Tony Ogaga
Social media has been described as a dynamic new borderline for brand positioning and promotions.
A careful analysis of recent pranks by top entertainers like Tuface Idibia and Seyi Law were a deliberate effort to promote their brands, knowing that the public, most especially, their fans are insatiable when it comes to news or gist about them.
Today, TS Weekend brings you top Nigerian celebrities ruling the social media. They include Davido, Wizkid, Tuface Idibia, Don Jazzy, D’banj, Tiwa Savage, and Genevieve Nnaji among others.
Davido
With 9.5 million followers, Afro hip hop star cum record label owner, David Adeleke popularly known as Davido, is definitely the most influential Nigerian celebrity on the social media platform, Instagram.
With a controversial personality, string of endless hits and a vast business acumen, the multiple award winning artiste continues to grow his followers on Instagram, as he feeds them with an endless stream of images of his personal life, controversies, and of course, his career, sometimes with shocking and outrageous comments.
And Davido has no limits. He often posts images of himself smoking and drinking at the drop of a hat, a habit some would consider a taboo for a role model. But then, his followership just can’t stop gobbling up whatever he posts, as they yearn for more. And now, he has dabbled into politics, smartly using his controversies to grow his band on social media. Little wonder he is smiling to the bank.
Wizkid
Guess who’s trailing Davido on social media? It’s none other than Wizkid, who hit the music scene in 2010 with his debut single, Holla At Your Boi. Though, many had written him off as a flash in the pan then, today Wizkid has earned fame and fortune and is rated among Africa’s biggest acts.
With 7.1 million followers on Instagram, the multiple award-winning singer is trailing Davido as one of the top celebrities ruling the Nigerian social media. With a string of hits including his latest, Fever (Stew) featuring Tiwa Savage, his baby mama issues and wild lifestyle with women, Wizkid’s followership continues to grow.
Recall that Wizkid’s pictures posing with super star model, Naomi Campbell, recently went viral on social media. In addition to this, his raunchy Fever visual parading Tiwa Savage and glamorous runway images that surfaced on Instagram have earned ‘Wizzy Boy’ more followership.
Tuface and Annie Idibia
The popular saying, ‘what God has joined together, let no man put asunder’ has worked out fine for Tuface Idibia and his wife, Annie, who amongst themselves have recorded a whopping 7.8 million followers on Instagram. But all thanks to Tuface’s recent prank that earned Annie extra 500,000 followers, following the singer’s controversial post, suggesting his marriage was in crisis.
Now, while Annie boasts of four million followers, Tuface has 3.8 million. And together, the couple is inching close to having eight million fans on social media.
With a career that has lasted for over two decades, Tuface has remained consistent, dropping hit album after hit album. And there is no gainsaying the fact that his marriage to Annie, an actress, has also boosted her fan base enormously.
Tiwa Savage
Call her the ‘Queen of African hip hop’ and you just might be right. Tiwa Savage is one of Nigeria’s singers pulling her weight on social media. With 6.6 million followers, the ‘All Over’ singer is a strong social media influencer, as fans rush to her profile page to catch up on whatever she’s up to.
All thanks to a failed marriage, a string of hits and of course, controversies involving her and Wizkid. But rather than sink under the weight, Tiwa Savage has emerged stronger and better. Only last year, she emerged the first African woman to win the MTV Europe Award for Best African Act.
Funke Akindele
Queen of Nigerian comedy and creator of the popular TV series, Jenifa Dairies, Funke Akindele, is not doing badly on social media. With 6.6 million followers, the actress is at par with Tiwa Savage on Instagram. Blessed with an awesome comic talent, which she has successfully commercialised, Akindele continues to grow from strength to strength years after she hit the entertainment scene.
But what could have been responsible for this? Observers believe that her Youtube channel dedicated to Jenifa Dairies, her failed marriage to a property merchant, her secret wedding to rapper JJC Skillz and the recent images of her twin babies have all earned her thousands of followers on social media.
Don Jazzy
Music producer and Mavin Records’ boss, Don Jazzy, boasts of 5.6 million followers on social media.
Despite the fall of erstwhile record label, Mo’Hits and his parting of ways with bosom friend and colleague, D’banj, Don Jazzy has remained relevant and has tremendously grown his followership on social media.
Genevieve Nnaji
Following Don Jazzy on the social media ladder is screen goddess, Genevieve Nnaji. Currently the actress has about 5.1 million followers on Instagram.
Though, Nnaji has since been lying low, the release of her movie, Lion Heart last year, boosted her followership in no small way. The brand ambassador to many products including Range Rover is a Nollywood veteran and an icon to millions of wannabes in Nigeria and across Africa.
Tonto Dikeh
Coasting behind Genevieve Nnaji with 3.9 million Instagram followers is controversial actress, Tonto Dikeh.
With a thriving acting career that has been put on hold for a while and her sensational break up with her husband, Olakunle Churchill, Dikeh couldn’t but boast of such a huge number of fans on social media.
Despite her marital break up, which she just can’t stop talking about on social media, the actress who now claims to be a pastor, frequently posts inspirational and gospel messages on Instagram, earning her a new stream of followers.
Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde
Star actress and Time 100 honoree, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde also known as Omosexy, clocked 40 last year and she celebrated it in a big way.
However, the celebration continues this year, as the thespian boasts of 3.3 million followers on Twitter, and still counting. Her return to Nollywood has been a major boost, with the release of her latest movie, Alter Ego.
D’banj
Ever since he parted ways with Don Jazzy a few years ago, it’s being a herculean task for Dapo Oyebanji aka D’banj to remain at the top of the entertainment game.
However, one tool the artiste has used successfully to project his brand is social media. Today, D’banj has 3.3 million followers on Instagram, standing at par with Omosexy.