, is a Congo music recording artist, composer and vocalist, in the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). He was once a member of the Congo Music band TPOK Jazz whi ...
*
Franco Luambo Makiadi
François Luambo Luanzo Makiadi (6 July 1938 – 12 October 1989) was a Congolese musician. He was a major figure in 20th-century Congolese music, and African music in general, principally as the leader for over 30 years of TPOK Jazz, the most ...
Koffi Olomide
Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba (13 July 1956), known professionally as Koffi Olomidé, is a Congolese Soukus singer, dancer, producer, and composer. He has had several gold records in his career. He is the founder of the Quartier Latin Internati ...
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
List of Democratic Republic of the Congo musicians
This is a list of musicians and musical groups from the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire).
*Abeti Masikini
*African Fiesta
* Aurlus Mabélé
* Avelino
* Awilo Longomba
* Bimi Ombale
* Bisso Na Bisso
*Bouro Mpela
*Bozi Boziana
*Cindy L ...
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
''See:''
List of Egyptian musicians
This is a list of musicians and musical groups from Egypt.
* Abou El Leef
*Amal Maher
* Amira Selim
*Amr Diab
*Angham
* Anoushka
*Carmen Suleiman
*Dina El Wedidi
*Hisham Abbas
*Leila Mourad
* Mayam Mahmoud
*Mohamed Mounir
*Mohammed Abdel Wahab
*T ...
Eritrea
Eritrea ( ; ti, ኤርትራ, Ertra, ; ar, إرتريا, ʾIritriyā), officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa, with its capital and largest city at Asmara. It is bordered by Ethiopia ...
*
Abraham Afewerki
Abraham Afewerki, (ኣብርሃም ኣፈወርቂ) (30 January 1966 – 7 October 2006) was an Eritrean singer, songwriter, and music producer. Noted for his unique Tigrinya-based compositions and lyrics, he was one of the most recognized figur ...
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
Gabon
Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north ...
Patience Dabany
Patience Marie Josephine Kama Dabany (born 22 January 1941; member of the Order of Gabriela Silang), also known by the names Marie Joséphine Kama and Josephine Bongo, is a Gabonese singer and musician. Dabany served as the First Lady of Gabo ...
Gambia
The Gambia,, ff, Gammbi, ar, غامبيا officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country within mainland AfricaHoare, Ben. (2002) ''The Kingfisher A-Z Encyclopedia'', Kingfisher Publicatio ...
*
Sona Maya Jobarteh
Sona Jobarteh (born 1983) is a Gambian multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer. She is from one of the five principal kora-playing griot families of West Africa, and is the first female professional kora player to come from a griot family. S ...
*
Foday Musa Suso
Foday Musa Suso (born 9 December 1953, in Sarre Hamadi, Wuli District, in the Upper River Division of The Gambia) is a Gambian musician and composer. He is a member of the Mandinka ethnic group, and is a griot. Griots are the oral historians ...
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
Guinea
Guinea ( ),, fuf, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫, italic=no, Gine, wo, Gine, nqo, ߖߌ߬ߣߍ߫, bm, Gine officially the Republic of Guinea (french: République de Guinée), is a coastal country in West Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the we ...
Sekouba Bambino
Sekouba "Bambino" is the stage name of Sekouba Diabaté, a singer and musician born in Guinea, West Africa, in 1964.Daddi Cool
Daddi Cool (born in Makeni, Sierra Leone) is a Sierra Leonean-born Guinean reggae musician. He was born and raised in Makeni, Sierra Leone. Daddi Cool served in the Sierra Leonean army, but fled the country during the early years of the Sierra Leo ...
Balla et ses Balladins
Balla et ses Balladins (also known as Orchestre du Jardin de Guinée) was a dance-music orchestra formed in Conakry, Guinea in 1962 following the break-up of the Syli Orchestre National, Guinea's first state-sponsored group. Also called the Or ...
Famoudou Konaté
Famoudou Konaté is a Malinké master drummer from Guinea. Famoudou Konaté is a virtuoso of the djembe drum and its orchestra. One of only a handful of initiated masters of the Malinké drumming tradition, Famoudou is universally respected a ...
*
Mory Kanté
Mory Kanté (29 March 195022 May 2020) was a Guinean vocalist and player of the kora harp. He was best known internationally for his 1987 hit song " Yé ké yé ké", which reached number-one in Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, and Spain. Th ...
*
Mamady Keita Mamady may refer to:
* Mamady, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia
People with the given name
* Mamady Condé (fl. 2004–2007), Guinean politician and diplomat
* Mamady Keïta
Mamady Keïta (August 1950 – 21 June 2021) was a drummer from t ...
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau ( ; pt, Guiné-Bissau; ff, italic=no, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫 𞤄𞤭𞤧𞤢𞥄𞤱𞤮, Gine-Bisaawo, script=Adlm; Mandinka: ''Gine-Bisawo''), officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau ( pt, República da Guiné-Bissau, links=no ) ...
*
José Carlos Schwarz
José Carlos Schwarz ( Bissau, December 6, 1949 – Havana, May 27, 1977) was a Bissau-Guinean poet and musician. Biography
José Carlos Schwarz was born in Bissau (Portuguese Guinea) from well-to-do parents of Cape Verdean, Portuguese Guinean ...
*
Eneida Marta
Eneida Marta is a singer from Guinea-Bissau who sings in Portuguese and Guinea-Bissau Creole
Guinea-Bissau Creole, also known as Kiriol or Crioulo, is a creole language whose lexicon derives mostly from Portuguese. It is spoken in Guinea Bissa ...
Kenya
)
, national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Nairobi
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
Mali
Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, italics=no, ar, جمهورية مالي, Jumhūriyyāt Mālī is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mali ...
Mory Kanté
Mory Kanté (29 March 195022 May 2020) was a Guinean vocalist and player of the kora harp. He was best known internationally for his 1987 hit song " Yé ké yé ké", which reached number-one in Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, and Spain. Th ...
*
Salif Keita
Salif Keïta () (born 25 August 1949) is a Malian singer-songwriter, referred to as the "Golden Voice of Africa". He is a member of the Keita royal family of Mali.
Biography Early life
Salif Keita was born a traditional prince in the village o ...
*
Toumani Diabaté
Toumani Diabaté ( ; born 10 August 1965) is a Malian kora player. In addition to performing the traditional music of Mali, he has also been involved in cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles. ...
*
Kandia Kouyaté
Kandia Kouyaté (also known as Kandja Kouyaté, born in 1959 in Kita, Mali) is a Malian ''jelimuso'' (a female griot) and kora player; she has earned the prestigious title of ''ngara'', and is sometimes called ''La dangereuse'' and ''La grande ve ...
*
Habib Koité
Habib Koité ( bm, , Habib Kuwatɛ, born 1958 in Thiès, Senegal) is a Malian musician, singer, songwriter and griot based in Mali. His band, Bamada, was a supergroup of West African musicians, which included Kélétigui Diabaté on balafon ...
*
Issa Bagayogo
Issa Bagayogo (1961 – 10 October 2016) was a Malian musician. He released four full-length albums all under the record label Six Degrees Records. Bagayogo lent his voice and played the kamele n'goni (a six-stringed West African instrument simi ...
*
Rokia Traoré
Rokia Traoré (born 24. January 1974) is a Malian-born singer, songwriter and guitarist.
She made six albums between 1998 and 2016. ''Bowmboï'' (2003) won the Critics Award category at the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music in 2004 and ''Tcham ...
*
Tinariwen
Tinariwen ( Tamasheq: , with vowels , pronounced ''tinariwen'' "deserts", plural of ''ténéré'' "desert") is a collective of Tuareg musicians from the Sahara Desert region of northern Mali. Considered a pioneer of desert blues, the group's gu ...
*
Ali Farka Touré
Ali Ibrahim "Ali Farka" Touré (31 October 1939 – 6 March 2006) was a Malian singer and multi-instrumentalist, and one of the African continent's most internationally renowned musicians. His music blends traditional Malian music and its deriv ...
*
Amadou et Mariam
Amadou & Mariam are a musical duo from Mali, composed of the Bamako-born couple Amadou Bagayoko (guitar and vocals) (born 24 October 1954) and Mariam Doumbia (vocals) (born 15 April 1958).
Their album '' Welcome To Mali'' (2008) was nominated ...
*
Oumou Sangaré
Oumou Sangaré ( bm, Umu Sangare; born 25 February 1968 in Bamako) is a Grammy Award-winning Malian Wassoulou musician, sometimes referred to as "The Songbird of Wassoulou". Wassoulou is a historical region south of the Niger River, where the mu ...
*
Afel Bocoum
Afel Bocoum (born 1955) is a musician from Mali, noted as a singer and guitarist. He began his career as a member of Ali Farka Touré's group ASCO, and Toure is often regarded as his mentor. Both men come from the town of Niafunke on the River Ni ...
Fatoumata Diawara
Fatoumata Diawara ( bm, ߝߊ߫ߕߎߡߕߊ ߖߊ߯ߥߙߊ߫, Fatumta Jawara, born 1982) is a Malian singer-songwriter currently living in France.
Diawara began her career as an actress in theatre and in film, including ''Genesis'' (1999), '' Sia, T ...
*
Djelimady Tounkara
Djelimady Tounkara is a Malian musician and one of the foremost guitarists in Africa.
Life and career
Born in the culturally rich town of Kita, west of the Malian capital, Bamako, Djelimady grew up surrounded with traditional music played by mem ...
*
Rail Band
The Rail Band is a Malian band formed in 1970; it was later known as Super Rail Band, Bamako Rail Band or, most comprehensively and formally, Super Rail Band of the Buffet Hotel de la Gare, Bamako.
Background
Rail Band's fame was built upon the ...
Mauritania
Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...
*
Dimi Mint Abba
Dimi Mint Abba ( ar, ديمي منت آبا; 25 December 1958 – June 2011) was one of Mauritania's most famous musicians. She was born Loula Bint Siddaty Ould Abba in Tidjikja in Mauritania. 1958, into a low-caste ("iggawin") family ...
*
Malouma
Malouma Mint El Meidah ( ar, المعلومة منت الميداح, al-Maʿlūma Mint al-Maydāḥ), also simply Maalouma or Malouma (; born October 1, 1960), is a Mauritanian singer, songwriter and politician. Raised in the south-west of the ...
*
Noura Mint Seymali
Noura Mint Seymali is a Mauritanian griot, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist.
Early life
Noura Mint Seymali was born in Mauritania to parents Dimi Mint Abba and Seymali Ould Ahmed Vall. Both parents were important musical figures in Mauri ...
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...
Mozambique
Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
*
Wazimbo Humberto Carlos Benfica, known as Wazimbo (born November 11, 1948), is a Mozambican vocalist considered one of the greatest voices of Mozambique and one of the most famous marrabenta singers. Born in Chibuto, in Gaza Province, Mozambique he moved ...
Fany Pfumo Fany Pfumo (also spelled Fany Mpfumo) (Lourenço Marques, October 18, 1928 – Maputo, November 3, 1987) was a Mozambican-born singer who was mainly active in South Africa. He is considered one of the founders and of the prominent artists in the ma ...
Moreira Chonguica
Moreira may refer to:
Places
* Moreira (Maia), a parish in Maia Municipality, northern Portugal
* , a parish in Monção Municipality, northern Portugal
* , a parish in Nelas Municipality, central Portugal
People
*Moreira (name) Moreira is a g ...
*
Lizha James
Elisa Lisete James Humbane, popularly known as Lizha James, is a Mozambican musician.
Awards and prizes
Won
* 2005 - Prize TVZINE for Best Singer (Mozambique)
* 2006 Channel O Music Video Awards - Best Female Video (4 all ya)
* 2007 Channel ...
*
Neyma
Neyma Julio Alfredo (burn 6 May 1978) is a Mozambican singer. She is known for producing songs of the Mozambican genre, such as Marrabenta and Kizomba.
Biography
Neyma began her interest in music at a young age, singing at various events in ...
Al Bowlly
Albert Allick Bowlly (7 January 1898 – 17 April 1941) was a Mozambican-born South African– British vocalist and jazz guitarist, who was popular during the 1930s in Britain. He recorded more than 1,000 songs.
His most popular songs includ ...
*
Wazimbo Humberto Carlos Benfica, known as Wazimbo (born November 11, 1948), is a Mozambican vocalist considered one of the greatest voices of Mozambique and one of the most famous marrabenta singers. Born in Chibuto, in Gaza Province, Mozambique he moved ...
Afric Simone
Afric Simone (born Henrique Simone, 17 July 1956) is a Mozambican vocalist, musician, performance artist, multi-instrumentalist, dancer and entertainer. He entered the European charts with his first hit " Ramaya" in 1975, which was followed by a ...
Namibia
Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...
*
Jericho
Jericho ( ; ar, أريحا ; he, יְרִיחוֹ ) is a Palestinian city in the West Bank. It is located in the Jordan Valley, with the Jordan River to the east and Jerusalem to the west. It is the administrative seat of the Jericho Gove ...
Mdou Moctar
Mahamadou Souleymane (born c. 16 August 1984 or 1986), known professionally as Mdou Moctar (also M.dou Mouktar), is a Tuareg songwriter and musician based in Agadez, Niger, who performs modern rock music inspired by Tuareg guitar music. His musi ...
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
''See
list of Nigerian musicians
This is a list of Nigerian musicians.
Only notable individuals are included here; for groups, see List of Nigerian musical groups. Names are to be arranged by the first letter of Wikipedia reference.
0–9
* 2face Idibia - hip hop and R&B si ...
Rwanda
Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
*
Alpha Rwirangira
Alpha Rwirangira (born 25 May 1986) is a Rwandan singer/song writer. He sings world music, reggae, soul R&B, and dance music all in English, Swahili and Kinyarwanda.
Music
It was after Rwirangira won the East Africa Tusker Project Fame that hi ...
Simon Bikindi
Simon Bikindi (28 September 1954 – 15 December 2018) was a Rwandan singer-songwriter who was formerly very popular in Rwanda. His patriotic songs were playlist staples on the national radio station Radio Rwanda during the war from October 1990 ...
*
Corneille (singer)
Cornelius Nyungura (born 24 March 1977), known by his stage name Corneille, is a Canadian R&B singer and songwriter. He was born in West Germany to Rwanda He, spent most of his childhood in Rwanda, and eventually emigrated to Quebec, Canada, i ...
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam (; born April 16, 1973), known mononymously as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of " Locked Up" (featuring Styles P) ...
*
Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal ( ff, 𞤄𞤢𞥄𞤦𞤢 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤, italics=no, born 13 June 1953) is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several al ...
*
Étoile de Dakar
Étoile de Dakar (“Star of Dakar”) were a leading music group of Senegal in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Youssou N'Dour was one of the singers in the band and the band was a major part of N'Dour's rise to stardom in Senegal.
The group was ...
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Ismaël Lô
Ismaël Lô (also Ismaël Lo; born 1956) is a Senegalese musician and actor.
Life
Lô was born in Dogondoutchi, Niger on 30 August 1956, to a Senegalese father and a Nigerien mother. Shortly after Lo's birth the family returned to Senegal wher ...
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Mansour Seck
Mansour Seck is a Senegalese singer and musician born in Podor, in the north of the country. Best known for his collaboration with lifelong friend Baaba Maal, he has also toured and released several solo albums. He is blind.
Biography
Seck was ...
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Orchestra Baobab
Orchestra Baobab is a Senegalese band established in 1970 as the house band of the Baobab Club in Dakar. Many of the band's original members had previously played with Star Band de Dakar in the 1960s. Directed by '' timbalero'' and vocalist Balla ...
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Positive Black Soul
Positive Black Soul (also known as PBS) is a hip hop group based in Dakar, Senegal, one of the first such collectives in the country. Founded in 1989, the group is composed of Didier Sourou Awadi (alias DJ Awadi) and Amadou Barry (alias Doug E. ...
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Thione Seck
Thione Ballago Seck (March 12, 1955 – March 14, 2021) was a Senegalese singer and songwriter in the mbalakh genre. Seck came from a family of griot singers from the Wolof people of Senegal. He first performed with Orchestre Baobab, but he lat ...
and
Raam Daan Raam Daan is a mbalax band from Senegal. Founded in 1974 by Thione Seck, Raam Daan has risen to become one of the most popular mbalax bands in Senegal (rivaled only by Youssou N’Dour
Youssou N'Dour (, wo, Yuusu Nduur; also known as Youssou ...
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Star Band
Star Band is a music group from Senegal that was the resident band of Dakar's ''Miami Club''. They, along with the many off-shoots of the band, are responsible for many of the crucial developments in Senegalese popular music. They were formed in 1 ...
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Touré Kunda
Touré Kunda is a Senegalese band, noted for their musical versatility and political activism. Their 40-year career encompasses recordings in over six languages and collaborations with well-known musicians such as Carlos Santana and Talking Hea ...
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Youssou N'Dour
Youssou N'Dour (, wo, Yuusu Nduur; also known as Youssou Madjiguène Ndour; born 1 October 1959) is a Senegalese singer, songwriter, musician, composer, occasional actor, businessman, and politician. In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' magazine describe ...
and
Étoile de Dakar
Étoile de Dakar (“Star of Dakar”) were a leading music group of Senegal in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Youssou N'Dour was one of the singers in the band and the band was a major part of N'Dour's rise to stardom in Senegal.
The group was ...
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone,)]. officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. Covering a total area of , Sierra ...
S. E. Rogie
Sooliman Ernest "Rogie" or S. E. Rogie (1926 – 4 July 1994) was a highlife and palm wine music, palm wine guitarist and singer from Sierra Leone.
Biography
Sooliman Ernest Rogers was born in 1926 in the town of Fonikoh, Pujehun District in sou ...
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Steady Bongo
lansana Sheriff (born on August 28, 1966 in Daru, Kailahun District, Sierra Leone) popularly known by his stage name Steady Bongo, is an internationally recognized Sierra Leonean musician and record producer. He is one of the most famous musicia ...
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K-Man
Mohamed Saccoh(born in Koidu Town, Sierra Leone), better known by his stage name K-Man, is a Sierra Leonean rapper and one of the most famous musicians from Sierra Leone.{{By whom, date=November 2016 K-Man is known for his soft rap tone. He rapp ...
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
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Xiddigaha Geeska
Xiddigaha Geeska (''The Horn Stars'') () is a Somali music band from Somaliland. The band is funded by Somaliland's Ministry of Information and National Guidance. The band is led by Hasan Dhuhul Labsalah ().
History
Xiddigaha Geeska was for ...
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Mohamed Mooge Liibaan
Mohammed Mooge Liibaan ( so, Maxamed Mooge Liibaan, ar, محمد موجي ليبان ) (1945-1984) was a prominent Somali instrumentalist, vocalist, poet, politician and activist.
History
Mooge was born in Hargeisa, British Somaliland and ha ...
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Abdullahi Qarshe
Abdullahi Qarshe ( so, Cabdilaahi Qarshe, ar, عبدالله قارشي) (1924–1994) was a Somali people, Somali musician, poet and playwright known as the "Father of Music of Somalia, Somali music". In 1957 he wrote and composed the Somali N ...
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Waayaha Cusub
Waayaha Cusub ("The New Era") is a Somali people, Somali musical collective. It is led by singer Falis Abdi. In 2013, the ensemble organized the Reconciliation Music Festival in Mogadishu, the first international music festival to be held in Soma ...
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Ali Feiruz
Ali Abdi Feiruz, known as Ali Feiruz, ( so, Cali Fayruus) was a prominent Somali musician. He belonged to the Habr Awal clan of the Isaaq clan family.
Biography
Feiruz was born in 1931 in Djibouti. He later moved to Hargeisa, Somaliland in the ...
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Hasan Adan Samatar
Hasan Adan Samatar ( so, Xasan Aadan Samatar, ar, حسن اذن ساماتار) (b. May 23, 1953 in Diinsoor, Somalia) is a prominent Somali singer, guitarist and theatrical performer.
Biography
Samatar was born to an artistic family in Dins ...
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Aar Maanta
Hassan-Nour Sayid ( so, Xasan-Nuur Sayid, known by his stage name Aar Maanta) is a Somali people, Somali–British singer-songwriter, actor, composer, instrumentalist and music producer.
Personal life
Maanta, born Hassan-Nour Sayid in Jigjiga, t ...
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Mohamed Sulayman Tubeec
Mohamed Sulayman Tubeec ( so, Maxamed Saleebaan Tubeec), (1941– 11 March 2014) was a Somali singer, songwriter and record producer, called the King of Voice.
Personal life
Tubeec was born in 1941 in the town of Laaleys near Berbera, situated ...
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Maryam Mursal
Maryam Mursal ( so, Maryan Mursal, ar, مريم مرسل) (born 1 January 1950) is a Somali composer and vocalist.
Biography
Mursal grew up in Somalia in a Muslim family with four daughters. Mursal's family was originally from Somaliland, and i ...
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K'naan
Keinan Abdi Warsame (born 1 February 1978) ( so, Keynaan Cabdi Warsame, ar, كَينَان عَبدِ وَرسَمَ ''Kaynān ʿAbdi Warsama''), better known by his stage name K'naan (), is a Somali-Canadian musician. He rose to prominence ...
Magool
Magool ( so, Xaliimo Khaliif Cumar, (May 2, 1948 – March 19, 2004), born Halima Khaliif Omar, was a Somali singer.
Early years
Magool was born in the city of Dhuusamareeb the capital of the Galgaduud region in central Somalia to Cayr, Hawiy ...
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
''See:''
List of South African musicians
This list of South African musicians includes notable individual musicians as well as musical ensembles whose members are South African by birth or nationality.
A
* Afrotraction
*AKA, hip-hop artist and record producer
* Akustika Chamber Sin ...
South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...
Emmanuel Jal
Emmanuel Jal (born Jal Jok 1 January 1980) is a South Sudanese-Canadian artist, actor, former child soldier, and political activist. His autobiography, ''War Child: A Child Soldier's Story'', was published in 2009.
Childhood
Jal was born to ...
Sudan
Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...
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Abdel Aziz El Mubarak
Abdel Aziz El Mubarak ( ar, عبد العزيز المبارك; 1951 – 9 February 2020) was a popular Sudanese singer, born in Wad Madani. He was known for his popular love songs, pleasing tenor voice and his large band. Especially from the 19 ...
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Abdel Gadir Salim
Abdel Gadir Salim ( ar, عبد القادر سالم , born 1946) is a singer and bandleader of popular music from Sudan. He is one of the most well-known Sudanese singers in the West, having performed around the world and recorded in countrie ...
Emmanuel Jal
Emmanuel Jal (born Jal Jok 1 January 1980) is a South Sudanese-Canadian artist, actor, former child soldier, and political activist. His autobiography, ''War Child: A Child Soldier's Story'', was published in 2009.
Childhood
Jal was born to ...
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Mohammed Wardi
Mohammed Osman Hassan Salih Wardi ( ar, محمد عثمان حسن وردي; 19 July 1932 – 18 February 2012), also known as Mohammed Wardi, was a Nubian Sudanese singer, poet and songwriter. Looking back at his life and artistic career, Sudane ...
Swaziland
Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...
Tendaness
Tatenda Mandaza (born 10 September 1992), known professionally as Tendaness, is a Swazi-born record producer, DJ and songwriter.
Early life and career
Tatenda Mandaza was born in Mbabane, the capital city of Eswatini. His mother is Swati an ...
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...
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Ali Kiba
Ali Saleh Kiba (born 1986), best known as Ali Kiba or sometimes King Kiba, is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter. He is from Kigoma and the owner of Kings Music label.
Ali Kiba released his album ''Cinderella'' which broke record as the best- ...
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Bill Nass
William Nicholaus Lyimo (born 11 April 1993), popularly known by his stage name Bill Nass, is a Tanzanian rapper of Chagga heritage, he was born in Tanga, Tanga Region. MTV Base named him among the "50 Artists To Watch For In 2017". He is curre ...
Mnenge Ramadhani
Msondo Ngoma (formerly known as NUTA Jazz Band, renamed Juwata Jazz Band, and then OTTU Jazz Band) is an influential and long-lived Tanzanian muziki wa dansi band. Having been established in 1964, it is the oldest active dansi band in Tanzania.
Hi ...
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Muhiddin Maalim
Msondo Ngoma (formerly known as NUTA Jazz Band, renamed Juwata Jazz Band, and then OTTU Jazz Band) is an influential and long-lived Tanzanian muziki wa dansi band. Having been established in 1964, it is the oldest active dansi band in Tanzania.
Hi ...
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Hassani Bitchuka
Msondo Ngoma (formerly known as NUTA Jazz Band, renamed Juwata Jazz Band, and then OTTU Jazz Band) is an influential and long-lived Tanzanian muziki wa dansi band. Having been established in 1964, it is the oldest active dansi band in Tanzania.
Hi ...
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Saidi Mabera
Msondo Ngoma (formerly known as NUTA Jazz Band, renamed Juwata Jazz Band, and then OTTU Jazz Band) is an influential and long-lived Tanzanian muziki wa dansi band. Having been established in 1964, it is the oldest active dansi band in Tanzania.
Hi ...
Remmy Ongala
Ramazani "Remmy" Mtoro Ongala (10 February 1947 – 13 December 2010) was a Tanzanian guitarist and singer. Ongala was born in Kindu near the Tanzanian border, in what was the Belgian Congo at the time, and now is the Democratic Republic of the C ...
Saida Karoli
Saida Karoli (born April 4, 1976) is a traditionalist Tanzanian singer and performer who has staged live shows in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC.
Karoli was born in 1976 in Rwongwe, a small village in the Bukoba Rural district ...
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Diamond Platnumz
Nasibu Abdul Juma Issack (born 2 October 1989), popularly known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz, is a Tanzanian bongo flava recording artist, dancer, philanthropist and a businessman of Ha heritage. He is the founder and CEO of WCB Wasafi R ...
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Lady Jaydee
Judith Wambura Mbibo (born 15 June 1979), known by her stage name Lady Jaydee also referred to as ''"Lady JayDee in town"'' or ''"Lady Jay Dee"'', is a Tanzanian singer. She specializes in the R&B, Zouk (musical movement), Zouk and Afro Pop genre ...
Rose Mhando
Rose Mhando, known professionally as Rose Muhando (born 1976), is a Tanzanian singer, songwriter and choreographer. She is regarded as one of the best gospel singers of her generation with popular songs like 'Uwe Macho', 'Yesu Nakupenda', 'Secret ...
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Vanessa Mdee
Vanessa Hau Mdee (born 7 June 1988), is a Tanzanian singer, rapper, television personality and radio host. Mdee is popularly known for being the first ever Tanzanian MTV VJ. She later rose to prominence as a radio and TV host, hosting ''Epic Bon ...
Ruby
A ruby is a pinkish red to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum ( aluminium oxide). Ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewelry gems and is very durable. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sa ...
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Rayvanny
Raymond Shaban Mwakyusa (born 22 August 1993), better known by his stage name Rayvanny, is a Tanzanian musician, songwriter and recording artist who was signed under WCB Wasafi record label until July 2022. He was born and raised in Nzovwe ward ...
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Bi Kidude
Fatima binti Baraka (in Arabic: فاطمة بنت بركة) (c. 1910 – 17 April 2013), also known as Bi Kidude, was a Zanzibari-born Tanzanian Taarab singer. She has been called the "queen of Taarab and Unyago music" and was inspired by Siti ...
Imani Sanga
Imani Sanga is Professor of Music in the Department of Creative Arts, formerly called Department of Fine and Performing Arts, in the College of Humanities at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He teaches courses in Ethnomusicology, Philo ...
Togo
Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its c ...
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Bella Bellow
Georgette Adjoavi Bellow (Tsévié, Togo, 1 January 1945 – 10 December 1973) better known as Bella Bellow was a Togolese singer, who created an international career and recorded several albums. She died at the age of 28 in a car accident in To ...
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
''See:''
List of Ugandan musicians
This is a list of Ugandan musicians and musical groups.
A
* Allan Toniks
* A Pass
* Afrigo Band
* Angella Katatumba
* Angela Kalule
* Aziz Azion
B
* Babaluku
* Bataka Squad
* Bebe Cool
* Benon Mugumbya
Benjamin Spartos* Bobi Wine
* Bosmi ...
Zambia
Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most cent ...
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
''See:''
List of Zimbabwean musicians
This is a list of musicians and musical groups from Zimbabwe.
Musical groups
* Barura Express – band
* Bhundu Boys – jit and chimurenga music band
* Hohodza – band
* Mbira dzeNharira – mbira band
* Mechanic Manyeruke and the Puritans ...
List of African guitarists
This is a list of influential African guitarists.
Guitarists
* Ibrahim Ag Alhabib - guitarist of the band Tinariwen
* Barthelemy Attisso - lead guitarist of Orchestre Baobab, of Senegal
* Afel Bocoum - Malian guitarist, Ali Farka Touré's ...
Musicians
A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...