EDITORIAL
Top 5 Most Awarded African Artists In History
The African continent is blessed with talented artists who have risen and taken the art and culture to a level greater than that attained by their predecessors. Some of these artists are fortunately recognized for their great works by consistently winning prestigious awards both locally and globally.
This post, therefore, highlights the Top 5 Most Awarded African Artists in History.
The African artists with the most awards are as follows:
5. 2Baba
2Baba, formerly known as 2Face Idibia, is a legendary Nigerian singer and one of the refiners of the African pop music consumed today. The 48-year-old veteran has multiple hit albums and songs to his name, his most popular song being ‘African Queen’. 2Baba has won 80 awards, making him the fifth most awarded African artist in history. He has won awards like MOBO, BET, MTV EMAs, Headies, AFRIMMA, and so on.
4. Shatta Wale
Ghananian music star Shatta Wale, born Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr in 1984, has been active as a singer since 2004. He is recognized both home and abroad for his distinctive Dancehall sound. He is the fourth African artist with most awards, winning 90 awards such as Ghana Music Awards, Nigerian Entertainment Awards, Soundcity MVP Awards, African Muzik Magazine Awards, International Reggae and World Music Awards, and Ghana Music Awards UK.
3. Sarkodie
Sarkodie is a well known Ghananian rapper. He is the most decorated African rapper of all-time, and the first rapper to win BET’s Best International Flow Artist (at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards). He has won 28 Ghana Music Awards from 77 nominations, 3 MTV Africa Music Awards, and other awards like Ghana Music Awards UK, SoundCity Music Video Awards, HiPipo Music Awards, and All Africa Music Awards. Sarkodie has a total of 117 awards—the third most awarded African artist.
2. Angelique Kidjo
Angelique Kidjo is a Beninese-French singer and songwriter. The 63-year-old legend has won five Grammy awards and several other important awards. With 140 awards won, she is the second most awarded African artist and the most awarded African female artist in history. A few of her awards include: Kora Music Awards: Best African Female artist (Africa, 1997), Mobo Awards for Best World Music Act (UK, 2002), Danish Music Awards: Best Female Singer (Denmark, 1995), and N.A.A.C.P. Image Award for Outstanding World Music Album (USA, 2008).
1. Wizkid
Nigerian superstar Wizkid is the most awarded African artist in history, with a record 147 awards won. The 33-year-old Afrobeats star, who gained mainstream attention in 2009, has 1 Grammy, 4 BET Awards, 2 American Music Awards, 6 MOBO Awards, 3 Billboard Music Awards, 2 MTV EMAs, 5 NAACP Awards, 3 Soul Train, 3 iHeart Radio Awards, 5 BMI Awards, 1 MTV VMA, 3 ASCAP Awards, 1 Echo Award, 1 Teen Choice Award, 1 Apple Music Award, 1 Cannes Lions Award, 1 Brit Billion Award, 1 iHeartRadio MMVA, 1 Urban Music Award, 1 BreakTudo Award, 1 iHeartRadio Titanium Award, 1 Amazon Music Award, 18 Headies, 10 AFRIMMA, 8 All Africa Music Awards, and many others.
Source: X/Africa Facts Zone
