Icons Of The Nineties: The Leading Female Voices Of The Nigerian Music Industry

Historically, it would be remiss of anyone to talk about Nigeria without making reference to the impact music has had on our narrative till date. As a tool of change, people who were gifted with its power have played a major role in sensitising us to the ills in our society and proffered solutions as needed. Some of the most important icons of Nigeria in the Nineties were women whose voice sang us into sanity; to take action against vices that undermine us as a people and also to enjoy music just for the art. Although times have changed, women are still at the forefront of making their voice count not only in the world of music and art but also in politics, feminism and world change. Here are four women from the nineties who dazzled us with their music.

Onyeka Onwenu: Born 17 May 1952, she is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress, journalist, politician and a force to reckon with. Popularly called the elegant stallion for her beauty and strong personality, she began her music career in 1981 while still working with NTA.  Celebrated for her hit songs and dedication to speaking for women, children and societal issues, Onyeka still holds a respectable position as a veteran in the Nigerian music industry.

Christy Uduak Essien-Igbokwe : The ‘Seun Rere’ crooner was lauded for her effort towards alleviating the plight of women and children. Essien-Igbokwe sang her songs in Igbo, Ibibio, Efik, Hausa and Yoruba, and as well as in English. Essien’s fluency in Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, English and her native Ibibio which earned her an appeal which cut across tribal lines. She died  in June 2011 at the age of 50.
Salawa Abeni: The ‘Waka Queen’ as she is fondly called is a Yoruba artiste who began her professional career in 1976 with her unique style of music, Waka. Her songs were hits at parties and were constant reference for Yoruba parents for their moral content.
Oby Onyioha: Onyioha first burst onto the Nigerian music scene with the album ‘I Want To Feel Your Love’ which was named after her hugely successful single of the same title. The single, ‘I Want To Feel Your Love’ is regarded as one of the greatest songs of her era in Nigeria. The album was a huge success and took the Nigerian music scene by storm in the 1980s and 90s, all this at a time when disco break-dance music was considered the exclusive domain of western artists. She played a big part in helping to break the perception that music was a vocation for academically challenged women. Oby Onyioha’s ‘I Want To Feel Your Love’ album was so successful that at an auction in Europe, the vinyl record sold for $700.