The richest fuji musicians in Nigeria are the likes of K1 De Ultimate, Pasuma Wonder, Abass Akande Obesere, and Saheed Osupa.
Fuji music was popularised by the likes of Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister back in the 50s and 60s. It has grown even more popular as the years have gone by, and as such, many of the contemporary artists are smiling to the bank with net worths that would rival that of the Afrobeats stars in Nigeria. Discover ten of the richest Fuji musicians in Nigeria right here.
List of Top 10 Richest Fuji Musicians
1. K1 De Ultimate
- Real name: Wasiu Omogbolahan Olasunkanmi Adewalw Ayinde Marshal
- Age: 67 years old
- Date of birth: 3rd March 1957
- No. of Albums: 50 Albums
- Net Worth: ₦800 Million
- Other Sources of Income: Confectionary Business, Real Estate Business
Wasiu Ayinde Olawale Marshal, better known by his stage name K1 De Ultimate, comes first in our list of the richest Fuji musicians in Nigeria. He is considered the King of Fuji music because he popularized a certain variety of the fuji genre based on the writings of the fuji inventor Ayinde Barrister.
Wasiu first became interested in music when he was eight years old, and by the time he was 15, he had won a number of local musical competitions. He first worked with Ayinde Barrister as an instrument packer, and from 1975 to 1978, he was a member of their band, the Supreme Fuji Commanders. After receiving the approval and blessing of his master, Ayinde Barrister, he, too, changed his name to Ayinde.
K1 De Ultimate started his world tour in 1986 and hasn’t stopped ever since. He performed at Troxy, WOMEX, and SOB in addition to giving the first Fuji performance at WOMAD Festival. Ever since he started his career, he has recorded over 49 albums and has earned himself an estimated net worth of ₦800 million. Aside from his career in music, K1 has other businesses he earns from, including confectionary business and real estate (Mayegun Royal Court).
2. Pasuma Wonder
- Real Name: Wasiu Alabi Odetola
- Date of birth: 27th November 1967
- Age: 56 years old
- No. of Albums: 30 Albums
- Net Worth: ₦555 million
- Other Sources of Income: Acting
Pasuma Wonder is second on our list of the richest Fuji Musicians. Wonder is a Musician and an actor who began making music while he was still a high school student. Pasuma and several of his companions would sing in their own nook while other people were playing. In 1984, teenage Pasuma, who looked up to K1 De Ultimate, started penning his own tunes and released his debut album under the name TALAZO 84.
Pasuma released his first music album titled Recognition in 1993. Since then, he has released more than 30 albums and has gone on to become one of Nigeria’s most popular Fuji musicians. Bola Abimbola and King Sunny Ade are some of the recording artists he has worked with. In addition to his music career, he also has a career in acting, and he has appeared in several Nigerian movies, including Iyanje and Alenibare.
At the Nigeria Entertainment Award on September 6, 2015, Pasuma triumphed over competitors, including Olamide, Phyno, and Flavour, to win Best Indigenous Artist of the Year. He was named the winner of the Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards’ Best International Music Video 2021.
3. Abass Akande Obesere
- Date of birth: 20th January 1965
- Age: 59 years old
- No. of Albums: 23 Albums
- Net Worth: ₦550 Million
- Other Sources of Income: Record Production
Abass Akande Obesere is a Nigerian musician, singer, and record producer who is also known by his stage name Omo Rapala. Obesere shot to fame with his unconventional musical taste and use of slang that sent his fans into a frenzy.
Following in the footsteps of other accomplished musicians like Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Obesere has also spread his unique style of Fuji music over the globe. He has had a protracted feud with fellow well-known Fuji musician K1 De Ultimate for most of his musical career.
The performance and appearance of Obesere at Olubadan’s coronation in Ibadan in March 2022 are also widely recognized. In addition to his music career, Obesere is a record producer and business entrepreneur with a number of companies to his credit and has an estimated net worth of ₦550 million.
4. Saheed Osupa
- Real name: Akorede Babatunde Okunola
- Date of birth: 7th August 1969
- Age: 54 years old
- No. of Albums: 54 Albums
- Net Worth: ₦500 Million
- Other Sources of Income: Acting
As a fuji artiste, Saheed Osupa began performing professionally in music as a youngster in 1983. He has more than 40 studio albums to his credit, and Ayinde Barrister dubbed him the “King of Fuji Music” in 2008. His hip-hop albums include Non-Stop, Vanakula, African Beauty, and Womi. He is the founder of Hip Fuji music. He was included in The NET’s “Most Successful Nigerian Musicians” list for 2015.
Saheed Osupa and Wasiu Alabi Pasuma had a rivalry in 1998/1999 and 2007, and K1 De Ultimate sided with Pasuma. Osupa released ten records to address the feuds and released the first 4-in-1 album in 2007/2008 titled Mr. Music, which sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
In addition to his music career, Saheed Osupa is also a movie actor and stars mainly in Yoruba movies. And since his debut in the movie industry, Osupa has starred in over 30 Yoruba movies. This, among other businesses, brings more money into his pocket and has contributed to the net worth he enjoys today.
5. KS1 Malaika
- Real name: Sulaimon Alao Adekunle
- Date of birth: 15th February 1973
- Age: 51 years old
- No. of Albums: Over 44 Albums
- Net Worth: ₦450 Million
- Other Sources of Income: Performing, Endorsement Deals
KS1 Malaika is a Nigerian Fuji artist who began performing and playing music at a young age in a Quranic School located in the Agege neighborhood of Lagos State. He later paid his dues through Were Music before establishing his first Fuji band in 1983.
Malaika has shared the stage and performed in duets with many different musicians in a variety of musical genres, including the Islamic gospel genre, Fuji, and the hip-hop scene. He has received countless accolades from organizations and music fans all around the world for his melodic and danceable songs. He wants to become a better musician and has put in time and effort to work on his craft.
Since he started his career in fuji music, Malaika has released over 24 albums and has more international fans than his colleagues. As we have already mentioned, when Malaika is not making fuji music, he performs with other artists. This is another source of income for the star. Also, he earns from the numerous endorsement deals he has signed. With these, he has an estimated net worth of ₦450 million and qualifies to be among the richest Fuji musicians.
6. Adewale Ayuba
- Date of birth: 6th May 1966
- Age: 57 years old
- No. of Albums: 23 Albums
- Net Worth: ₦400 Million
- Other Sources of Income: Business, Fashion Brand, Acting
Adewale Ayuba was born in 1966 in Ikenne Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. He is also known by the monikers Ayuba, Mr. Johnson, and the Bonsue-fuji maestro. He began singing as a child and pursued music as a vocation after finishing high school.
He acquired a recording contract with Sony Music in 1990 and recorded the album Bubble, which became well-known and received numerous accolades at the Nigerian Music Awards. The innovative instrumentation and distinctive voice of Ayuba transformed Fuji Music, inspiring the Nigerian Elite to embrace it. After signing with Premier Music (Nigeria) in 1993, Ayuba began his first coast-to-coast tour in West Africa.
Ayuba made a daring move in 1994 to internationalize Fuji Music, released two albums on the Agogo Music Label, and went on tour in Europe in 2001 and 2002. He won numerous accolades and graduated from Bradley University with a master’s degree in Music. He has recorded over 23 albums domestically and four internationally since getting his first record deal in the 1980s.
In addition to his music career, Ayuba has a fashion line that produces his signature style, “Bonsue Wears”. He is also involved in other businesses that help move his music and fashion brands to the next level and is also an actor. These, in addition to his music career, have contributed to the net worth he has today and qualifies him to be among the richest fuji musicians.
7. Shefiu Alao Adekunle
- Date of birth: 24th March 1967
- Age: 57 years old
- No. of Albums: 40 Albums
- Net Worth: ₦350 Million
- Other Sources of Income: Album sales
Shefiu Alao Adekunle, also known as Baba Oko, was born in 1967 in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He started his music career at the age of 14, and he has fans across Nigeria and the whole of West Africa. His brand of Fuji is Fuji Candozo. Shefiu founded the Fuji Bazooka Band while he was a young boy in the early 1980s.
In 1986, the band changed its name to Fuji Candozo. The top Fuji music group in Ogun state is the well-known Fuji Candozo. One of Shefiu Alao Adekunle’s early albums, Ojumo Ire, which was released in 1996, became a must-play to wish a person the best of luck before leaving for work. It is still being played in this decade since it is thought of as evergreen music.
Since then, he has released numerous albums and frequently performs at gatherings and events all around the world. Currently, he goes by the name Agbara Orin, which translates as “Power of Music.” In the first month of release, his Good Day Album sold more than 200,000 copies, and he has released more than 40 albums. Shefiu Alao is one of the best and richest Fuji musicians in Nigeria and elsewhere.
8. Muri Thunder
- Real name: Muritala Ademola Salaudeen
- Date of birth: 5th August 1973
- Age: 50 years old
- No. of Albums: Over 10 Albums
- Net Worth: ₦200 Million
- Other Sources of Income: Business and Investments
On 5th August 1973, Muri Thunder, whose true name is Muritala Ademola Salaudeen, was born into the family of Alhaji Tiamiyu Salaudeen Orimadegun and Alhaja Moriamo Salaudeen. He is from Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. His musical career began when he was a senior at the United Christian School, Apapa, Lagos State.
Muri had to drop out of school because of his love and interest in music, which angered his parents to the point where they threatened to disown him. But he persisted in his belief in himself and in his desire to pursue a career in music. At a very young age, Muri moved in with one of his aunts, who supported and encouraged his choice of career.
When Muri Thunder began making music in 1983, he was around ten years old, but it wasn’t fuji. Due to the fact that his father was an Alfa, he began his studies at the Arabic School. He was the student at the Islamic school who was most capable of leading the other students. He drew his inspiration from there. Going forward, Muri performed “Were” during Ramadan. At that time, there was a man by the name of Baba Alake in their neighborhood who used to host competitions for performers.
During such competitions in the Amukoko neighborhood in Lagos, there was usually a rivalry between two or more artists. Muri participated in 1985 and took first place in the tournament, and emerged as the champion. Today, Muri Thunder can boast quite a number of songs and albums he has. his music career has contributed greatly to the net worth he enjoys today.
9. Remi Aluko
- Date of birth: 31st July 1977
- Age: 46 years old
- No. of Albums: 13 Albums
- Net Worth: ₦100 Million
- Other Sources of Income: Album sales
Remi Aluko, popularly known by his stage name, Igwe1, started learning and making music at a very young age. Remi began his career at the tender age of six. He recalls how, in primary school, he and his friends would simply beat the tables and chairs in the classroom as he sings along.
At the age of 15, he started singing professionally, and the year 1995 saw the release of Celebration, his debut album. Young audiences were drawn to the artist’s use of unusual vocabulary and quick beats. Remi has extensive theater and studio performance experience, which attracts more fans to him. His fame continues to soar as quickly as ever. Today, he has recorded over 13 albums.
For a very long time, rumors regarding the artist’s blindness have rocked the media. He was thought to have been involved in a theft of a Blackberry phone and had lost his sight during a fight. Over time, it came to light that Remi was not, in fact, blind. He simply had to deal with an eye infection which he confirms to have been corrected.
10. Taye Currency
- Date of birth: 17th December 1974
- Real name: Taiwo Akande Adebisi
- Age: 49 years old
- No. of Albums: 22 Albums
- Net Worth: ₦85 Million
- Other Sources of Income: Business and Investments
Taiwo Akande Adebisi, whose stage name is Taye Currency (aka Apesin 1), is a Nigerian Fuji musician who hails from Ibadan, Oyo State. He was born on 17th December 1974 and began his music career in the late 1990s. Taye Currency is known for his unique style of Fuji music, which incorporates elements of hip-hop and reggae.
Over the years, Taye Currency has released numerous albums, including “Turning Point,” “Money,” “Owo Ni Koko,” and “Alaye.” He has collaborated with several other Fuji musicians, including K1 De Ultimate, Pasuma, and Saheed Osupa. Taye Currency has also performed at several concerts and events in Nigeria and other countries.
Apart from his music career, Taye Currency is also a businessman and philanthropist. He owns several businesses, including a hotel, a petrol station, and a record label. Taye also earns from politics as he serves as the Oyo State Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism. He is also known for his philanthropic activities, which include donating money to support education and healthcare in his community.
Who is the Most Educated Fuji Musician in Nigeria?
Many Fuji musicians have attained a high level of education, both formal and informal. One notable Fuji musician who is known for his educational background is King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate. He holds a degree in Business Administration from the Polytechnic, Ibadan, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Ibadan. He is also a recipient of several honorary degrees from Nigerian universities, including a Doctor of Science degree from Olabisi Onabanjo University.
Another Fuji musician who is highly educated is Alhaji Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, who has a National Diploma in Business Administration from the Kwara State Polytechnic and also holds a degree in Mass Communication from the Lagos State Polytechnic. Other Fuji musicians who have attained a high level of education include Alhaji Abass Akande Obesere, who holds a degree in Business Administration from the Kwara State Polytechnic, and Alhaji Sulaimon Alao Adekunle Malaika, who holds a degree in Business Administration from the Lagos State University.
It is worth noting that while education is important, it is not the only measure of a person’s intelligence or success. Many other Fuji musicians have achieved great success in their careers despite not having a formal education.