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City People Reveals 200 Of Them
+Their Real Names
The music industry general has a usual tradition of artistes coining a nickname as what they would love to be identified as. This nickname is called a stage name. These stage names have come to stay not only in the Nigerian music industry but globally as most artistes are known majorly by their stage name with very little attention or knowledge paid to their real names.
You love them, you sing their songs (word for word) and scream when they perform. Pretty sure most of you don’t even know their real names.
In this special report, City People researches and unveils 200 Nigerian music acts and their real names.
Do you know that Don Jazzy is a stage name? Many may not know this. He has a real name. He is Michael Collins Ajereh. He crafted his stage name from his love of the Italian lifestyle. He portrays himself as a Don and added the Jazzy as a feel of his touch of Jazz.
Wande Coal obviously added the Coal to his name because of his dark complexion. Wave maker of the moment, Kiss Daniel had the inclusion of Kiss in his name because of his dimple. Wande Coal’s real names are Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe while that of Kiss Daniel are Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe. Still on stage names and how they came about for different artistes, fastrising act, Toby Grey decided to play around her love for the colour Grey that she decided to add the shade of Grey to her first name, Tobi. Toby Grey was born Adeyemi Tobiloba Maryam. The list of artistes who adopted this style of stage name creation goes on but below are a few others in the category.
Some acts decided to stay pretty simple and did very little to changing their real names. You can tell from the following names that their stage names are either an acronym of their real names or a play around it. Tiwa Savage: Tiwatope Savage-Balogun, Dr. Sid: Sidney Onoriode Esiri, Naeto C: Naetochukwu Chikwe, Ikechukwu: Ikechukwu Onanaku, Korede Bello: Korede Bello, Di’Ja: Hadiza ‘DiJa’ Blell, D’banj: Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, Banky W: Bankole Wellington, Niyola: Eniola Akinbo, Koker: Olayiwola Olabanji Kokumo, Ruby Gyang: Ngohide RubyAnn Gyang, Patoranking: Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, Olamide: Olamide Adedeji, Lil Kesh: Ololade Keshinro, Kay Switch: Kehinde Oladotun Oyebanjo, Adekunle Gold: Adekunle Kosoko, Iyanya: Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk, Emma Nyra: Emma Chukwugoziam Obi, Seyi Shay: Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, Yemi Alade: Yemi Eberechi Alade, Victoria Kimani: Victoria Kimani, Psquare: Paul and Peter Okoye, Kcee: Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo, Harrysong: Harrison Tare Okiri, Jaywon: Iledare Juwonlo, Essence: Okoro Uwale, KSB: Kehinde Saint Brown, Joe El: Joel Amadi, Capital FEMI: Femi Adeyinka, Falz: Folarin Falana, Praiz: Praise Ugbede Adejo, Simi: Simisola Ogunleye, Samklef: Samuel Ogwuachuba, Kel: Kelechi Ohia, Gt The Guitarman: Olugbemiro Tokunbo Olaolu Akigbogun, Baba Dee: Dare Fasasi, Tonye: Tonye Garrick, Cynthia Morgan: Cynthia Ikponmwenosa Morgan, Eva: Elohor Eva Alordiah, Efa: Efa Iwara, Dammy Krane: Oyindamola Johnson Emmanuel, Dencia: Reprudencia Sonkey, J Martins: Justice Okey, DavidO: David Adedeji Adeleke, B-Red: Adebayo Adeleke, Sina Rambo: Adeshina Adeleke, Orezi: Esegine Orezi Allen, Olu Maintain: Olumide Edwards Adegbolu, Ty Bello: Toyin Sokefun-Bello, Darey: Dare Art Alade, Duncan Mighty: Duncan Wene Okechukwu, Frank Edwards: Frank Ugochukwu Edwards,
While some went for titles like Don Jazzy or love for certain things like colour as in the case of Toby Grey or Adekunle Gold, some other acts left us totally confused on how they came about their stage names. Acts like Reekado Banks: Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon, , Skales: Raoul John Njen-Njeng, Wizkid: Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, L.A.X: Damilola Afolabi, M.I: Jude Abaga, , Ice Prince: Panshak Zamani, Milli: Olabunmi Junior Oscar, Dice Ailes: Shasha Damilola Alesh, Ink: Brian Toritseju Edwards, Chinko Ekun: Oladipo olamide, Selebobo: Oku Udoka Chigozie, Tekno: Augustin Miles, JJC: Abdul Rasheed Bello, Sean Tizzle: Morihanfen Oluwaseun Oluwabamidele, Phyno: Azubuike Chibuzo Nelson, Timaya: Enetimi Alfred Odom, YQ: Yakub Jubril, Minjin: Adewale Lawanson Junior, Sound Sultan: Olanrewaju Fasasi, Lynxx: Chukie Edozien, W4: Adewale Adepoju, Bigiano: Babalola Oluwagbemiga Gabriel, Runtown: Douglas Jack Agu, Burna Boy: Damini Ogulu, Waje: Aituaje Iruobe, 9ice: Alexander Abolore Adegbola Adigun Ajifolajifaola, , 2face Idibia: Innocent Ujah Idibia, Danagog: Daniel Damilola Agunbiade, Endia: Ujah Lawrence Ujah, Asa: Bukola Elemide, Ruggedman: Michael Stephens, Brymo: Olawale Ashimi, Mc Galaxy: Innocent Udeme Udofot, Blackface: Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo, Faze: Chibuzor Oji, Flavour: Chinedu Okoli, and so on. There are little or no correlation between their stage name and their real names. Ice Prince is nowhere close to been a Prince or named one, but his stage name carries Ice, which we believe represents his coolness and Prince as just an add-on title. What can we say about Runtown? Totally confusing, what of Burna Boy? No similarities in both names. That’s the case with some of the artistes today, but be it may, we have come to love them for both their music and their names.
Some other acts in the industry who we would love for you to know their real names are listed below for you
Emmy Gee: Emmanuel Nwankwo, Femi Kuti: Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti, Seun Kuti: Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti, Lagbaja: Bisade Ologunde, May7ven: Yemisi May Odegbami, Mo’Cheddah: Modupe-Oreoluwa Oyeyemi Ola, Mode 9: Babatunde Olusegun Adewale, Muma Gee: Gift Iyumame Eke, Muna: Munachi Gail Teresa Abii Nwankwo, Nosa: Nosa Omoregie, Nneka: Nneka Lucia Egbuna, Obiwon: Obiora Nwokolobia-Agu, Monica Ogah: Monica Ene Ogah, Omawumi: Omawumi Megbele, Sasha P: Anthonia Yetunde Alabi, Tony Tetuila: Anthony Olanrewaju Awotoye, Weird MC: Adesola Adesimbo Idowu, Young Six: Onome Onokohwomo, Pasuma: Wasiu Ajibola Alabi, KWAM 1: Wasiu Ayinde Omogbolahan Anifowoshe, KS1: Sule Alao Malaika, Obesere: Abass Akande Obesere, A-Q: Gilbert Bani, Afro Candy: Judith Chichi Opara Mazagwu, Aramide: Aramide Sarumoh, Yemi Alade: Yemi Eberechi Alade, Obiwon: Obiora Nwokolobia-Agu, Oritse Femi: Oritsefemi Majemite Ekele, Pepenazi: Opeyemi Gbenga Kayode, Phyno: Azubuike Chibuzo Nelson, Samsong: Samson Uche Mogekwu, Terry G: Gabriel Oche Amanyi, Waconzy: Obinna Kelvin Anyanwu, YCee: Oludemilade Martin Alejo, Mr 2Kay: Abinye David Jumbo, Mr Raw: Okechukwu Edwards Ukeje, Nessy Bee: Bada Ibukun, Da Emperor: Fasasi Mobolaji Gaius, Lil Dizzie: Opatundun Femi, Nene Johnson: Nene Johnson, CDQ: Sadiq Abubakar Yusuf, Pryse: Princess Esindu, Dele Gold: Dele Agbeyo, Mega 9’9: Abel Olufemi Dosunmu, Ebenezer Obey: Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi, Tolu Obey: Toluwaleke Obey-Fabiyi, KSA: Sunday Adeniyi, ClassiQ: Buba Barnabas Luka, Chavil: Magdalene Osagie, Stormrex: Yvonne Akuabata Ogbuogu, Mz Kiss: Akindele Justina Omowunmi, Fefe: Efemena Olori, C-Kay: Chukwuka Ekweani, Boogey: David Iye Odey, Terry The Rapman: Terry Madaki, Pherowshuz: David Torkuma Joshua, Eldee: Lanre Dabiri, D’Truce: Ebuka Anyasie, M-Trill: Teria Yarhere, Yemi Sax: Adeyemi Adeosun, Kunle Sax: Kunle Ajayi, Chuddy K: Chukwudi Ken Agali, Sauce Kid: Babalola Falemi, 2Shotz: William Iroha, Skiibii: Abbey Elias, Sojay: Chinedum Samuel Okorie, Ola Dips: Oladipupo Olabode Oladimeji, Reminisce: Remilekun Abdulkalid Safaru, Que Peller: Abisoye Abiola Peller, Base One: Sotunde Isaac Ayomipo, Tillaman: Adeyemi Adetona, Daddy Showkey: John Asiemo, Daddy Fresh: Innocent Onyemauwa, Dharsaw: Olumide Oloko, Jazzman Olofin: Muyiwa Olofinkuade, Zoro: Owoh Chimaobi Chrismathner, Tesh Carter: Teshoma Jacqueline Omagbitse, Splash: Genevieve Ogbuewu, Poe: Ladipo Eso, BOJ: Mobolaji Odojukan, AjeButter: Akitoye Balogun, Temi Dollface: Temi Phil-Ebosie, Lola Rae: Rachel Akosua Funmilola Garton, Dremo: Aboriomoh Femi Raymond, Mayorkun: Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel, Davolee: Shokoya Oluwasegunfunmi David, Humble Smith: Ekene Ijemba, Sinach: Osinachi Kalu, Small Doctor: Michael Owusu Addo, Niniola: Niniola Apata, Morell: Musa Akilah, Ewa Cole: Ewaoluwa Nicole, Sasha Sleek: Sasha Nathaniel, Charass: Victor Chinedu Onyewuch, Bosalin: Bosalin Onye Utali, Ransom: Ekwereonu Ransome Iheanyi, Bez: Emmanuel Bez Idakula, Selebobo: Oku Udoka Chidozie, Yung L: Christopher Omenye, P.R.E: David Kosowei Etete, GT Da Guitarman: Olugbemiro Tokunbo Olaolu Akigbogun, Mr Eazi: Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, Skuki: Tumininu & Atewologun Laolu-Ogunniyi, Vic-O: Victor Grimmy Owusu
By DANIJI EMMANUEL
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