I Love African Music! A List of Musicians & Artists

After the positive response from our last post titled "African Musicians You Should Listen To", we decided to compile a list of musicians from Africa that we love. Each of these artists have put Africa on the world map with their music . We hope you enjoy it!

Ebo Taylor 

Ebo Taylor is a Ghanian guitarist who has been an iconic figure on the Ghanaian music scene for over six decades. He was active in several prominent Highlife bands and has collobarated with Fela Kuti and other African musicians. He is also a prolific producer, ccombining Afro-beat, jazz rhythms to create his  own recognizable sound in the 70s. 

Oliver De Coque

Oliver De Coque was a Nigerian highlife musician and guitarist. He is credited with having produced 73 albums during his lifetime. His band the Ogene Sound Super of Africa , blended modern high life and  traditional Igbo music. 

Cesária Évora

Cesária Évora was a Cape Verdean singer popularly known as the "Barefoot Diva" for performing without shoes. Her music has sold over 300,000 copies worldwide, including one of her most celebrated songs, "Sodade".

Yvonne Chaka Chaka

Yvonne Chaka Chaka is an internationally recognised and respected South African singer, songwriter and humanitarian. Dubbed the "Princess of Africa", Chaka Chaka has been a force in South African music for 27 years and has been popular all over Africa with hits such as "I'm Burning Up" and "Umqombothi". 

Koffi Olomide 

Koffi Olomide is a a famous soukous singer and producer from DR Congo. A former member of Papa Wemba's band, Viva La Musica, Koffi Olomide went on to start his own band called the Quartier Latin which has been in effect for almost 20 years. He has built up a faithful fan base internationally, particularly in African and Europe.

Cheb Khaled

Khaled is an Algerian rai singer-songwriter and musician. He began recording in his early teens under the name Cheb Khaled and has beomce the most internationally recognised Algerian singer in the Arab word and in other countries. His popularity has earned him the title of the "King of Rai". 

Tilahun Gessesse

Tilahun Gessesse was an Ethiopian singer regarded as one of the most popular of the  nation's "Golden Age" in the 1960s. He was nicknamed "The Voice" of Ethiopian pop music. His popularity was such that he had the pleasure of appearing three time in front of Emperor Haile Selassie. 

Salif Keita

Salif Keita is an Afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He has been dubbed the "Golden Voice of Africa". Not only is unique as one of the most famous albino figures in Africa he is also a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita. 

Lagbaja

Lagbaja is an award winning Nigerian Afrobeat musician, singer and song-writer. He is well known for wearing a mask which according to him is used as an icon of man's facelessness. His music is a product of various styles from traditional Yoruba music to Jazz.