Let me borrow your focus away from the hustle and bustle of Lagos, the entertainment capital of the country, and move a bit upwards, past the dust and the grind and the traffic, turn your sights towards the north.
Northern musicians may seem like an oxymoron but they’re not. There is a thriving entertainment scene in Northern Nigeria although different from what you may be used to.
In that vein, here are five Northern artists that have become household names in the region –
Namenj:
Ali Jubril Namanjo, more popularly known as Namenj, is one of the top Northern artists making waves in the mainstream industry. Namenj came into the limelight with his Hausa cover of Adekunle Gold’s Orente in 2015. In 2019, he was signed to Empawa Africa and released Rayuwata in 2020. As a Hausa speaking artist who grew up in South Western Nigeria, Namenj aims to have his music grow farther than Northern Nigeria, redefining what it means to be a Northern artist. With his song Dama clocking 2.5 million views on Youtube, it’s fair to say that he’s well on his way.
DJ AB:
Haruna Abdullahi, or DJ AB as he’s more recognized as is a Northern musician with a large following. He started his career with the group Yaran North Side in 2011, creating beats, using them to make parodies and samples of more popular songs. With songs like Totally, Yar Boko, and Babarsa garnering something akin to a cult following, DJ AB has made his mark in the Northern entertainment industry. He also won the Northern Nigeria Best Singer of the Year Award in 2019 and clinched multiple City People Music Award Nominations for Best Rap Artiste of the Year, Best Kannywood Hip-Hop Artist of the Year and Arewa Artiste of the Year. In November 2020, he was signed to emPawa Africa.
Classiq:
Buba Barnabas aka Classiq, a Hausa Hiphop artist originally from Bauchi. He grew up in Kano where he got bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at BUK. He moved to Jos after university to pursue his music career. In 2016, he was featured on Vector’s King Kong remix.
Morell:
Morell, born Musa Akilah, is a Northern artist that has gathered momentum as a rap artist that’s worth his salt. Signed to Bento Records in 2011, Morell has crossed into the mainstream entertainment industry more than a few times, his song with Olamide in 2014, Antisocial, becoming a fan favourite.
Ali Isa Jita:
Majority of Ali Isa Jita songs were used in Kannywood movies before he decided to move into the mainstream industry. Songs like Love and Fatima have made him a highly sought out artist in the North. His face and voice are common during weddings.
