Most Influential African-Born Music Artists of All Time

The US and UK have set worldwide standards for many things, from literature and television to sports and iGaming. But while playing Nolimit City Blood Shadow for free might be a popular pastime in some circles, nothing compares to how these two countries have dominated the music industry. In fact, they have led the pack in trends and produced some of the most storied musical artists in the world.

There are plenty of hubs in both countries associated with influential record labels, certain music scenes, and the start of iconic music movements that permanently shaped the landscape of music. However, let’s not forget that other countries and continents have certainly contributed to how we experience music with their own unique genres and cultural influences.

Africa is one of those vastly underrated places, with an impressive 54 countries that create a melting pot of diversity. Each of those countries has historically contributed to just about every aspect of culture, from fashion, crafts, and food to, of course, music. The continent has given life to a tapestry of musicians who have made their mark in a variety of genres. While we can’t cover them all today, we’ll highlight a handful of influential figures who have left a lasting impact.

Freddie Mercury (Zanzibar)

Although Freddie Mercury is mostly associated with Queen, one of the most prominent British rock bands of all time, he was born in Zanzibar. Born Farrokh Bulsara in the UNESCO World Heritage Site town of Stone Town, he had an eventful childhood full of cultural richness and personal transformation. The turmoil of the Zanzibar Revolution sparked his family’s eventual move to Middlesex, England, but despite this unfortunate event, the move to the UK proved fruitful.

Mercury had a formative background in music, starting piano lessons at seven years old and forming his first band at just twelve. Even back then, he was already fascinated with Western pop music and rock ‘n’ roll artists, which inspired his later interests in Western music genres. He spent his post-college-graduation days joining multiple bands and selling second-hand clothing, living the typical life of a struggling musician. Eventually, alongside Roger Taylor and Brian May, he formed a new band—Queen. While Queen had a massive cultural impact thanks to its genre-blending and one-of-a-kind compositions, Freddie established himself as one of the greatest vocalists and performers of all time, with an unforgettable theatrical flair.

Fela Kútì (Nigeria)

Along with the glitzy, polished K-pop genre, Afrobeat (not to be confused with Afrobeats) is considered the fastest-growing genre in the world at the moment. This West African genre fuses a rainbow of influences from American jazz and soul, Nigerian Yoruba music, and Ghanaian highlife and was invented by Fela Kútì. Born into a family of greats, it’s no surprise that Kútì himself would follow in their footsteps. His father was a principal and minister, and his mother was an educator and women’s rights activist. His brothers were both nationally renowned medical doctors, and his cousin is a Nobel Prize for Literature winner.

While he was initially sent to London to study medicine, he chose music instead, with the trumpet as his primary instrument. During his time at the Trinity College of Music, he began to form his distinctive style, Afrobeat—a combination of jazz, highlife, salsa, calypso, Yoruba, and Fuji. He took his band to Los Angeles and was heavily influenced by the Black Power movement, which was reflected in his music. Throughout the ‘70s to ‘80s and beyond, Kútì led an influential revolution with his music, featuring deep political and social commentary.

Sade (Nigeria)

With a middle name like Folasade, which means “crowned with wealth” in Yoruba, Sade certainly lives up to it. Her Nigerian father and English mother met in London but moved to Nigeria soon after they married. Upon their separation, she moved back to England with her mother and brother and spent the rest of her childhood years there. Sade completed a course in fashion design and had a modelling stint in the early ‘80s, but it was her backup-singing gigs that led her to form a songwriting partnership that helped her music career take off.

Record companies had their eyes and ears on her, and she went on to record and release a number of highly successful albums and songs that made the charts. For decades, she enjoyed continued success despite taking several hiatuses. Her incredible, timeless voice and mysterious and private persona propelled her into stardom, influencing countless prominent hip-hop artists and musicians. Sade is inimitable, combining an eclectic blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms, soul, smooth jazz, and funk into her tracks.

Angélique Kidjo (Benin)

Angélique Kidjo is a singer-songwriter with a plethora of accolades and talents. She’s fluent (and sings) in five languages, won five Grammy Awards to match, and has a decorated list of advocacy contributions as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She grew up listening to fellow African-born legends like Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba, as well as Western artists and bands such as Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, and Santana. Kidjo also performed with her mother’s traditional theatre troupe, sang in her school band, and recorded an album, so her musical fate was set early on.

Kidjo’s albums are incredibly diverse, and her music videos ooze creativity, paying homage to many musical influences throughout her life. On the album Ayé, she sings in Yoruba and Fon, using a traditional Zilin vocal technique. In 1998, she released a trilogy of albums that explored the African roots in North and South American music. On Djin Djin, she boasted collaborations with Alicia Keys, Carlos Santana, Josh Groban, and Ziggy Marley, winning a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album.