By Sandra Birungi

Senegalese singer, Youssou N’Dour is the richest musician in Africa. He is a composer, percussionist, songwriter, actor, businessman and a politician who once contested to be Senegalese president but was appointed as minister instead. His music is in the Serer language a style known as mbalax which is a popular Senegalese music type. Youssou N’Dour owns the biggest media house in Senegal with radio and TV stations who also ventured into real estate.

Senegalese musician, Youssou N’Dour is the richest African musician.

Nigerian R&B duo, P Square were voted the second richest African musicians and the wealthiest in Nigeria. Peter and Paul are said to make more than $15,000 per show ever since joining Akon’s Konvict Muzik label.

Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo who, commonly known as D’Banj comes in at number three and is the second richest Nigerian musician. Some of his hit songs include Fall in Love which saw him surge into the spotlight and most recently, Oliver Twist. He won MTV Europe Music Awards for Best African Act in 2007, MTV Africa Music Awards 2009 Artist of the Year and BET Awards of 2011 for Best International Act; Africa. He is currently signed to Kanye west’s GOOD music label.

Koffi Olomide, real name is Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba comes in as the fourth richest African musician from DR Congo. He is a  soukous singer, dancer, producer, and composer. It is reported that Koffi Olomide charges up to 100,000 euros per show. Olomide’s music rocked and topped charts in the 1990′s although his most selling albums are included among the albums you must listen to before you die.

Kofi Olomide

Salif Keïta from Mali is the fifth richest African musician. He is an afro-pop singer and songwriter and a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita.

Fally Ipupa from Democratic Republic of the Congo is the sixth in line who once played with the band of Koffi Olomidé but became  a solo act and released his first album, Droit chemin in 2006.

2 Face Idibia, born Innocent Ujah Idibia is the seventh. He is from Nigeria. Idibia is a singer-songwriter, actor and record producer. His ‘African Queen’ song saw him surge into the limelight followed by several hit singles which hit the world. He has 5 Albums  to his name. He has a vast investment in real estate across Nigeria, earns around $50k to $80k per show and owns a night club in Nigeria just to name a few. 2Face has established an NGO called 2Face Idibia Reach-Out Foundation.

2 Face Idibia

Hugh Ramopolo Masekela from South Africa is the eighth richest African musician. He is a singer and trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist and composer. He is one of the most talented Jazz artists in Africa. He was nominated for a Grammy Award in the “Best Contemporary Pop Performance – Instrumental” music category in 1968.

At number nine is BankyW whose real name is Olubankole Wellington from Nigeria. He is an R&B artist who studied Engineering in New york.

At number ten is Ugandan musician, Joseph Mayanja popularly known by his stage name as Jose Chameleone. His songs are mostly in three languages, Luganda, English and Swahili.