10 Foreign Artistes You Never Knew Were Nigerians

It’s so fair to say that Nigerian amongst every other countries in Africa are known to be well talented in one way or the other as they tend to be more outstanding in their areas of specialization, which makes them recognized when they reach out to the world, as they are one of the best countries that travel far and wide, in search of a greener pasture, they also ensure they make impact, in whichever country they find themselves.

We have some artists that are doing really great in the music industry these days, and people always think they are African Americans or come from other parts of African countries, but the gist remains that they are Nigeria by offsprings, either through immigrant parents or nationalisation, half parents or by birth. Below are 10 of these artistes;

1. Taio Cruz

Adetayo Ayowale OnileEre, widely known as Jacob Taio Cruz, was born by a Brazilian mother to his Nigerian father, in London, England. This English songwriter, singer, rapper and record producer is the founder of Rokstarr Music London which later changed its name to Rokstarr Entertainment Division, abbreviated to R.E.D Inc. Cruz has released albums and singles, like “Break Your Heart”, “Telling The World” and some songs that has bagged him various awards, like BRIT Award, ASCAP Award, America music award, and Billboard Music Award.

2. Skepta

Skepta, born as Joseph Junior Olakitan Adenuga, in Tottenham, North London, by immigrant Nigerian parents, he is an English grime artist, rapper, songwriter, record producer and music video director, whose albums like “Greatest Hits”, “Microphone Champion”, “Doin’ It Again” and “Konnichiwa”, has earned lots of Prizes and set him high on the chart of fame. Recently, Skepta was honored as the “Amuludun of Odo Aje”, the chief entertainer of Odo Aje, a town in Ogun state, Nigeria, his parental home of origin.

3. Wale

Be expecting a little or no one on your side, when you call him Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, but be ready to control the crowd, when you call him “Wah-ley”. This American rapper, recording artist, record producer and actor’s parents are both from Yoruba tribe of Southwestern, Nigeria, who relocated to the United State, in 1979. He is an award-winning artist, who has associated with top American artists, such as Lady Gaga, Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross and so on.

4. Lemar

Calling him biologically, Lemar Obika, is an award-winning British songwriter and R n B singer, that was born on April 4, 1978, to Nigerian parents from Enugu State, Nigeria. Lemar rose to fame, when he came third on the first series of British talent show fame academy, along side his hit songs like, “Time To Grow” and “If There’s Any Justice”.

5. Chamillionaire

Hakeem Seriki, (Chamillionaire), is an American rapper, record producer and entrepreneur, who was born to a Muslim father and a Christian mother, both from Nigeria. Chamillionaire gained fame through his 2007 Grammy Award-winning rap single, “Ridin”.

6. Sade Adu

Helen Folasade Adu, a Nigerian-British soul singer, was born on 16 January 1959 in Ibadan, Oyo State. Her father, Adebisi Adu, a Nigerian lecturer in economics of Yoruba background, and her mother Anne Hayes, an English district nurse; met in London, married in 1955, and moved to Nigeria, before separation relocated them to London. Sade, who is the first Nigerian to win a Grammy Award, in 1986, with her band, has achieved worldwide fame.

7. Seal

The British singer, Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel, popularly known as Seal, was born on 19 February 1963, to Nigerian parents. Seal has won multiple awards throughout his career, including four Grammy awards, three Brit Awards, two Ivor Novello Award, Best British Male in 1992, and an MTV Video Music Award.

8. Jidenna

The “Bambi” crooner, Jidenna Theodore Mobisson, better known by his stage name Jidenna was born May 4, 1985, to a Nigerian father and a White mother, in Wisconsin and grew up in Nigeria. He’s an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer, whose hit song, “Classic Man”, was nominated for best Rap/Song Collaboration at the 58th Grammy award.

9. Tinnie Tempah

The English rapper, singer and songwriter, was born on 7 November 1988, to Nigeria parents from Ibusa, Delta state, with the name Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu. His name tasted more light of fame, when his singles “Pass out” and “Written in the stars” found their ways to the top of UK singles chart of 2010.

10. Nas

The American rapper and entrepreneur who is also a son of Olu Dara, a jazz musician, Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones was born on September 14, 1973. He started his musical carrier in 1991 and has released eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums and has sold over 30 million records worldwide. Nas is a multi award-winning artist.