Forbes has named the top 10 richest musicians in Africa. These popular artistes span from various countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and other African countries whose music industries are doing very well. Check out the list below.
1. Akon
Akon has over 35 million albums sold worldwide and also a popular musician in Africa and also in the world.
He has won numerous awards including five Grammy Award nominations and has 45 Billboard Hot 100 songs under his belt. He tops the list according to Forbes Africa.
Akon net worth is estimated at $80 million currently this 2018.
2. Black Coffee
The multi-award-winning artist’s real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo.
He was born in South Africa’s house music province, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and raised in the Eastern Cape province, where Nelson Mandela hailed from, before moving back to KZN to study music.
He is second richest artist in Africa but first in South-Africa with a current net worth of $60 million this 2018.
3. Hugh Masekela
Hugh was born in Witbank, east of Johannesburg. He has released more than 43 albums and performed with Marvin Gaye, Dizzy Gillespie, The Byrds, Fela Kuti, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Miriam Makeba.
He is also one of the richest African musicians today.
4. Don Jazzy
Don Jazzy is ranked fourth richest musician in Africa and also first in Nigeria.
Like many artists, his real name is Michael Collins Ajereh, and he started playing music as a child in church before moving to the UK to pursue his career.
Don Jazzy net worth currently is $30 million.
5. Tinashe
Tinashe was a child model by the age of three. The twenty-four-year-old sang before she could talk and made her first appearance in 2000 in the film Cora Unashamed.
Her voice also starred in the cartoon feature film The Polar Express alongside Oscar-winning actor, Tom Hanks.
She is the fifth on Forbes list on richest African musicians.
6. Jidenna
By the age of 10, Jidenna Theodore Mobisson knew he wanted to do music but was afraid to tell his father who wanted him to be an engineer.
He is ranked sixth according to Forbes Africa.
7. Wizkid
Wizkid is arguably currently the uncrowned king of African music.
Grammy Award-winning artist, Alicia Keys and husband Swizz Beatz, danced to his songs Ojuelegba and Caro, with Keys posting a video on her Instagram account with the caption, “This song makes me happy”. Kylie Jenner also posted a video of herself dancing to Wizkid’s music on Snapchat.
He is seventh richest musician in the African continent according to Forbes List, with a net worth of $20 million.
8. Davido
Davido is a popular Nigerian artist and who achieved celebrity status in just five years. He said it was people like P-Square and D’Banj who made him believe this was possible.
He became famous for his widely acclaimed 2012 debut album “Omo Baba Olowo”. His net worth currently is $16 million.
9. Sarkodie
Michael Owusu Addo started out as an underground rapper and through the help of Duncan Williams, his former manager, his career was launched.
Staying true to his identity, he is a big advocate of Azonto, a Ghanaian genre that is said to have been born out of Kpanlogo, a traditional dance.
Forbes estimated Sarkodie net worth to be at $5 million
His first single off his fourth album, Mewu, sold almost 4,000 copies on the first day of its release in Ghana. He was also the first Ghanaian to win a BET award.
10. Oliver Mtukudzi
Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi has 65 albums under his belt, more than the legendary Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.
It’s a remarkable career stretching back 41 years with songs that have enlivened parties all over the world.
He is ranked 10th richest musician in Africa.