7 Famous African Music Legends
Africa harbours some of the most prominent musicians the world has ever seen. Many were pioneers in the conception of popular African music genres. The authentic sound that comes from these trailblazers can only be envied by other musicians worldwide. Over the years, their music has inspired many people and even movements. This list explores some of Africa’s most famous music legends.
1. Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti was one of the greatest musicians to ever emerge from Nigeria. It is almost impossible to explain the impact and importance he had on the global musical village. Fela was a producer, political activist, instrumentalist, composer, musician and inventor of the Afrobeat genre. He expressed his political views through his art. He would criticize the post-colonial regimes in Nigeria and other countries through his music; it made him an instant hero among Africans. He sang in Pidgin English (A form of English mixed with Nigerian slang) in an electrifying and inspiring tone.
Listen to Fela Kuti’s music on Spotify
2. Cesária Évora
A native of the island nation Carpe Verde, off the west coast of Africa. Cesária Évora is a grammy award winning recording artist, known as the country’s foremost practitioner of the morna. Her voice made the Carpe Verdes little known blues popular in the 70’s. If there was ever a voice that could seduce, sadden and soothe with its elegance, it was Cesária Évora’s. Becoming a certified international star brought her many opportunities. She was a televised figure in Europe, and her growing popularity in North America led her to an appearance on The David Letterman Show.
Listen to Cesária Évora’s music on Spotify
3. Salif Keita
Salif Keita, an idol to many young musicians on the African continent, is today considered the greatest talent to have come out of Mali. The Malian afro-pop singer and songwriter found initial success in the 1970s. He was a member of both the Rail Band and Les Ambassadeurs before moving to Paris to launch a high-profile solo career. Culturally, he was rejected because he was born an albino, but his talent and determination eventually led him to be known as the “Golden Voice of Africa”.
Listen to Salif Keita’s music on Spotify
4. Miriam Makeba
Miriama Makeba also known as “Mama Africa” was the most influential female vocalist to emerge out of South Africa. She helped bring African music to the global stage in the ’60s. Mama Africa has been called “a true legend” because she used music to fight for her people’s rights. Makeba appeared in South African award-winning musical Sarafina, and she is also a Grammy award winner. This powerhouse’s signature song was “Pata Pata” which was written by Dorothy Masuka.
Listen to Miriam Makeba’s music on Spotify
5. Manu Dibango
Dibango was Cameroon’s and perhaps Africa’s best-known jazz saxophonist. He was a musical innovator whose work over six decades inspired some of the greatest artists of our time. “Soul Makossa” has been a popular song for decades and it has inspired songs by Michael Jackson, Kool & the Gang and Rihanna. Also, a vibraphonist and pianist, his versatile amalgam of funk jazz, and the various African traditions allowed him to collaborate with an impressive range of musicians, like Sly & Robbie, Herbie Hancock and Fela Kuti.
Listen to Manu Dibango’s music on Spotify
6. Brenda Fassie
Brenda Faissie, also known as the ‘wild child’ of South Africa. Her voice never stopped ringing sweetly in your ears after listening to her tunes. She was one of South Africa’s most popular vocalists, mixing African vocals with a slick international pop sound. At the time Fassies songs were powerfully written with the aim to pass a message to South Africa’s oppressors. She had her greatest success in the 1980’s with the hits “Too late for Mama” and the controversial “Black President,” which was banned in the apartheid-era.
Listen to Brenda Fassie’s music on Spotify
7. Oliver Mtukudzi
This cultural and musical icon of Zimbabwe reflected his homeland’s daily life and struggles through his music. A passionate singer and an inventive guitarist, Oliver was also an astonishingly prolific recording artist, releasing 67 albums during his four-decade career. He would blend a number of South African traditions which include Mbira, mbaqanga, jit and the traditional drumming styles of the Korekore to create a unique style that his fans affectionately called “Tuku music”. After making a name for itself in Zimbabwe and the rest of Southern Africa, Tuku music finally got recognized by the international music community in 1999, thanks to Oliver. During 2000 to 2010, he was touring Europe and North America frequently while becoming a philanthropist and human rights advocate in Zimbabwe. In 2012 he was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
