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Billboard Magazine is a popular music magazine, especially popular in the 80s and 90s. Billboard is known for its music charts, most famously, the Hot 100 Chart and the 200 Album Chart. Little wonder it was big news when Wizkid’s collaboration with Drake, titled One Dance, recently made it to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Here are other Nigerian artistes who have also hit it big on Billboard Charts over the years.

Babatunde Olatunji

Billboard World Charts — Babatunde Olatunji. wikipedia.com

Babatunde Olatunji’s 1960 album titled Drums Of Passion was number 13 on the charts in the year of its release. Olatunji won the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album of 1991, courtesy of Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum projects. He was a drummer/percussionist.

Sikiru Adepoju

SikiruAdepoju also featured on the Planet Drum album, which reached number 1 on the Billboard World Music Album Chart in 1991 the album also got him the Grammy Award the same year. He has won the Grammy award twice, in the Best Contemporary World Music Album category.

King Sunny Ade

KSA’s Synchro System was number 91 on the Billboard Pop Album Chart in 1983. He also got a Grammy nomination for the album in the Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording category.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti‘s album, Live In Detroit got very favourable reviews, and was number 9 on Billboard World Music Album Charts in 1986. The album was Recorded in a live concert at the Fox Theater in, the concert marked Fela’s triumphant return to the USA.

Dr Alban

Remember It’s My Life by Dr Alban? The song was at number 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music Club Play chart, it reached number 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart, number 28 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and also number 88 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1992. The song was so popular that it used in commercials and TV soap operas in the UK, Germany and India.

Lagbaja

We Before Me by the masked singer, Lagbaja ,got many critical reviews in 2001 and was at number 15 on the Billboard World Music Album Chart.

Femi Kuti

Like his father, Femi also left his imprint on the charts. Femi’s album, Africa For Africa was number 12 on the 2011 Billboard World Music Album Chart. No Place For My Dream in 2013 also made it to number 7 on the Billboard World Music Chart.

Asa

Asa‘s Beautiful Imperfection album was number 3 on the Billboard World Album chart for the week of October 1st, 2011. The album which was recorded in Lagos, Nigeria later went on to win numerous other awards and earn nominations.

D’Banj

D’Banj’s first single after his departure fro the Mo’Hits crew, Oliver Twist hit number 9 on the Billboard’s UK Official Single’s Chart in 2012. The song was nominated for several awards including World’s Best Song and World’s Best Video at the World Music Awards 2014. It, however, won awards at the Headies and the Channel O Music Video Awards. 2Baba

2face Idibia’s 6th album The Ascension made it to number 12 on the Billboard World Album chart in 2014. His 2004 album Face 2 Face sold up to 2 million copies first in Nigeria, and soon became an African favourite. African Queen, a song from the album, was particularly an international success, even used as the soundtrack for a Hollywood movie, and enjoying airplay in Europe. However, we couldn’t confirm if it made it to the charts.

Wizkid

Wizkid Ayo was ranked number 97 on the Billboard 100 Artists Chart in May 2016. However, Drake’s One Dance which he featured in made number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, making his the only other Nigerian on the list to reach number one.

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This article was first published on 10th August 2018

akwaowowillie

Akwaowo Willie is a social media consultant for several businesses including SMEs and Startups. He is also an entrepreneur and writer with interests in entertainment, media, fashion, among others. He is married, with 2 adorable children.