Albert Einstein once said: “Try not to be a man of success, but a man of value”. 2017 has been quite an eventful year in the Nigerian entertainment sector. TheNewsGuru take a look at the 7 most influential entertainment personalities of 2017.
The list comprises of singers, entrepreneurs and comedians who have in one way or the other added value to the Nigerian entertainment sector in 2017.
- Ali Baba
Like a sage, Atunyota Akpoboriome a.k.a Alibaba continues to maintain relevance in the Nigerian music industry.
Widely regarded as the king of comedy, Ali Baba has contributed immensely to the growth of the Nigerian entertainment industry. From creating a platform for budding comedians ( Alibaba’s Spontaneity) to mentoring established comedians, and making sure comedians profit from their craft, Alibaba’s stronghold on the comedy industry cannot be overemphasized. The showbiz entrepreneur recently starred in The Wedding Party Sequel.
- Wizkid
Wizkid’s work ethic and drive has continually made him a regular feature when it comes to top African entertainers. In 2017, the self –proclaimed Star Boy beat Jay-Z, Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar and others to clinch the best international artist award .He was ranked 5th on Forbes and Channel O’s 2013 list of the Top 10 Richest/Bankable African Artists. Wizkid ended the year on a peaceful note, reconciling with his arch-rival Davido.
- Davido
Though he was born into affluence, Davido keeps striving like he has nothing to fall back on. Though the singer was embroiled in scandals that threatened to ruin his career, he managed to soar over them all.
In 2017, the self proclaimed OBO released hit songs like ‘If’, ‘Like That’ and ‘Fia’ which has millions of views on YouTube. The talented singer was responsible for Mo’ Hits reconciliation which took place at his ’30 Billion Concert’.Asides clinching awards, he made peace with his arch-rival, Wizkid.
- Ayo Makun
Ayo Makun better known as AY, is one of the few Nigerian comedians who follow the path less travelled .From discovering comedy talents, staging successful comedy shows, AY ventured into film-making and still became phenomenal at it. His flicks, ’30 days in Atlanta’, ‘10 days in Sun city’, all testify to his amazing work ethic.
- Tiwa Savage
When we thought her sad marriage scandal was going to slow her down, the Mavins first lady went back to the drawing board, changed her winning formular, to become the queen of Nigeria’s pop music. This year Tiwa headlined sold-out gigs, released an EP titled ‘ Sugar Cane’ and gave Nigerians something to smile about.
6.Simi
No one thought Simi was going to grow this fast, all thanks to her dedication, amazing vocal dexterity and her song writing prowess. Simi’s album made it to number 5 on Bill Board’s World Albums Chart in 2017
The ‘Jamb Question’ sensation also had a successful concert tagged ‘See me’ Live In Concert, making her one of the most sought after Nigerian artistes at the moment.
7.Omoni Oboli
2017 has undoubtedly been one of the toughest years Oboli has ever experienced. From losing her dad to being slammed with a lawsuit, Omoni has been in the eye of the storm.
Against all odds, the svelte mother of three boys continues to rise like a phoenix refusing to be deterred. She is currently promoting the sequel of her movie, Wives on strike
