This is an updated list of the top 10 most followed African musicians on Instagram as of the time of this post.
As kids we were taught that nothing in life escapes change other than dynamism, the concept of change itself. Now, thanks to the advent and advancement of technology and the internet, we all get to witness just how dynamic life is, from the most pressing issues like climate change, to the fact that at his latest milestone of 20 million Instagram followers, Nigerian megastar, Davido, is now the most followed African music Artist on the IG app in the year 2021. This then begs the question of how Africans have in recent times, been interacting with the virtual extensions of their favourite musicians. We heard this question and as a result, decided to make a list that captures the most popular African musicians on the pretty pictures app. Here are the 10 most followed African musicians on Instagram in the year 2021.
1. Davido
Born David Adeleke, the 28 year-old Nigerian megastar has over a period of 10 years, become a hit-making maestro who has under his belt, the currently most commercially successful Afrobeats record, Fall. He is also the owner and CEO of DMW, known fully as Davido Music Worldwide.
The megastar has 20 million followers on the Instagram app and this makes him, by a hefty margin, the most followed African music Artist on the IG platform while he comes in after Mo Salah as the second most followed African personality.
2. Yemi Alade
Since the time of Nelson Mandela, every African generation has had a Mama Africa. Then it was South African Mariam Makeba, later on, and concurrently, it has been Beninoise Angelique Kidjo who is alongside Nigeria’s Yemi Alade referred to as such.
Born Yemi Eberechi Alade, the Nigerian Afropop superstar is a blend of Yoruba and Igbo roots while she unites Africans all over with her sweet catchy tunes done in English, French, and occasionally even in Swahili.
At 13.8 million followers on Instagram and one of the highest-grossing music videos on YouTube, Yemi Alade put the numbers to her Mama Africa title to become the second most followed African musician on the pictures’ app.
3. Diamond Platinumz
Inarguably one of the biggest African acts and a Tanzanian living treasure, Naseeb Issack has with his impressive career, earned his title as ‘The King of Bongo-Flava’, which is Tanzania’s trademark music genre.
At the moment, the megastar sits pretty on the top of the food chain of YouTube numbers as his videos have amassed a total of one billion views.
Diamond Platnumz is also currently the third most followed African musician on Instagram with a 12.2 million-strong follower base.
4. Tiwa Savage
Known as the African Bad Gyal, the sultry Afropop and RnB singer not only exports the sound revolution, Afrobeats, to the rest of the world but also propagates the movement with her visuals and soft-spoken and elegant persona as seen on her Instagram page.
At 12.4 million followers on Instagram, Tiwa Savage continues her reign as the African Bad Gyal as the fourth most followed African musician on the platform.
5. Wizkid
The fifth most followed African musician on Instagram, Wizkid
Many users of the popular bird app, Twitter, are of the opinion that Wizkid’s latest album, Made in Lagos, is a classic body of work. With the love, it has been getting from music lovers and popular personalities on the internet, all over the world, it has, however, become a given that Starboy’s global campaign has attained universal supremacy.
Ayo Balogun is the name behind the Wizkid persona, an African musician who despite his lowkey and reticent persona, is the fifth most followed African musician on Instagram with 12.1 million followers as of April 2021.
6. Don Jazzy
On this list, Don Jazzy stands out as an oddity due to the fact that he is primarily a music producer and music executive, having set up two record labels, the now defunct Mo’Hits and the star-finding Mavin.
He is infact the only music producer cum executive on this list. And this is a feat he unlocked by being one of the most loved celebrities in the country by first producing for some of the best Afrobeats singers in the early 2010s and later on discovering some of the most promising talents in the new age of African music.
In addition to these, Micheal Collins Ajereh or Don Jazzy, as he’s popularly known, doubles as a virtual entertainer and influencer, often seen making and posting skits on his Instagram while still associating his brand with up and coming acts from all walks of life.
All of these factors and more have served to make Don Jazzy rank at number six on the unfolding placement of Instagram-social-standing in the African music scene.
7. Tekno
Alias Slim Daddy and in some circles as the Golden Boy of Africa, Tekno or Augustine Miles Kelechi, is one Nigerian musician that’s not only loved in his home country but in other African and European nations as well. This is as a result of his infectious and easy-going Afropop love ballads.
Tekno also produces music and has been credited with being the brains behind the lyrics and the sound of one of Davido’s biggest hits, “If”.
The Golden Boy of Africa, Tekno, shines on this list with 8.6 million followers on Instagram.
8. Olamide
While some still contend Olamide’s legacy as one of the GOATed (greatest of all times) in the Nigerian musician scene, the indigenous rapper and street-hop singer with full name, Olamide Adedeji, has proved that the mountain which in this case is global domination, does indeed come to Mohammed.
An industry shaper, Olamide owns YBNL- Yahoo Boy No Laptop, record label and has with, put music lovers on to fresh new sounds.
Olamide makes an appearance on this list with 7.7 million followers.
9. Shilole
For Shilole, or Zena Yusuf Mohammed, she is not only seen as an inspiration to female bongo flava singers who she set a precedent for, but is also seen as an inspiration to most of the country due to her grass to grace story.
Love for the star has also translated to numbers as Shilole has an Instagram account that is 7.6 million followers strong.
10. Vanessa Mdee
The 10th most followed African musician on social media, Vanessa Mdee
She first made a name for herself as the first Tanzanian VJ on MTV and even went on to cement her status as a top TV personality by hosting a talent show. It was after this Vanessa Mdee decided to show the world that she knew quite a number of things when it came to being a bongo flava singer, making the world dance to her tune while being simultaneously hooked to her colourful fantasy-filled music videos.
The Tanzanian entertainment sweetheart is currently engaged to be married to Nigerian-American actor and singer, Rotimi, her fiance who has made multiple appearances on her Instagram page with a follower count of 7.2 million.
With this list of the 10 most followed African musicians on Instagram, if you had the chance to use their IG page for a day, which Music Artist page would you select and why? Share your reasons in the comment section below.
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