Who are the known female musicians in Africa? There are fewer female acts in the music industry. While the film industry is dominated by women, the music industry is dominated by men.
Despite the fact that there are fewer female musicians in Africa, they are no less productive and successful.
This is evident in the global recognitions received by some of Africa’s few but sophisticated female musicians over time.
Some of the best in the music industry have sold out tours, hit songs, endorsement deals, concerts, enviable accolades, a large fan base, and global achievements.
Nonetheless, being a successful female musician and one of the best in a male-dominated industry is no easy task. It necessitates talent, prowess, effort, expertise, and a great deal of hard work.
Despite the fact that being among the best musicians in the industry takes a lot of hard work, few female musicians have achieved this status over their female counterparts in music.
These Top 10 Best Female Musicians in Africa 2021 are the most frequently mentioned on the lips of music lovers, as well as the most sought after in Africa in 2021. They are without a doubt the best!
RELATED: TOP 10 RICHEST MALE MUSICIANS IN AFRICA
Top 10 Female Musicians In Africa
1. Esther Akoth
Akoth is one of the best female musicians in Africa. Also known as Akothee, she is a Kenyan musician and entrepreneur.
She established the Akothee Safaris (a Kenyan tour company), Akothee Foundation, Aknotela, and Akothee Homes, a real estate company.
Akothee was born on April 8, 1980, in Migori County, Kenya, where she spent her childhood. Her parents’ first child, she was their only child.
Akothee’s musical career began in 2008. She has a number of top songs to her credit. They include Oyoyo ft. McGalaxy, Give It to Me ft. Flavour, Sweet Love ft. Diamond, Benefactor, Yuko Moyoni, and others.
Since beginning her musical career, she has released numerous solo albums as well as collaborations with well-known artists.
She has also won numerous awards both at home and abroad. African Muzik Magazine Awards, AFRIMMA – Best Female Artist (East Africa) 2016, are among them. AFRIMMA – Best video, African Muzik Magazine Awards Best Female Artist at the African Entertainment Awards in the United States.
2. Tinashe Jorgensen Kachingwe
Better known as Tinashe, she is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, record producer, and actress who was born on February 6, 1993.
Tinashe moved to Los Angeles as a child to pursue a career in entertainment after being born in Lexington, Kentucky to a Zimbabwean father.
Tinashe was a member of the girl group the Stunners from 2007 to 2011. After their breakup, she released the well-received self-recorded mixtapes in Case We Die (2012) and Reverie (2013).
Tinashe got a deal with RCA Records after their success and released her third mixtape, Black Water (2013). Her first single, “2 On” (featuring Schoolboy Q and produced by Mustard), peaked at number one on the Rhythmic airplay chart and at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Music critics acknowledged her debut studio album, Aquarius (2014), as one of the most “solid” debuts by a new female artist in years.
She was nominated for Soul Train and BET Awards for the album. “All My Friends,” her collaboration with Snakehips and Chance the Rapper, won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song in 2016.
Tinashe made an appearance on Britney Spears’ single “Slumber Party,” which topped Billboard’s Dance Club chart that year.
3. Becca
Rebecca Acheampong was born in the Ghanaian town of Kumasi. Throughout her childhood, Becca was very involved in church and school activities.
She went to Morning Star Elementary School and Wesley Girls’ High School. She became interested in displaying her vocal prowess at talent shows held at the latter school.
She attended Croydon College and went on to work as a child care and education worker. She received her education at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
Rebecca Akosua Acheampomaa Acheampong was born on the 15th day of August 1988. She is a Ghanaian singer, songwriter, and actress who goes by the moniker Becca.
She grew in fame and stardom after competing in the second season of TV3’s annual singing competition Mentor. Her first studio album, Sugar, was released in 2007 and received five nominations at the 2008 Ghana Music Awards.
At the aforementioned awards show, the album’s lead single “You Lied to Me” won Record of the Year. On May 16, 2013, Becca released her second studio album Time 4 Me.
2face Idibia, MI, King Ayisoba, Trigmatic, Jay Storm, and Akwaboah made appearances. In Ghana, the album was certified twice platinum. Becca has one Kora Award, one National Youth Achievers Award, four Ghana Music Awards, and three 4Syte TV Music Video Awards to her name.
She headlined the annual Girl Talk concert in 2013, which began in 2011.
4. Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress who was born Tiwatope Savage on February 5, 1980.
She started music at the age of 16 doing backup vocals for artists such as George Michael and Mary J. Blige.
Savage signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2009 after appearing on The X Factor UK and graduating from Berklee College of Music.
Savage returned to Nigeria in 2012, inspired by the growth of the Nigerian music industry, and signed with Mavin Records. She appeared on the label’s compilation album Solar Plexus in 2012.
Her debut studio album, Once Upon a Time, was released on July 3, 2013. Seven singles accompanied it: “Kele Kele Love,” “Love Me (3x),” “Without My Heart,” “Ife Wa Gbona,” “Folarin,” “Olorun Mi,” and “Eminado.”
At the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, the album was nominated for Best Album of the Year, as well as Best R&B/Pop Album at The Headies. Roc Nation signed Savage to a management and publishing deal in June 2016.
Sugarcane, her debut EP, was released in September 2017. At the Nigeria Entertainment Awards, R.E.D and Sugarcane have both been nominated for Best Album.
Tiwa Savage was the first female Nigerian artist to be nominated for a BET award in 2014. She also won the best female category in the same year 2014.
5. Rebecca Malope
Batsogile Lovederia “Rebecca” Malope (born 30 June 1968) is a gospel singer from South Africa. She is referred to as “The African Queen of Gospel.”
Her musical career stretches back more than three decades. She has sold at least ten million albums worldwide, making her one of the most successful gospel artists of all time. The majority of her 36 albums have achieved multi-platinum status.
She has been the hostess of the TV show It’s Gospel Time since 2004, and she never forgets to say “Masimshayeleni’Zandla,” which translates loosely as “let us give him/her a round of applause.” She was a judge in Clash of Choirs South Africa in 2013.
President Cyril Ramaphosa awarded her the Order of Ikhamanga (OIS) in 2021 for her distinguished contribution to South African music.
6. Lady Wanja
Wanna is the sixth best female musicians in Africa. Lady wanja, real name Ejidiah Wanja, is a kikuyu benga songstress. She is the late Queen Jane’s sister. She is from the county of Muranga.
Her most recent release is a VCD that highlights the difficult times the local music industry has been through in recent years as a result of the deaths of well-known musicians.
The VCD, titled Kiriro kia Aini (Musicians’ woes), is a prayer to God not to call any more singers home after so many have died.
She has an illustrious singing career and has 12 VCDs to her credit.
She has written approximately 140 songs in total, with more on the way. She has a bright future in music.
Mutino wa Ndege (plane crash), Wihikahike (Hurry up), Ithe wa Twana Twakwa (The father of my children), and Niwathire Ukindiga are some of her albums’ titles (You left me).
7. Dj Cuppy
Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola (born November 11, 1992) is a Nigerian disc jockey and producer better known as DJ Cuppy or simply Cuppy.
She is the daughter of Femi Otedola, a Nigerian businessman. Cuppy grew up in Lagos and moved to London when she was 13 years old.
In 2014, she was the resident DJ at the MTV Africa Music Awards in Durban. She went on to perform at the Tatler and Christie’s Art Balls in London, as well as the Financial Times Luxury Summit in Mexico City. She was featured in Forbes Woman Africa’s April/May 2015 issue.
The “Cuppy Takes Africa” ( a visit to eight African nation) tour aired as an eight-episode documentary series on Fox Life Africa in October 2016. Cuppy was the resident DJ in 2016.
8. Angélique Kidjo
Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Angélique Kpasseloko Manta Zogbin Kidjo (born 14 July 1960) is a Beninese singer-songwriter, actress, and activist known for her eclectic musical influences and inventive music videos.
Angelique performed at the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on July 23, 2021.
Afropop, Caribbean zouk, Congolese rumba, jazz, gospel, and Latin styles are among her musical influences. Kidjo’s top hits include “Agolo,” “We We,” “Adouma,” “Wombo Lombo,” “Afirika,” “Batonga,” and her rendition of “Malaika.”
Kidjo speaks five languages fluently: Fon, French, Yorùbá, Gen (Mina), and English.
She sings in all of them, and she also has her own personal language, which includes song titles like “Batonga.” The Swahili song “Malaika” is sung in that language. Kidjo frequently employs the traditional Zilin vocal technique and vocalese of Benin.
The above is just a few of the top female artiste on Africa, we still have many other prominent female artistes in Africa; the likes of Yemi Alade, DJ Zinle etc
