JOE PRAIZE THE PRAISE AND WORSHIP LEADER

Joseph Omo Ebhodaghe, popularly known as Joe Praize, is an Edo State born Nigerian gospel singer, praise and worship leader, songwriter and music director who rose to popularity following the release of his hit song "Mighty God" off his debut album My Praise.

JOE PRAIZE

Joe Praize has since become a praise and worship leader at the Love World a.k.a. Christ Embassy. He has ministered in several countries including South Africa, Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Cyprus, Nigeria, Ghana and others, and he has won several awards. He has five studio albums to his credit: “Mighty God”, “Alpha Omega”, “My Praise”, “All the Praise”, and “Most High”

THE FIRST NIGERIAN MUSICIAN TO RELEASE AN ALBUM

The first ever Nigerian to release an album is Canon Josiah Jesse Ransome Kuti (Fela Anikulapo’s Grandfather and Prof Wole Soyinka’s great-grand father). He has been composing songs since 1878 and in 1925, he became the first Nigerian to release a record album after he recorded several Yoruba language hymns in gramophone through Zonophone Records. His album is still at the British Museum.

JOSIAH JESSE RANSOME-KUTI

The Reverend Canon Josiah Jesse Ransome-Kuti, was perhaps the earliest person in Nigeria to compose gospel songs in form of Church hymns used in the early Anglican Church at St. Peter Cathedral Church, Ake Abeokuta Ogun state Nigeria. 

EBEN IS A POPULAR AFRO GOSPEL SINGER WITH A CLASS

Emmanuel Benjamin, known professionally as Eben is a Nigerian gospel singer, vocalist, and songwriter born September 9, 1979. He started his singing career in 1997 and was mentored by his elder brother as a rapper but he later discovered his talent in singing and became a gospel singer. In 2005, as a gospel singer, Eben became popular after his first big public appearance, at a youth conference organized by Pastor Chris where "Imarama" was first heard He has four Studio Albums to his credit: “On the Rock” (2007), “Phenomenon” (2010), “Justified” (2013), “Magnified”.

EBEN

Eben however became an internet celebrity with the release of a song titled “Victory” in 2016 which went viral after release.

KUNLE AJAYI THE FOREMOST GOSPEL MUSIC SAXOPHONIST IN NIGERIA

Kunle Ajayi is a Lagos State born gospel artist and pastor. He started playing musical instrument particularly, saxophone in the early 1980s but stopped due to Lung-related ailment that almost resulted in the damage of his larynx. He had contributed significantly to Nigerian gospel over the years and he is currently the Director of Music at the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

 

In recognition of his immense contributions to gospel music in Nigeria, Kunle Ajayi was bestowed with the Award of Excellence by the Redeemed Christian Church of God in 2007 and in 2008, he received the "Leadership award in Nigeria music".

BUNNY MACK'S 'LET ME LOVE YOU' IS STILL POPULAR IN DANCE HALLS

Bunny Mack (December 1945 – July 2015) was a Sierra Leonean musician, singer, songwriter and performer. He was best known for his song "Let Me Love You" a disco song that was released in Nigeria in the mid 1970s and took the dance halls by storm. The song is still popular in many night clubs, especially in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Cameroon.

https://youtu.be/bRldpgSWo1Q

REMEMBERING SISTER SLEDGE WITH A FEELING OF NOSTALGIA

Sister Sledge is an American musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1971 and consisting of four sisters: Kim Sledge (born August 21, 1957), Debbie Sledge (born July 9, 1954), Joni Sledge (born September 13, 1955), and Kathy Sledge (born January 6, 1959). The group is best known for their hit songs "We Are Family" and "Frankie".

The siblings achieved international success at the height of the disco era. In 1979, they released their breakthrough album We Are Family, which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and included the 1979 US top-10 singles "He's the Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family".

OBIORA OBIWON'S 2009 SONG "OBI MU O" STILL VERY RELEVANT

The 2009 song "Obi Mu O" by a Nigerian gospel singer Obiora Obiwon still sounds great 11 years after and will likely remain relevant for some decades to come.

MUSICIANS AND SONGS THAT RULED THE NIGERIAN AIRWAVES IN THE 1990s (2)

1. Tony OneWeek – Gyrate

Tony OneWeek took the Nigerian music space by storm in 1996 with the release of his monster hit “Gyrate”. The song was like Nigeria’s second National Anthem and became theme song for the Super Eagles, ever since then, the Gyration Master has not looked back as he kept on progressing and even participating in active politics.

TONY ONEWEEK

2. Baba Fryo – Dem Go Dey Pose

Baba Fryo is a Nigerian Ghetto singer from Ajegunle in Lagos. He is known for releasing street songs like Dem go dey pose in the late 90s. He sang with a popular Nigerian music style known as Galala. His real name is Friday Igwe.

BABA FRYO

3. Junior & Pretty – Bolanle

Junior and Pretty came into limelight in the 1990s with the release of the hit song ''Bolanle'' which became an anthem in the country. They became known faces in social circles and even more popular because of their love for power bikes. Sadly, Junior died in a bike accident in 2004.

JUNIOR & PRETTY

4. Femi Kuti ‎– Wonder, Wonder

Femi Kuti began his musical career playing in his father's band, Egypt 80, but in 1986 he started his own band, Positive Force with Dele Sosimi, former keyboard player of his father’s band, establishing himself as an artist independent of his father's massive legacy. His 1995 single “Wonder Wonder” was a super hit that got Afrobeat lovers dancing.

FEMI KUTI

5. Daddy Showkey – Diana

Daddy Showkey whose real name is John Asiemo is a veteran Nigerian galala singer. His genre of music is called ghetto dance or simply ghetto. He was popular in Ajegunle, Lagos in the late 1990s. His hit songs include “Diana”, “Fire Fire”, and “The Name”.

DADDY SHOWKEY

6. The Remedies – Sakomo

The Remedies were a pioneering Nigerian hip-hop music group. It consisted of Eedris Abdulkareem, Tony Tetuila and Eddy Remedy. They were popular in the late 1990s with hits like Sakomo, Sade, Belinda and Jealousy.

REMEDIES

TINUADE ILESANMI IS MAKING WAVE WITH “IGWE” VIDEO

Tinuade’s new single and music video titled "IGWE", which is an Igbo word meaning "King" is making waves in the Nigerian music space. The song is an up-tempo, upbeat, and joyful dance song produced by the amazing Dami Ayeni for Diadem Multimedia International (DMI). Directed by renowned video director and colourist, Lexten (DMS Pictures), "Igwe" visuals feature a jubilant yet inspired Tinuade and her band alongside a cross section of indefatigable praise singers dancing to the ONE who is most deserving and worthy of praise - JESUS!

The Ogotun-Ekiti born Tinuade Ilesanmi is a Port Harcourt based gospel songwriter, music minister, praise, and worship leader. She is signed to Nigeria's fast-growing record label, Diadem Multimedia International. Her humility and meekness has always proven her worthy to secure all the great blessings which God has entrusted to her despite her will and they have flourished, and her music is not left out as she keeps commanding leading results in every platform and different stages of her ministration. 

TINUADE

Tinuade’s music ministry is a testimony, which has always been a sole inspiration and motivation to her act of worship, her lyrics are soul lifting and mind elevating, her sound comes from a refined heart as an acceptable offering. These are the tenets of a good gospel singer.