3Music Awards shares list of top 50 women in African music

Comprising leading artists and music executives, the list is an expansion of the scheme’s annual list of the top 30 women operating in the Ghanaian music industry, which highlights creators, enablers and amplifiers behind outstanding accomplishments over the past year.

“The initiative is in recognition and honour of the standout achievements of female creatives and accessories with the African music space,” a statement reads. “It is also an intricate gazette of the contributions of women who through excellence in diversified fields of music have propelled the evolution and growth of the African music industry within the year under review ... The scheme gives credit to women who mainly stood out with their creativity, endeavour and impact, or, in a few cases, exploited their music platform for social good.”

Among the music execs who made the list are Bose Ogulu, who is Afro-fusion star Burna Boy’s mother and manager and the co-founder of the Spaceship Collective, Audiomack Africa head of media and brand partnerships Charlotte Bwana, and TuneCore Africa head Jade Leaf. Other industry experts include YouTube head of music for sub-Saharan Africa Addy Awofisayo, Spotify head of music for sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu, Boomplay Ghana manager Lyza Ntiamoah and Mavin Global director of operations Jennifer Imion.

Musicians on the list include Ghana’s Gyakie, Diana Hamilton and Amaarae, Nigeria’s Simi, Tems and Sinach, South Africa's Busiswa, and Grammy-winning Malian musician Oumou Sangaré, among others.

Meanwhile, singer Mona 4Reall was named Emerging Woman of the Year during the Women’s Brunch event held at the 3Music headquarters in Accra, Ghana, on 7 March. The 2022 edition of the 3Music Awards is scheduled to take place on 26 March in Accra.

Below is the full list:

1. Addy Awofisayo – YouTube head of music, sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria)
2. Amaarae – musician (Ghana)
3. Angélique Kidjo – musician (Benin)
4. Aya Nakamura – musician (France/Mali)
5. Ayra Starr – musician (Nigeria)
6. Beth Achitsa – artist and label relations manager at The Orchard (Kenya)
7. Benewaah Boateng – Anglophone West Africa manager at Spotify (Ghana)
8. Bukola Sawyerr Izeogu – founder and CEO, Bukihq Media (Nigeria)
9. Bose Ogulu – founder & CEO of Spaceship Collective (Nigeria)
10. Busiswa – singer-songwriter and poet (South Africa)
11. Charlotte Bwana – head of media and brand partnerships, Africa at Audiomack (Kenya)
12. Chioma Onuchukwu – head of West and East Africa at Tunecore (Nigeria)
13. Cindy Sanyu – musician and president of the Uganda Music Association (Uganda)
14. Diana Hamilton – musician (Ghana)
15. DJ Switch – musician, DJ and activist (Nigeria)
16. Eno Barony – musician (Ghana)
17. Ghita Khaldi – founder, Afrikayna (Morocco)
18. Gina Nettey – founder, Genet Services (Ghana)
19. Gyakie – singer (Ghana)
20. Ibukun Aibee Abidoye – executive vice president of music, Chocolate City Group (Nigeria)
21. Jade Leaf – regional director, Southern and West Africa (South Africa)
22. Jade Pollock – music business specialist and manager of Afrobeats star Wizkid (United States)
23. Jennifer Imion – director of operations, Mavin Global (Nigeria)
24. Judikay – musician (Nigeria)
25. Lyza Ntiamoah – country manager, Boomplay Ghana (Ghana)
26. Marrit Jensen – regional manager for Africa, Linkfire (Ghana)
27. Martha Huro – managing director, Boomplay East Africa (Kenya)
28. Maimouna Dembélé – deputy board chair, Music In Africa Foundation (Senegal)
29. Mercy Chinwo – musician (Nigeria)
30. Mpumi Philips – director f distribution at The Orchard (South Africa)
31. Nadia Nakai – musician (Zimbabwe)
32. Natasha Stambuli – general manager, Boomplay Tanzania (Tanzania)
33. Dunnie – producer and singer-songwriter (Nigeria)
34. Oluyemisi Falaye – entertainment lawyer (Nigeria)
35. Osagie Osarenz – country manager, Nigeria at ONErpm (Nigeria)
36. Oumou Sangaré – musician (Mali)
37. Oyinkansola Fawehinmi – president, Digital Music Commerce & Exchange Ltd (Nigeria)
38. Phiona Okumu – head of music or sub-Saharan Africa at Spotify (Kenya/ Uganda)
39. Queen Nworisara-Quinn – board member, Mavin Global (Nigeria)
40. Rebecca Inyang Junaid – (founder, Jojo Entertainment (Nigeria)
41. Simi – singer-songwriter and producer (Nigeria)
42. Sinach – singer-songwriter (Nigeria)
43. Stephanie Adamu – marketing manager for Africa and the Diaspora (Nigeria)
44. Temi Adeniji – managing director, Warner Music South Africa (Nigeria)
45. Tems – musician (Nigeria)
46. Theresa Ayoade – co-founder and CEO of Charterhouse Ghana (Ghana)
47. Tiwa Savage – musician (Nigeria)
48. Tosin Sorinola – director of Artist and media relations, Boomplay Africa (Nigeria)
49. Vannessa Amadi founder at VA: PR (Nigeria)
50. Yemi Alade – singer-songwriter (Nigeria)