• Culled from Great Ife Twitter Handle.

The Obafemi Awolowo University, also known as Great Ife, ranks as one of Africa’s most beautiful campuses. This great citadel is not only known for sports and struggle but also for building students to be the best they can be. Great Ife is undeniably one of the best universities in Nigeria, not only because of its beautiful structure but also because of its products. The prestigious university is known for producing influential people across different sectors of the country, including the entertainment sector. Some of the top musicians currently trending in Nigeria are products of OAU, and these top artists are not only influential musicians but also well-versed academically. We have listed the top ten most influential Great Ife (OAU) in the music industry:

10. BAYANNI

Abimbola Oladokun, popularly known as Bayanni and formerly known as Zhenoboy, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter who just got signed into Mavins label. He is presently a student at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). He got popular after releasing a freestyle remix of Davido’s Jowo. He has 246,000 followers on his Instagram. His songs include Body, Tatata, Family, Kala, and many more. 

9. ZAMORRA

Adekunle Oluwashina Abdulateef, also known as Zamorra, is a Nigerian Afro-pop artist who Fox Records signed around 2015-2016. He is an alumnus of the Department of Philosophy at OAU. He started music while he was in Secondary school. He became famous after exploiting the Twitter trend “Importanter” by making a song out of it. He has about 84,000 followers on Instagram.

Some of his songs include Importanter,  Run Away, Better De Come, Jah Protect, Deserve Better, Paradise, Again I

Instagram/Twitter: @zamosings

8. CHINKO EKUN

Oladipo Olamide Emmanuel, also known as Chinko Ekun, is a Nigerian songwriter and rapper born on 13th September 1993 in Ikeja, Lagos. He is an alumnus of the law department at Obafemi Awolowo University and is signed to Dek-Niyor Entertainment. Chinko developed his passion for music from a very young age, but when he was admitted to OAU, he started rapping. In 2011, he started posting his videos on Instagram, which birthed his career in music. Surprisingly, Chinko Ekun means a guy that looked like someone from China, plus the title of the first track he released. He first joined the YBNL Nation in 2015  and released his first single: Alejo Oran and Emi na Re; however, he later moved to a new label the following year. He won the Street Song of the Year Award in 2019 at the City People Music Awards and the Best Street Hop Artiste at the Headies for his popular single ‘AbleGod.‘ He was nominated at the Soundcity MVP Awards in 2020 for Viewer choice awards. Chinko has more than 990,000 followers on Instagram. His songs include Able God, Jafafa, Bodija, and others. 

Social Media Handles:

Instagram: @chinkotiger

Twitter: @chinkoekun

7. JAIDO P

Taiwo Olajide Daniel, popularly known as Jaido P, is a Nigerian singer and rapper and a graduate of our great Obafemi Awolowo University. He got his fame after Olamide jumped on Cracker Mallo and produced Tesinapot. Jaido P has a 7-track debut EP, Stubborn, Energetic, and Hard, released in 2019, appearing with Chinko Ekun, Zlatan Ibile, and Davolee. He has 121,000 followers on his Instagram.

Instagram/Twitter: ShopLa@jaido_p

6. BLAQBONEZ

Emeka Akemefule, popular as Blaqbonez, is a Nigerian rapper and singer. He was born in Imo State on January 29, 1996. The songwriter, also known as Mr. Boombastic and Emeka Thee Stallion, is signed under the record label 100 crown units (Chocolate City). He is also an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, where he got a degree in Engineering. He participated in underground rap battles and eventually won a series of rap competitions. He is known for his unique style of mixing Pidgin with English in his lyrics. He allegedly claimed to be the Best Rapper in Africa and, in 2019, was on the list of the Too 10 Artists to Watch. His songs include Mamiwota ft Oxlade, Shut up, BBC ft Tiwa Savage, 1000yrs, Haba, and many others. He has about 752,000 followers on Instagram.

Instagram: @blaqbonez

Twitter: @EmekaTheeStallion

5. CHEQUE

Akanbi Brett Bamidele, known by his stage name Cheque or SuperBoy Cheque, is a rising star, singer, songwriter, and rapper. He was born on March 23, 1995. The 27-year-old released his hit song ‘Zoom’ in 2020. He is an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, where he studied Chemical Engineering and graduated in 2016. In 2015, he released a track featuring Fireboy DML, Zamora, and Chinko Ekun and is currently signed to the record label, Phyno’s Penthauze. Cheque has more than 400,000 followers on Instagram. His songs include Wave, Energy, Jekasoro, Abundance, Zoom, and LOML.

Twitter: @superboycheque

Instagram: @SuperBoyCheque

4. FAVE

Chidozie God’sFavour Uyochinyere, professionally known as Fave, is a singer and songwriter. She was born on the 13th day of march 2000; she is a part 5 student in the faculty of Law. She started singing at six and her relationship with music has been inseparable since then. She expresses herself with the power of her lyrics and style. She is currently signed to Tumblar records. FAVE is steadily becoming a sensation in the Nigerian music industry. Some of her songs include: Kilotunfe, Baby Riddim, Beautifully, Obsessed, and many more 

3. ASAKE

Ahmed Ololade is one of Nigeria’s best and favorite afrobeats singer and songwriter signed under the YBNL Nation record label. His stage name Asake was coined from his mother’s first name and his love for her. He is an Alumnus of the Dramatics Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University and started releasing his music in 2018. He released his debut album in February 2022 and several other albums. Some of his songs are Bandana, Terminator, Organize, Sungba, Trabaye, Omo Ope, and many others. He has a total of 1.6 million followers on Instagram, won many awards and nominations, and was recorded to sell out the O2 academy arena in minutes.

Instagram: @asakemusic

2. LAGBAJA

Bisade Ologunde is a well-known Nigerian singer and songwriter. The Yoruba afrobeat musician and saxophonist was born in the year 1960. He is famous for using a mask to cover his face during his performances. Lagbaja is the founder of opatradikoncept and formed his band in 1991. Do you know that Lagbaja means ‘Jane Doe; someone whose identity is intentionally concealed’. He has over 33,000 followers on Instagram and was declared the winner of the Channel O Music Awards for the Best Male Video.

Some of Lagbaja’s songs are ME(2000), WE(2000), ABAMI, Paradise,  Sharp Sharp, and 200 million mumu. He is also an alumnus of the Great Ife.

Instagram: @officiallagbaja

1. FIREBOY DML

Adedamola Adefolahan, internationally known as Fireboy DML, is a Nigerian artist who is signed under the YBNL record label. The 26–year–old songwriter was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He is a graduate of the English Department at Obafemi Awolowo University. On November 21st, 2019, he released his debut album, Laughter, Tears, and Goosebumps, and one of his songs, ‘Champion,’ was used at the UEFA Super Cup celebrations. Fireboy is famous for being the Afropop king, and his fame is steadily rising on the charts alongside Asake. He has a lot of awards and nominations under his belts, such as the winner of the Most Promising Act of the Year at the City People Music Awards in 2019, a four-time winner of the Headies Awards in 2020( Album of the Year, Best Pop Album, Best R$B album, Best R$B Single and Headies Revelation, winner of the Listener Choice Awards at the Soundcity MVP Awards Festival 2020. The DML in his name is actually from his real name Damola. Fireboy DML has 3.6 million followers on Instagram.