8 women who ruled the Nigerian music space in the 2000s

These women are some of the music icons who captivated music listeners in the decade that followed the turn of the millennium.

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Mar 19, 2023

The Nigerian music industry and its Afrobeats export may be the subject of attraction of music stakeholders across the globe but it is widely believed that the building blocks of this blossoming era were laid in the 2000s.

As March is a month dedicated to women, we take a look at the top female figures of the 2000-2010 era who set the pace for the new generation of female stars - in no particular order.

1. Sola Weird MC

Born Adesola Idowu, the rapper popularly known as Sola Weird MC is one of the foremost rap figures in Nigeria. Her debut album, Simply Weird, which was released in the late 90s, would inspire a whole generation of female artistes that the music industry was not gender restrictive.

The Busy Body remix with P Square and Ijoya are two evergreen singles that will continue to feature on playlists. The quinquagenarian may not be active on the music scene again but she still participates as a host, judge and speaker at music-related occasions.

2. St Janet

The name St Janet might trick you into believing that this is a saintly gospel artiste but the female singer who rose to prominence because of her sensual lyrics is far from one. She redefined gospel and juju beats with erotic content.

Janet Oluwatoyosi Ajilore Iyun aka St Janet

The singer-born Janet Iyun ruled the airwaves at clubs and lounges in the 2000s and the 2010s. She showed tremendous courage to venture into erotic juju when the only other popular vulgar musician was a male - Abass ‘Obesere’ Akande.

The likes of Tiwa Savage might be getting away with sex scandals now but it was St Janet who made the unthinkable become normal.

3. Sasha P

Anthonia Alabi, who you might know as Sasha P, is widely regarded as the first lady of Naija Hip Hop and it is hard to argue with this given her strides in the 2000s.

She was the first Nigerian female artiste to perform and win an award at the World Music Awards and MTV Africa Music Awards respectively. Her sempervirent single, Adara, is known by both young and old.

4. Asa

By sheer longevity in the music industry, Bukola ‘Asa’ Elemide is peerless. That she’s still releasing chart-dominating singles and albums after over a decade-and-a-half since making her debut tells an impressive story of a singer who is always abreast of the ever-dynamic music industry.

KSB’s most popular single might be ‘Turn me around’ on which she featured DaGrin but her versatility makes her hard to ignore on this list. Apart from her music career which brought her a handful of awards, she is a writer and politician who has managed to gain relevance in every space she has ventured into.

6. Kefee

Whether it was through Branama, Kokoroko or another single that you got to know Kefee Obareki Don Momoh, the fact was that she was a towering figure in the 2000s and till the early 2010s before her tragic demise in 2014. Even though she was a gospel artiste, her music transcended the space and appealed to lovers of music across genres.

7. Omawumi

Since breaking onto the music scene in 2007 with her impressive showing at Idols West Africa, Omawumi Megbele didn’t betray expectations as she followed up with a single in 2008 and an album in 2009. Since that time, she has become a mainstay female voice in the Nigerian music industry. She is rightly a legend and inspires many up-and-coming talents in the country and beyond.

8. Waje

Her striking vocals on P Square’s 2008 hit song, Do Me, would announce Aituaje Iruobe aka Waje to the music world and eventually make her the go-to female star for collaborations. Her 2022 album, Waje 2.0, was a statement that she’s still very much around and a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.

Who was your favourite female singer growing up? Let us know in the comment section.