I’m certain that if I had asked you to name some Nigerian gospel musicians, you would have mentioned Nathaniel Bassey, Dunsin Oyekan, Mercy Chinwo, etc. The gospel music industry has seen a variety of talents emerge in recent years. The growth of artists like Rehmahz and Marizu, as well as Limoblaze and Gaise Baba, has been facilitated by the rise of the Afro sound and, more recently, Amapiano in gospel music. The Afro-Gospel music landscape, already brimming with captivating sounds, promises an even more exciting year in 2023.

Here are 5 Afro Gospel musicians to keep an eye on

1. Nolly Nwa

Chukwunonso Tony Onwuli also known as Nolly is a remarkable singer and rapper. He raps in both the English language and the Igbo language. He also seamlessly transitions between rap and Afro Gospel showcasing his versatility and musical expression. With a career spanning a considerable length of time, Nolly has honed his craft and earned a dedicated following.

Watch Nolly Nwa’s video on YouTube 

2. Sal Ly

Salamatu Musa who is popularly known as Sal Ly is an Afro Gospel artist who hails from Jos, Nigeria. Her professional career began in 2016. With the release of her single ‘Translucent’ a few years ago. Sally has experienced tremendous growth. In 2020 she released her highly acclaimed EP titled “Premiere” receiving a rating of 8.5 by Nigeria’s Pulse. ng as one of the finest works in Nigerian music that year.

Watch Sal Ly Latest Release “Lost in Your Vibe”

3. Marizu

Born in 1998, Marizu Ikechi is the son of gospel reggae singer, Buchi Ikechi. Marizu, the Afro-Gospel superstar from HFP has garnered a strong following in a relatively short period. His remarkable voice and exceptional contributions to songs set him apart. Marizu Ikechi’s voice shines out and his contributions to songs go above and beyond the ordinary, which is a big one for him. His debut single ‘Chosen’ in September 2020 had more than a million views while his 2019 hit single ‘looku looku’ amassed over 1.4 million views. Marizu is undoubtedly an artist to watch.

Listen to his song “Beautiful” 

4. Proud Refuge

Proud Refuge is an American-Kenyan Afro Gospel recording artist, rapper and songwriter. The groundwork for his most recent single, “I Never Knew,” starring Marizu and Limobaze, was established by his first single from 2021, “How you dey,” a trap song. Proud Refuge has stated that his music is just rap/hip hop although it reflects his Christian faith and is solely inspired by God.

Watch “How You Dey” on YouTube 

5. Rehmahz

Marvel Ona Ahi popularly known as Rehmahz is an afro gospel artist hailing from Benue State. He dedicates substantial time and effort to his work and values group creativity which has led to collaborations with other Afro-Gospel artists within and outside the country. Some of them include Limoblaze, Dj Ernest, Okey Sokay, Jered Sanders (USA) etc. His song “Satisfy,” featuring King Dmusic, amassed more than 10,000 Spotify streams in less than five days, a significant achievement for the artist.

Watch “Satisfy” on YouTube

To top it all off, he received his first international award as Media Choice WOW Gospel Artist of the Year from the Gospel Touch Music Awards. In the Afro-gospel scene, the name Rehmahz is quickly gaining attention, and we expect nothing less in 2023.

The Afro Gospel music in Nigeria is experiencing an exciting wave of talent and innovation. As we go forward, these artists and many more are poised to make a significant impact within the industry. So make sure you keep an eye out for them in the coming days.