5 Nigerian Actors You Didn’t Know Were Musicians

Music and movies fall under the same aspect of ‘entertainment’. So it is not uncommon to see Nigerian actors venturing into music. In fact, several Nigerian actors have ventured into a music career. However, they are rarely ever successful (That’s a story for another day). 

It’s not easy for musicians to be taken seriously as actors (cough Tiwa Savage cough). And it’s even harder for actors to do well in the music industry.

I mean, off the top of your head, how many actors do you know that have had a thriving music career? Don’t say Falz, his case is special.

 Enough said, here’s 5 Nigerian actors who you know or didn’t know had a stint in music.

Gabriel Afolayan 

Gabriel Afolayan, also known as G-Fresh, has a large collection of songs and a rich musical background. He has been active in the music industry since 1997, starting as a backup singer and member of various choirs. He has released numerous songs, including “All my love”, “Ready”, “Amoke”, and “Sugar Daddy”.

Despite his experience and talent, he faced the challenge of promoting his music and getting his sound out to a wider audience. He acknowledged that music is about making an impression and being heard. While he was still active in his musical career, it’s great to see his dedication and perseverance in pursuing his passion for music!

Angela Okorie 

After gaining fame through acting, Angela Okorie decided to focus on her music career, slowing down her acting work to pursue her passion. She has been singing in church since she was seven years old and began her music career in late 2019 with her debut single “E pain Dem”, followed by popular songs like “Legit”, “Ije Life”, “Vibes”, and her latest single “Gain” featuring Naira Marley. 

Despite her success, she invested heavily in her music and hasn’t yet recouped her costs, having to balance her acting and music career to get her music heard.

Genevieve Nnaji 

Genevieve Nnaji ventured into music in 2004, releasing her debut album “One Logo Logo Line”  under EKB Records, a Ghanaian label. Despite her successful acting career, her musical talent often goes unnoticed. The album blended Afrobeat, pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Urban music styles. However, after the album failed to make a significant impact, Genevieve refocused on her thriving acting career, leaving her musical pursuit as a brief but interesting chapter in her entertainment career.

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde 

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde released her debut album, titled “GBA,” in 2005. The album included singles such as “Naija Lowa” and “The Things You Do To Me.” Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde revealed that she initially wanted to release a rock album as her debut, but was discouraged by her team. Renowned music executive Obi Asika advised her to incorporate indigenous sounds and lyrics to appeal to the Nigerian audience. 

However, with her second album, “Me, Myself, and Eyes” (2010), produced by Paul Play Dairo and Del B, she felt she had finally found her voice and true musical direction.

The album was never released. 

She began working on her third album in 2012, in collaboration with The Bridge Entertainment. The release of the album was put on hold with no explanation given.

Jim Iyke

Jim Iyke, who owned Untamed Records, released his debut album “Who Am I?” featuring top Nigerian artists like 2baba and Sound Sultan. However, he eventually stepped back from music, realizing he wasn’t as skilled at singing as he was at acting. 

In an interview, he described his experience in the music industry as “humbling” and jokingly called his album the “worst of the decade.” He explained that he had a moment of clarity, recognizing his limitations and deciding to focus on his strengths. Despite this, he cherished the experience and learned not to take himself too seriously.

Honourable Mention: Tonto Dikeh

Tonto Dikeh’s rise to stardom in Nollywood felt like a fairy tale—a beautiful and talented young woman who captured Nigeria’s on-screen obsession. But her charm extended beyond movies. In 2013, she ventured into music, releasing two singles, “HI” and “Itz Ova.” Her musical journey continued in 2014 when D’Banj signed her to his record label, DB Records. She left DB Records the following year and has been relatively quiet in her music career since.

I think it’s great that these musicians recognised that music is not their calling and just let it be. They were just reducing their steeze trying to be artistes when nobody asked them to be. We’d rather they stick to their acting, abeg. Or if they must be in the music industry, find a way to be involved without being artistes themselves.

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