23 Richest Musicians In Africa

Those outside of Africa often don’t see the great music that is made. But that hasn’t stopped African musicians profiting from their talent, and amassing earnings in the millions.

But who makes the most?

Read on to see the richest musicians in Africa. We’ll work our way up to the highest earning, and look at how they make and spend their money.

Oumou Sangaré – $1.2 million

Oumou Sangaré combines Malian music with Western soul over her decades-long career which began when she was a child in the 1990s. Her music is known for its social and political commentary, as well as its focus on issues affecting women and girls.

Sangaré has invested in several businesses in Mali, including a hotel and a farm, and she’s also involved in various philanthropic efforts supporting women's rights and education initiatives in her home country.

She has invested in real estate and owns a large home in Bamako. She has also been involved in the fashion industry, having designed a clothing and accessories line that incorporates traditional Malian textiles.

She has long advocated for fair compensation for musicians in Africa and has been involved in efforts to improve the music industry in Mali.

Sangaré has a public affinity for traditional Malian jewelry and is known to spend her money on elaborate gold necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Salif Keita – $2 million

Salif Keita is a Malian singer, songwriter, and musician known for his contributions to West African music.

He’s earned money primarily through music sales, concerts, and collaborations with other artists. He has been active in the music industry for several decades and has released multiple albums that have gained recognition both in Africa and internationally. In addition to his solo work, Keita has collaborated with other artists, including Carlos Santana, Cesaria Evora, and the late Wayne Shorter, among others.

Keita has also been involved in philanthropic work, particularly in the areas of education and health. He has established a foundation to support children with albinism— a condition with which he lives and has faced discrimination because of.

He is known to live a relatively modest lifestyle despite his success. He has invested in a music studio in Mali and supports community development projects in his home country. He also has ties to conservation efforts, particularly in protecting the wetlands of Mali.

While Salif Keita has achieved significant success in the music industry, he has also used his influence and resources to support social causes and community development in Africa.

Jose Chameleone – $6 million

Ugandan musician and songwriter Jose Chameleone has been active in the music industry for over two decades. With sales of his multiple albums, he’s built up a good chunk of his net worth.

He has also been involved in other business ventures, including running a nightclub in Kampala and investing in real estate. Chameleone is also known to enjoy his wealth, often driving expensive cars and wearing designer clothing. But he also remains involved in philanthropic work, supporting causes like education and health care in Uganda.

He has funded several initiatives surrounding HIV education.

Chameleone harbors political leanings, as well, and uses his fame and fortune to advocate for social justice and human rights issues in Uganda.

Vanessa Mdee – $8 million

Also known as Vee Money, Vanessa Mdee is a Tanzanian musician, songwriter, and TV personality. Originally from the port city of Dar es Salaam, she started her career as a radio and TV presenter before transitioning into music in 2012. She has become hugely popular in Tanzania and East Africa.

She is also a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur, investing in the entertainment industry, including talent management company V Money Music. The firm is dedicated to managing fellow Tanzanian artists.

Mdee endorses Coca-Cola, which has augmented her wealth and allowed her to fund advocacy efforts around women's rights and empowerment. She also participates in efforts to provide education and healthcare services to underprivileged communities in Tanzania and other parts of Africa.

Angelique Kidjo – $8 million

Angelique Kidjo is a Beninese singer, songwriter, and actress. She’s one of the most successful and internationally renowned African musicians of all time, releasing many albums and accumulating awards (including Grammy and Tonys) over three decades. Her music combines Latin and jazz sounds with music from the native traditions of her home country of Benin.

She has released several successful albums and performed in countless concerts and festivals around the world. Sales and lives shows have earned her a good deal of money since the 1990s when she began performing.

She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has been involved in efforts to promote education, health, and women's rights in Africa and other parts of the world.

Kidjo launched a music label called Crammed Discs in 2016 to focus on promoting and supporting emerging artists from Africa and other parts of the world, so this was both a financial investment and a way to give back. She also owns a hotel and restaurant in Benin.

One novel area in which Kidjo spends her money is African art, which she collects and has amassed a collection of over 3,000 pieces. She buys art, and she travels, allegedly having visited over 100 countries to date.

Banky W – $9 million

Olubankole Wellington was born in the US to Nigerian parents who took him back there when he was still a child. He rose to fame as a singer, songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur. “My Regret,” from his 2005 debut album Back in the Building, won him a songwriting award and was named International Single of the Year in 2007, so music sales have driven his accumulation of wealth.

His community leadership has driven him to spend money on philanthropic endeavors, but in the mid- to late-2010s, he made headway in Nigeria as a politician. Undoubtedly, he spent some of his own money in that line of work as he campaigned for election.

While Banky W doesn’t post rolls of photos of his cars, which isn’t the norm, he has been seen driving a Rolls Royce and a Land Rover, both expensive luxury rides. He lives on a multi-million-dollar estate in Lagos and had an endorsement deal with a Nigerian telecom company and his own record label. The label dissolved in 2018, and the telecom deal ended when the entity reorganized. However, he still endorses Pepsi and Samsung.

Banky W has also launched other businesses, including a digital marketing agency and a restaurant.

Akothee – $10 million

Akothee, whose real name is Esther Akoth, is a Kenyan musician, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She began her music career in 2015 and has since released several hit songs in Kenya and across Africa.

She is also a successful businesswoman with several investments in real estate, transportation, and hospitality, including Akothee Safaris. She owns properties in Kenya, including a lavish mansion in Rongo, which she reportedly bought for approximately $740,000.

Akothee also owns several luxury cars, including a Range Rover Sport, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and a Porsche Cayenne. She has also been known to give similar vehicles as gifts.

Akothee donates money to several charitable initiatives in Kenya and other parts of Africa. She started the Akothee Foundation to help provide education, healthcare, and sanitation services to underprivileged communities. She also supports women's empowerment and gender equality causes.

Some of her spending goes to travel, as she regularly flies first class and stays in luxury hotels.

Timaya – $12 million

Inetimi Timaya Odon— professionally using only Timaya as a mononym— is one of Nigeria's most popular performers. He makes music in the Afro-Soca genre, combining soca with dancehall and hip-hop sounds. He has eight studio albums to his credit, each adding proceeds from sales to his net worth.

He has spent a good portion of his fortune on cars, filling his fleet with luxury whips made by Mercedes, Bentley, Porsche, Range Rover, and Lexus. See? Music really can make you rich if you do it right.

Timaya also owns quite a bit of real estate throughout Nigeria. At least two homes are for his personal use, and the others— details of which are sparse— seem to be investment properties.

Album sales, streaming, and live performances constitute the bulk of his income, which he has continued to parlay into larger fortunes through investments.

D’banj – $13 million

D'banj is known in Africa Koko Master and is a singer and entrepreneur. His name is Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, and in addition to being a lauded singer, he’s also a harmonica player. His career began in 2004 with the release of his debut album No Long Thing.

He has won several awards for his contributions to the Nigerian music industry, including the Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2007 and the Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2009.

All these sales and accolades have translated into monetary earnings for the musician.

He is also a United Nations Youth Ambassador for Peace and has worked with several international organizations to promote African culture and music.

In addition to his music career, D'banj has also ventured into other business ventures, including the fashion industry, where he launched his clothing line, Koko Mansion. He also launched his record label, DB Records, in 2012.

That same year, he signed a multi-million dollar deal with Sony Entertainment, which reportedly earned him a substantial sum of money.

D'banj has also invested in several business ventures, including his clothing line, Koko Mansion, and his record label, DB Records. He has also been involved in real estate and has properties in Nigeria and abroad.

In terms of philanthropy, D'banj is the founder of the Koko Foundation for Youth and Peace Development, which aims to empower young people and promote peace in Africa. He has also been involved in several charitable initiatives, including the fight against Ebola in West Africa and the provision of education and healthcare to disadvantaged communities.

2baba – $15 million

2Baba, also known as 2face Idibia, made his bones as part of Plantashun Boiz before embarking on a successful solo career. He has several hit songs, including “African Queen,” “Nfana Ibaga,” “True Love,” “If Love Is A Crime,” “Ole,” and “Implication.” He has also collaborated with several international artists, including Wyclef Jean and Mary J. Blige.

He has been recognized for his humanitarian efforts and was appointed as a goodwill ambassador by the Nigerian Red Cross Society. He has also established the 2Baba Foundation, which focuses on promoting peace, human security, and development in Africa.

2Baba is also an entrepreneur involved in several business ventures. He founded Hypertek Entertainment, a record label, and he also owns the Rumours Nightclub in Lagos. He has also invested in real estate and owns several properties in Nigeria including a luxury Lagos apartment.

Endorsement deals with Guinness and Campari have also increased his net worth.

Sarkodie – $15 million

Sarkodie, whose real name is Michael Owusu Addo, is a Ghanaian rapper from TemaHis debut album, Makye, dropped in 2009, and he has since had several hits and earned awards from MTV and BET. He was also recognized for his contributions to Ghanaian music with the Order of the Volta, presented to him by the president of Ghana in 2019.

He has accumulated his wealth from album sales, streaming income, and live shows, but he’s also an entrepreneur who has invested in several businesses, including a clothing line and a digital music distribution platform. Sarkodie has worked with several companies, including Samsung and Tigo.

He established the Sarkodie Foundation in 2013 to use some of his money to help others. The foundation focuses on supporting underprivileged children in Ghana by providing access to education, healthcare, and other basic needs. Sarkodie has also been a supporter of literacy campaigns in his home country.

He invested in a clothing line called “Sark by Yas” and launched a digital music distribution platform, which aims to make it easier for Ghanaian musicians to distribute their music worldwide.

He lives frugally and tends to make smart financial decisions.

Don Jazzy – $15 million

Yet another wealthy Nigerian musician, Don Jazzy plays the roles of music producer, singer, and entrepreneur. He founded Mavin Records, one of the leading record labels in the country.

He gained prominence with Mo' Hits Records, a record label he co-founded with fellow Nigerian musician D'banj.

Don Jazzy co-founded a free WiFi service provider in Nigeria and launched Mavin Clothing. Endorsement deals with Samsung have contributed to his net worth. Forbes named him one of Africa's most powerful celebrities in 2013.

He is not known for wild spending, but rather for philanthropic undertakings involving education- and healthcare-related causes. He has also donated money to the Save the Children Foundation and the Nigeria Police Force.

Don Jazzy has often spoken publicly about the importance of investing and saving money and has himself invested in real estate in addition to his other business ventures.