The year 2014 was a dynamic year in the Nigerian entertainment industry. It was a year that shot some relatively unknown artistes to the limelight and reinforced the dominance of some already established acts in the industry. In this piece, Saturday Beats highlights some of the stars to watch out for in 2015.
Wizkid
In 2014, Wizkid ended his contract with Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment record label and established his own label – Star boy.
He released his much anticipated album, Ayo, to the delight of fans, dishing out some club bangers in the process.
Already, Star boy, as the singer is fondly called, has announced that he has another album ready and it would be released later in the year.
Indeed Wizkid means business in 2015.
Davido
For Davido, 2014 was the year as the entertainer racked up various awards within and outside the country. Although, he lost out in the prestigious Channel O Music Video Award despite having five nominations, the singer has assured fans that 2015 would be better.
Besides bagging various awards, the pop singer frequently laughed to the bank last year courtesy of his various endorsement deals. A few days ago, the singer announced that he is now an ambassador of Close-Up toothpaste. And for lovers of his songs, Davido recently released a new song titled, Owo ni koko. It is his Yuletide gift to all lovers of his music, he said.
Flavour
According to reports, Flavour sold over a million copies of his album in just seven days of its release. Though, the singer refused to verify the claim, 2014 was no doubt a successful one for Flavour. Apart from releasing a much awaited album, the singer sealed several mouth-watering deals especially with several big brands in the telecommunications sector. To crown a wonderful year, the singer gave birth to a baby girl with his lover, Sandra Okagbue. Flavour is surely one of the household names to watch out for in 2015.
Olamide
His has been a meteoric rise to the top. Whichever way you look at it, Baddo as the artiste is fondly referred to, rocked the biggest stages in 2014. Apart from being one of the most sought-after artistes in the previous year, most of his songs became massive hits among fans, enjoying huge airplay across the country.
For his efforts, Olamide bagged several awards including two at the Headies. His recently released album, Street OT, is receiving positive reviews and his show last weekend, Olamide Live in Concert, was well attended.
Phyno
From East to West, North to South, his tunes are on everyone’s lips.
Phyno, like Olamide and Flavour, is another musician who left us jamming at every of his beats throughout 2014. A distinct appearance combined with an alluring brand of music, Phyno ended 2014 as one of the most featured artistes. In 2015, he is sure going to be in the forefront of action.
Kiss Daniel
Though, a new kid on the block, Daniel’s club banger, Woju, took the nation by storm, almost becoming a national anthem. Whenever it is played in a gathering, people subconsciously sing along or dance to the tune. Since announcing that Davido would feature on the remix version to be released soon, fans of both singers have been waiting eagerly. If consistent, 2015 could be the start of beautiful things for this young lad.
Lil Kesh
This young man is already walking in the footstep of his boss, Olamide. When he released his version of Shoki, a song with a unique dance step, even critics knew that Kesh had come to stay. His boss, Olamide, has stopped at nothing to continue to give the emerging star the right type of exposure he needs. Like Daniel, 2015 could be the year Lil Kesh stamps his name on the sands of time.
Slyde
The song ‘Banana’ was an instant hit at clubs and on radio stations with many wondering who the singer was. He eventually did a remix with serial hit maker, Timaya, and later shot a video. He narrowly missed the Headies Rookie of the Year to Reekado Banks despite fans and critics tipping him for the award especially for hitting limelight without a known force behind him. With a new single and hope of building on the success of Banana, Slyde, moves into 2015 with lots of expectations.
Reekado Banks
Born Solomon Ayoleyi Hanniel, this young man would not forget the year 2014 in a hurry. From wining the Headies award ‘Rookie of the year’ and the support of one of Africa’s biggest music producers, Don Jazzy, Reekado Banks moves into 2015 with a lot of prospects and also expectations from fans. His talent was noticed on the songs Dorobucci, Adaobi, and his single, Turn it up, featuring Tiwa Savage. With Don Jazzy known for helping artistes churn out hits, we expect this young man to shine like a diamond in 2015.
Runtown
After blessing music lovers with Gallado – featuring Davido- and also writing Davido’s 2014 hit single, Aye, Runtown will definitely build on his success of 2014 to seal his place as a musical star in 2015.
To prove that he’s not a local champion, the artiste teamed up with South-Africa’s wave making producer, Uhuru, for his new single, Banger. He was also on the award winning “Best collabo song” of the year at Headies Awards- Emergency by WizzyPro featuring Skales, Patoranking and himself. If you still think 2014 was a fluke for RunTown, wait till you see what he churns out this year.
Seyi Shay
The delectable singer was the cynosure of all eyes this year. When she released the song Murda, many thought it was a fluke. The song didn’t only make her famous, it brought mouthwatering endorsement deals her way. She recently released a song with Wizkid and it has been enjoying massive airplay both on radio and television across the continent. It only makes one imagine what tricks she has up her sleeves for 2015.
Cynthia Morgan
Signed to Jude Okoye’s Northside Records, Cynthia Morgan is one lady that is gradually proving to be a force to reckon with in the industry. With her songs, Lead me on and Taken, dominating the airwaves, Morgan has shown that it can only get better this year.
Niyola
With her hit song, Love to love you, featuring Banky W, enjoying positive feedbacks from fans and critics, the young lady has no option but to better her game. Last year was a beautiful year for her as she bagged a Headies award, Nigerian Music Video Awards, among others.
This goes a long way to show that she would not relent in her efforts this year.
Ruby
Soulful singer Ruby is also an act to watch out for as she is capable of springing surprises this year. Although she said she would stick to singing R ‘n’ B songs, the singer is quite versatile. Her song, Good man, earned her a Headies nomination and that seems to be the beginning of many more good things to come her way this year.
Tope Tedela
He is probably the biggest revelation of 2014 in the movie sector as he won the most coveted award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Temitope Christopher, popularly known as Tope Tedela was a relatively unknown face in Nollywood until he beat several established names in the industry to emerge as the Best Actor in drama at the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. This served as a floodgate to other awards especially the Nigerian Entertainment Award in New York. He is undoubtedly a face to look out for this year.
Daniel Kanayo Daniel
Although he is relatively new in the industry, he is already a recipient of the City People Awards for Best Actor. He has featured as the lead character in dozens of movies and he is not showing any sign of slowing down this year.
Alex Ekubo
This young man is fast becoming a poster boy for Nigerian films. He is fast filling the vacuum the likes of RMD and Ramsey Nouah left behind.
He graced several top notch movies in 2014 and bagged several awards. He is definitely a face that would be seen often this New Year.
Ijeoma Grace-Agu
This talented actress bagged several awards at the Best of Nollywood Award ceremony. She has produced her own movie and has acted in various others. She was blessed with a baby this year but it has not slowed her down in any way. Always known to wear a smile, hers is one that would be seen frequently on the tube in 2015.
Sylvya Oluchy
A model and actress, Oluchy, is definitely a hard worker as she graced scores of movies this year. The dark-skinned actress is definitely an act to look out for in 2015.
Apart from the listed names here, there are dozens of talented acts in the entertainment industry who could also become super-stars this year as a result of their performances last year. Industry watchers say this would improve the quality of entertainment available to Nigerians in 2015.
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