Nigerian creatives have existed long before the rise of Tiktok and Instagram. The creatives we all admire today were not the ones who laid the foundation for our cultural industry. They did not shape the Afro beats, arts, comedy, or reggae you enjoy now.
While scrolling on the gram this week, I stumbled on a post celebrating these once-popular Nigerian artists and creatives. Their brilliance still echoes through music, fashion, theatre, and TV. They laid the groundwork for what we now call culture today.
After seeing the post, I remembered that my 23-year-old brother had always loved these kinds of legends, especially the musicians amongst them, just like our father. Both of them are ardent lovers of the iconic musician King Sunny Ade. So, I shared the list with them.
I concluded it wouldn’t be bad to also share with you all, my faithful readers.
The Voices That Moved Us
Nigerian music legends are the artists who shaped music for generations. Their voices elated people’s moods with classics.
Bala Miller
Bala Miller was a well-known Northern band leader and popular for his shows on the NTA network. Many attested to how he would sing beautifully and blend jazz in the Hausa Language.
Christy Essien-Igbokwe
Christy Essien-Igbokwe was known as “The Lady of Songs”. If you’re a Nigerian reading this, you might know the song “Seun rere”? She sang it. She was also known as a passionate feminine activist beyond music. She was the first female president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and was also part of the people who established the association. This talented woman can sing in different languages, which is one reason why she was loved. She died at age 50.
The image below shows the legendary Christy Essien-Igbokwe.
Image Source: Deezer.com
Bongos Ikwue
Bongos Ikwue is famous for his unique blend of folk music, Afrobeats and highlife. He sings in such a way that inspires one’s soul. Some of the music include the popular: You Can’t Hurry the Sunshine, Cock Crow.
Evi Edna Ogholi-Ogosi
Evi Edna Ogholi-Ogosi is popularly known as the Queen of Reggae. She carved a name for herself in a male-dominated genre. Evi Edna was known as a master at playing Guitar. She is also known for singing in her Isoko dialect. Her songs include Happy Birthday and No Place Like Home.
I came across one of her songs. Check it out, you will enjoy it.
The image below shows the “Queen of Reggae” Evi Edna Ogholi-Ogosi.
Image Source: SheShredsMedia.com
Icons of the Nigerian Stage and Screen
Nigeria also had iconic theatre stars, directors, and actors who pioneered storytelling in the visual and performing arts. Today, we celebrate incredible talents: skit makers, amazing movie producers, and directors like Funke Akindele, Broda Shaggi, Iyabo Ojo, and Femi Adebayo. Let me take you down those that existed long before these.
Jab Adu
Jab Adu was one of the pioneers of Nigerian film. Jab Adu, whose full name is Joseph Abiodun Babatunde, was an actor and movie producer. He directed Nigeria’s highest-grossing film of the 1970s, Bisi, Daughter of the River. He died in 2016.
Segun Olusola
Segun Olusola was another iconic figure who graced Nigeria’s screen with excellent educational programmes. He was the scriptwriter and Creator of “The Village Headmaster” television drama. This drama resonated deeply with many, including government officials.
Ayo Ogunsina
Ayo Ogunsina was popularly known as Papalolo. He was a comedian and jester in those days. Ayo and his group produced for many television stations then. Their comedies were used as a tool for social enlightenment. They were also the first comedians to release their material as albums on vinyl.
Eddie Ugbomah
Eddie Ugbomah was a passionate storyteller who built his film enterprise, Edifosa Film Enterprise, because he believed that Nigerian stories should be told by Nigerians and to Nigerians. He infused political, social, economic and cultural subjects into thought-provoking movies. His movies include The Mask, Rise and Fall of Oyenusi.
Abiodun Duro-Ladipo
Abiodun Duro-Ladipo was an actress and a singer. Abiodun was a leading woman when women were rarely seen on stage. After her husband’s demise, she managed his theatre company, a task uncommon to many women at the time. She was also known for her role as “Oya” in Oba Koso and as a lead actress in Moremi.
The Minds That Wove Culture Into Every Thread
These legends infused culture into everything they touched. They expressed culture through artistry, fashion writing, painting, and more. Let’s take a look at who they are and what they did.
Maureen Onigbanjo
Maureen Onigbanjo is the CEO of Maufechi House of Fashion. Maureen’s bold fashion vision and innovative designs reshaped how Nigerian women dressed.
The image below shows the creative Maureen Onigbanjo.
Image Source: Societynow.com
Gani Odutokun
Gani Odutokun was one of the most talented painters in Nigeria and an influential art lecturer. His artworks often include the expression of sociopolitical issues, which usually question power. Gani frequently creates accident-inducing designs.
Aina Onabolu
Aina Onabolu was the father of modern Nigerian art. He played a crucial role in introducing arts into the curriculum of secondary schools in Nigeria. This icon gave young Nigerians the opportunity to discover their artistic talents early in life through its inclusion in primary and secondary schools.
Osonye Tess Onwueme
Osonye Tess Onwueme is an internationally known playwright. Her writings were prominent with themes on women, the environment, and social justice.
Final Thoughts
Some of you might be unfamiliar with these legends, especially most Millennials and Gen Zs. However, every music genre we enjoy, the content we consume today, and the movies that entertain and educate us today were inspired and pioneered by someone. Even though these icons no longer appear on our screens or are no longer on rank with our favourite creatives today, let’s give them big ups. Their contributions were beyond the pursuit of attention, likes, and reshares; they laid the foundation we have today, and even the ones they might no longer live to see.
So, take a moment to revisit their records, their paintings, and celebrate them. Even as a traveller who loves legendary works, you can enjoy their works while on the go.
Have you heard about any of these icons before? I’d love to hear what you know about them; I’ll be in the comments.
I have written many more insightful and educational blogs. Kindly check them out.
