MUSIC

7 Nigerian Artists Who Have Performed At International Football Tournaments

Published

8 months ago

January 15, 2024

7 Nigerian Artists That Performed At Football Tournaments | Fab.ng

Football and music are two passions that ignite hearts across the globe. And in Nigeria, these passions often intertwine in spectacular ways. Throughout history, talented Nigerian artists have taken centre stage at some of football’s grandest events, weaving their rhythms and melodies into the fabric of iconic tournaments.

From the African Cup of Nations to European club football and even the pinnacle of the sport—the FIFA World Cup—Nigerian artists have left their mark on the beautiful game.

Just recently, Yemi Alade‘s vibrant performance at the 2024 AFCON in Ivory Coast added another chapter to this rich legacy. But Yemi Alade isn’t alone.

Going deeper, let’s look into the stories of seven incredible Nigerian artists who have graced the stages of international football tournaments, bringing their unique sounds and energies to football fans around the world.

1. D’banj at 2013 AFCON

At the closing ceremony, under a sky ablaze with celebratory fireworks, a single voice rises above the jubilant roar: D’banj, the Koko Master.

The Koko Master graced the closing ceremony of the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa with his superstar presence. On that historic night for Nigerians, he delivered a performance of his hit single ‘Top Of The World.’

The celebratory moment reached its pinnacle as the Super Eagles secured victory over Burkina Faso with a 1-0 score, ultimately lifting the continental trophy.

2. Davido at the 2022 World Cup Final

Davido, the Afrobeats megastar, achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Nigerian artist to perform at the FIFA World Cup closing ceremony during the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar.

His performance featured the official anthem ‘Hayya Hayya,’ where he shared the stage with AISHA and Trinidad Cardona.

This remarkable moment marked a historic presence for Nigerian music on the global stage of the prestigious football event.

3. Burna Boy at the 2023 Champions League Final

Burna Boy, the Grammy award-winner, achieved another monumental milestone by becoming the first African artist to perform at a UEFA Champions League Final.

This historic moment took place during the 2023 European Club Football Final held in Istanbul, showcasing the global recognition and influence of African music on major international platforms.

4. Yemi Alade at 2024 AFCON

Yemi Alade showcased her mesmerising talent during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

The renowned artist delivered a captivating performance of the official anthem, “Akwaba,” alongside Magic System and Mohamad Ramadan, adding a memorable musical element to the prestigious event.

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5. Rema at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony

The Ballon d’Or ceremony, an eagerly awaited annual football awards night, is not a tournament but a highly esteemed event on the global football calendar.

In the 2023 edition, Rema added a touch of excitement to the proceedings by thrilling the guests with his hit single “Calm Down,” making history as the first African artist to perform at the esteemed Ballon d’Or ceremony.

6. Kizz Daniel at 2022 FIFA Concert

Kizz Daniel, a prominent artist, was among the stars who adorned the FIFA 2022 Concert in Qatar, serving as one of the side attractions during the tournament.

The acclaimed hitmaker took the stage and delivered a captivating performance of his 2022 smash hit single “Buga,” featuring the talented Tekno.

7. Patoranking at the 2022 FIFA Concert

Patoranking, the renowned artist, took centre stage as one of the headlining performers at the FIFA 2022 Concert in Qatar.

During the event, he treated the audience to an enthralling performance, showcasing a medley of his popular hit songs.

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MUSIC

Ayra Starr Joins Tems On Stage For Surprise Performance

Published

2 days ago

September 6, 2024

Reporter

Ayra Starr joins Tems on stage for surprise performance | fab.ng

Following the release of her debut album, “Born In The Wild,” Tems has embarked on a world tour, where she thrilled audiences with her chart-topping songs; Ayra Starr joined her for a performance of one of the songs.

In the New York leg of her “Born In The Wild” tour, Tems surprised fans by bringing sensational superstar Ayra Starr on stage for a joint performance. The duo, cheered by the enthusiastic crowd, showcased their friendship and support for each other.

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American Grammy-winning star John Legend also made a special guest appearance at Tems’ New York concert, delighting the audience with a rendition of his hit single “Ordinary People.”

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While Tems and Ayra Starr have yet to collaborate, many fans, including Rihanna, are eagerly anticipating a future song together. Rihanna has even expressed her willingness to join the track with the talented Nigerian stars.

Tems and Ayra Starr are two of Nigeria’s most successful global exports, whose music has garnered millions of fans and prestigious awards. Tems made history as the first Nigerian female artist to win a Grammy, receiving an award for her contributions to Future’s “Wait For U,” which won Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 65th Grammys.

Ayra Starr also achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first Nigerian female artist to be nominated as a lead act for her hit single “Rush,” which earned a nod for Best African Song Performance at the 66th Grammys.

Both stars have continued their global ascent with the release of new projects in 2024. Tems released her highly anticipated debut album “Born In The Wild.” At the same time, Ayra Starr dropped her acclaimed sophomore album “The Year I Turned 21,” featuring guest appearances from Giveon, Coco Jones, Aniita, Seyi Vibez, and Asake.

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MUSIC

Fireboy’s “Peru” Gets Diamond Certification In France

Published

2 days ago

September 5, 2024

Reporter

'Peru' diamond certification in France | fab.ng

Fireboy‘s “Peru,” released in 2021, quickly became a global sensation, securing a diamond certification in France. The song charted in several countries, including the US, UK, and France. The Afrobeats rhythmic song resonated with audiences worldwide, earning it a commercial success across multiple regions.

Significantly, the song secured the highest certification for a song in France. The remix features British superstar Ed Sheeran, who played a crucial role in propelling the track to international stardom. This version of “Peru” not only charted in over 20 countries but also made a showing on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 53. In the UK, it soared to No. 2 on the Official Singles Chart. Again in France, it reached No. 28, solidifying its status as a global hit.

The success of “Peru” extends beyond just chart performance.

Across both the original and remix versions, the track has amassed over 450 million streams on Spotify alone. It has been awarded a gold plaque in Denmark and achieved double platinum status in the UK. Notably, “Peru” is one of the select Afrobeats songs to earn a platinum certification from the RIAA, further cementing its place in the genre’s history.

Fireboy DML’s “Peru” featuring Ed Sheeran is now certified Diamond in France 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/o3Wm75zJS6

— Unorthodox Reviews (@OfficialBlog_UR) September 2, 2024

Featured on Fireboy’s third album, “Playboy”, “Peru” catapulted him to international fame. This success earned him a BET nomination and a coveted performance slot at the 2022 edition of the awards. Fireboy’s ability to fuse Afrobeats with global appeal has established him as one of Nigeria’s leading musical exports.

With its recent diamond certification in France, “Peru” joins the ranks of other Nigerian hits.

This includes Oxlade’s “Kulosa,” Ayra Starr’s “Rush,” Burna Boy’s “Last Last,” and Rema’s “Calm Down,” all of which have received SNEP diamond certification.

Building on this momentum, Fireboy continues his global ascent with the release of his fourth album, “Adedamola”. The project features collaborations with prominent artists such as Lagbaja, Grammy nominee Seun Kuti, Lojay, and Grammy Album of the Year winner Jon Batiste, showcasing his ever-expanding influence in the music industry.

ENTERTAINMENT

I Don’t Need Promo; I Recorded My Hit Songs Sitting Down – Wizkid

Published

3 days ago

September 4, 2024

Reporter

Wizkid says he recorded his hit songs sitting down | fab.ng

Grammy-winning artist Ayodeji Balogun, widely known as Wizkid, proudly emphasized his natural ability to create hit songs with minimal effort. In a candid studio interview, Wizkid disclosed that he records all his major tracks while seated.

This underscores the ease with which he produces chart-topping music. He made it clear that the process of making hits is entirely stress-free for him.

Additionally, Wizkid expressed his strong aversion to traditional music promotion and press interviews, noting that he has a deep understanding of his audience’s preferences and is fully prepared to meet their expectations without the need for extensive publicity efforts.

Further, Wizkid elaborated on his approach, stating, “All my biggest songs from ‘Holla At Your Boy’ to ‘Soco’, ‘Joro’, ‘Ojuelegba’, I recorded them sitting down. You [P2J] know how my things be for Lagos. You’ve been in my house. You know what I do. I’m chilling.”

‘‘I hate doing Promo’’
‘‘ I Recorded All my biggest Songs Sitting Down’’

— WIZKID pic.twitter.com/Mlst5TAPMi

— HYPETRIBE (@hypetribeng) September 2, 2024

He went on to explain his disdain for promotional activities, adding, “You get me, no stress. You see promo, I hate doing that sh*t. You know press, I hate doing all that sh*t, bro. I know exactly what the people want. [Producer] P2J is the only n*gga that understands me. All we have to do is turn on the mic.”

Wizkid also touched on the impact of globalization on the music industry, noting that artists no longer need to rely on others to create a buzz around their work. The amazing thing is that the world is now globalized, you don’t need anyone to lie to you,” he concluded.

Furthermore, this insight into Wizkid’s creative process and his approach to the music industry sheds light on why he remains one of the most influential and successful artists of his generation.

His confidence in his talent, combined with his understanding of the evolving global music landscape, continues to set him apart in the industry.