Nigerian Music Artists Born From Music Background

1) General Kollinton Ayinla & Queen Salawu Abeni

Son: Big Sheff

 

General Kollinton Ayinla remains a colossus in the annals of Nigerian music while the irresistible queen Salawu Abeni is equally monstrous. And it would be unforgiveable to ignore the child of these two legends who is into music.

Sheriff Illori, who is better known as Big Sheff is one of the two children of these two veteran Nigerian musicians. After some beef among the two lovers, they final sorted out themselves by burying the hatchet and come together for the visual of Gentle Lady remix featuring his mother, the Waka Queen, and General Kollinton Ayinla, his father.

Big Sheff as he is well known for his stage name, is a rapper and he his referred as Nigerian Rick Ross because of his stature with the American rapper. He has a few songs to his credit and he remains very confident of the future.

 

2) K1 The Ultimate

Children: Musty, Sultan, and Zainab

 

The Fuji Veteran singer is known for his magical prowess in the music industry. His lyrics is quite powerful filled with proverbs and words of wisdom. He has released numerous tracks and albums which are still making waves till the very moment. He was able to influence three of his children to follow his footsteps. 

Musty, Sultan, and Zainab (Honey B) all embraced music doing their thing in Canada, Chicago, and United Kingdom respectively. They all released their debut single in 2012. Musty dropped his pop themed single “Dance”. Also, Sultan dropped his own debut single, “Talazo Reloaded” with his father K1 The Ultimate, which is a remix of his father’s top playing sound in clubs “Talazo”. While, Zainab (Honey B) also dropped her high tensioned single title “Sempe” which she also featured her father. She also released a music video back in 2013 titled “Up Down.”

 

3) Ebenezer Obey – Fabiyi 

Children: Tolu Obey and Orejaiyeola

Ebenezer Obey, popularly known as Chief Commander is one of the prominent and veteran Juju song writer, instrumentalist and father. He decided to focus less on music and decided to divert his music style to winning more souls for God in his later years. However, not many who has thought that his successors would spring up so soon. His successor who happens to be his children has indicated the readiness to take up the wheel and keep up the spirit of ditching out good sounds pleasing to the ear of their audiences. While the legend son, Tolu decide to continue in the exact path of his father with juju, his sister Orejaiyeola prefers to go into Christian gospel music and she has successfully released an album.

With the emergence of his son in the music scene, he has successfully taken over different shows as far as the Miliki brand of music is concerned. Although he has proved to be a good music artist but he couldn’t overtake the standard sets by the colleagues of his father.

 

4) King Sunny Ade

Son: Sunny Adegeye Junior

Ace juju musician, Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, aka, King Sunny Ade, is one of the most influential entertainers in Nigeria and other veteran and prominent Nigerian song writers to the rest of the world. He is considered to be one of the best in the history of music in Nigeria. Hence, his son Sunny Adegeye Junior also inherited the music talent from his father, who was an organist. He has released his maiden CD featuring a single song titled “Samba” years back while and undergraduate in the University of Lagos.

 

5) Art Alade

Son: Darey Art Alade

Modupe Afolabi Jemi – Alade, a Nigerian Television personality and show presenter was popularly known as Art Alade because of his distinct features in the entertainment world. He decided to go into music in his later days following his retirement and it was widely said that his later career perfectly defined him outstanding.

He successfully establishes a club known as Art’s Place where he entertained his audience regularly with his Jazz music in Nigerian style. This vision and legacy put his son, Darey Art Alade on the track of his father. He is a Nigerian songwriter, music producer and a judge in Nigeria reality show, Nigerian Idol. In 2004, he was the second Runner – Up at the Project Fame Academy and he is much more into Talent Hunt programs as he has so much eagerness to discover new talents among the Gen Z and Nigerian youths at large. He has successfully released four studio albums such as From Me 2 U, unDAREYted, DoubleDare, and Naked along with some hits especially “Pray for Me” featuring the Soweto Chior, and “Asiko laye” featuring Olamide Baddo.

 

6) Sikiru Ayinde Barrister

Children: BarryJay and Barrymade 

Sikiru Ololade Ayinde Balogun, popularly known for his stage name, Ayinde Barrister, was a legendary Nigerian singer, songwriter, and performer. He is known for is strong Yoruba music. He is recognized for pioneering the Fuji Music from its very origin. He had released over 65 studio albums before death took him in December, 2010. He started his music journey at a very young age as an Ajiwere singer during the period of Ramadan. However before his death, his two children have taken up the steps of also going into music. Today, Modinat Ayeloja, aka Barrymade has released four albums while the arole of the house Barry Jay who was formally known as Barry Showkey was signed to one of the biggest record label, Kennies Music, at that time, he released an album titled Fuji Hip Hip. Currently, his songs are making waves in the music world and he has features lots of other music stars like Jaywon, Lyta, and so on.

 

7) Fela Anikulapo – Kuti 

Sons: Femi Anikulapo – Kuti, Oluseun Anikulapo – Kuti,

Grandson: Omorinmade Kuti

Fela Anikulapo – Kuti, is a veteran Nigerian music artist, an activist, and a multi – instrumentalist who use his music as a word of wisdom to pierce into the hearts of people without any discrimination whatsoever. He is the pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre and became a thorn in the flesh of everyone that has anything to do with the government. He strictly stands against any form of corruption and racism. He is Africa’s most respected music legend that could play numerous numbers of string and keys instruments, as well as his figurative but simple music lyrics.

Fela’s Eldest son, Olufemi Anikulapo – Kuti is also a song writer, performer, and judge. He started his music journey with his father’s band playing the same musical instruments like his father, before he decided to start his own music band, The Positive Force Band. He did really well in the music industry releasing couples of studio albums and also features different top music artist like Wiz Kid in Omo Jayejaye playing his saxophone to create sweet sound to the song.

Oluseun Anikulapo – Kuti is another son of the music legend and the youngest of all. Yet, he currently leads his father’s former Egypt 80 Band. He also started at a very young age in his father’s music band at the age of nine. When his father died, he had to take over even though he was at the age of 14 then but he was ready to be in charge of the band. He is doing so well that he earned his first Grammy nomination and was able to strike some deals with top breweries companies like Guinness and many others.

Omorinmade Kuti, the legend grandson is the son to Olufemi Anikulapo – Kuti. He has also joined in the family heritage and now plays alongside his father in the Afrika Shrine, hoping he will soon come up with his own music band just like his father.

 

8) Joseph Aloba

Son: Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba (Mohbad)

This legend Nigerian musician, Joseph Aloba “Omo Oba” was not well known in the music industry but his involvement in music has paved way for his son, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba (aka, Mohbad) in the music industry. He played a significant role in shaping his son’s musical career and ensuring him a smooth and easy journey in the industry.

Aloba’s son, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba has a burning passion for music and he has been singing at a very young age even as a chorister in his home church, where he got the name “Imole” which means “Light”. He is popularly known for his stage name Mohbad which means “I am Bright and Destined.” 

After lots of efforts to push his music career dropping hits Back 2 Back, he was signed into the Marlians record alongside,  Zinoleesky, but left the label in 2022 due to some controversies that happened in the Marlian family. He was best known for his hit songs “Ponmo,” “Peace” “Beast and Peace,” “Sorry”, “Feel Good,” and “KPK (Ko Por Ke)” He was nominated three times for The Headies awards 2022 and he ranked number 1 on Turn Table’s Official Artiste Top 100. He has also featured some artists which gives him more recognition in the industry. He is well known for his punch lines which is that of a wailing soul pleading for freedom and crying out for help.

MohBad and his wife, Omawunmi, had a son, in April 2023. Unfortunately, on 12 September 2023 MohBad died at the age of 27 after different suggestions which lead to his death. However, it was also said that he was being treated for an infection by an unlicensed nurse, who was later arrested. However, research had it that there are more to his death and adequate investigations is still on going. Rest in peace Imole!

 

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