Who are the world famous Nigerian personalities you should be aware of? The “giant of Africa” as it is widely called is known to be blessed both in human and natural resources. Being the most populous black nation and also the diversity of our culture and different ethnic groups makes us a unique nation. In the past decades, we have produced a lot of great poets, musicians, footballers, etc. The likes of Fela Kuti, Buchi Emecheta, Jay Jay okocha, Ben Okri, Festus Ezeli.
Even with a series of turmoil or crises in the nation, we haven’t failed to represent internationally, this should be one of the many reasons why we are regarded as the giants of Africa.
We have people who are famous in Africa and the world at large. We are going to be looking at some Nigerians who are making headlines globally in the music, movie industry, and other sectors in this present decade.
10 World Famous Nigerian Personalities
#10 Wale
Born by Nigerian parents, Olubowale Victor Akintimehin is of Yoruba origin. Hails from Ogun state but grew up in the USA. He is famous for his music in the states as well as his home country Nigeria.
The rapper is signed to Maybach music and has done collaborations with some of our local stars like Olamide and Wizkid. His last visit to the country was in 2016.
#9 Hakeem Kae-Kazeem
Born in Lagos but hails from Ogun state, the Hollywood actor has been featured in some top-notch movies like hotel Rwanda, x-men origin, wolverine, pirates of the Caribbean, World end, and some series like criminal mind and 24 which are both airing on fox tv.
Hakeem has also featured in some of our Nollywood cinema movies like the Last flight to Abuja, Black November, Half of a Yellow Sun and he is now the brand ambassador of Etisalat Nigeria.
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#8 Taio Cruz
Born of a Nigerian father and a Brazilian mother, Adetayo Ayowale Onile-ere who took up the name Taio Cruz as a brand name is an R and B pop singer. He signed a musical publishing deal at the age of 19 and has won for himself several awards such as the BRIT Awards, Billboard Music Awards, ACAP Awards, and American Music Awards.
#7 David Oyelowo
David Oyelowo was born on April 1 1976 in Oxford, Oxfordshire England to Nigerian parents. The Hollywood star has featured in movies such as The Butler, Small Island, Rise Of The Planets of Apes, Middle of Nowhere, Lincoln, and Blood and Oil (This movie is about Niger Delta militancy in Nigeria).
#6 John Boyega
John Adedayo Bamidele Adegboyega, born in London to both Nigerian parents. He was born on the 17th f march 1992. He featured in the popular Star Wars movies, played a part in Half of a Yellow Sun but he is well known for his movie debut in 2011 where he featured in Attack The Block.
#5 Wizkid
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun known as Wizkid, was born in Ojuelegba, a ghetto part of Nigeria but is now based in the USA. He is a singer, songwriter, performer who had his musical breakout in 2011 after the release of his song holla at your boy.
This was recorded with EME record label which was headed by Banky W before the opening of his record label “star boy” record. He won the Headies award for next rated in the year 2011.
He is the first Nigerian and African to score seven billboard nominations, the youngest African to get a Grammy nomination, and the first Nigerian to win three billboard music awards.
Wizkid has been collaborating with some foreign artists lately like Drake, Wale, Beyonce, Skepta Damian Marley, H.E.R, and more.
#4 Ngozi Okonjo Iweala
Born in delta Nigeria in 1954 but based in the united states of America, she is a renowned economist and a global development expert. She was a one-time minister of finance in Nigeria and now she serves as the head of GAVI( Global Alliance of Vaccines and Immunization) and this has assisted the immunization of over a 600million children worldwide.
She is recognized as among the top 100 influential women in the world according to Forbes list and she is found to be among the top 50 greatest world leaders according to fortune list.
She has had over 25years of experience working in the World Bank and was the first black female to be a candidate for the presidency of the World Bank.
#3 Burna boy
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu popularly referred to as Burna boy or African giant is a Nigerian. His birthday is on the 2nd of July 1991. He is a songwriter, performer, rapper, and one of the most successful artists in the whole of Africa.
He rose to the limelight after the release of his song Like To Party and Tonight in the year 2012. He has been nominated for loads of awards and has won many including the just concluded Grammy award.
He has won awards such as the MTV Europe music award for Best African Act, the Headies award for Artiste of the Year among others.
#2 Davido
David Adedeji Adeleke born in November 1992 is a very popular songwriter, producer, performer, and one of the most influential black artists in Africa and the world. He won the Next Rated Award at the Headies in 2012.
He released a number of top songs which made him sign a record deal with Sony music. He founded the DMW record label with the likes of Mayorkun, Perruzzi. The release of his second album “a good time” which featured the likes of Chris brown made Davido one of the 100 most influential Africans.
#1 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Born 15th September 1977, she is a renowned writer which work comprises both short stories, drama, and nonfiction. According to the Time Literary Supplement regards her as “the most prominent”.
Her novels include Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, The Thing Around Your Neck. Her most recent books include Dear Ijeawele. She was awarded a “MacArthur genius grant”.
She is a feminist who has written a book titled “We Should All Be Feminists”.
There ends our non-exhaustive list of 10 famous Nigerian people who are well known all over the world.
