Behold the top 15 entertainers making waves on social media

Mercy Johnson

 No doubt, the judicious use of the social media has immensely helped and repositioned the careers of several Nigerian entertainers. However, we have carefully selected the 15 leading entertainers rocking social media with their presence, style and eccentricities.

Mercy Johnson
For two consecutive years, the curvy Kogi State born thespian has emerged as the most searched Nollywood personality on world’s popular search engine, Google. This goes to confirm the mother of one’s followership within and beyond the shores of the country. It is also believed this is why she is the most sought after and reportedly highest paid in the movie industry.

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
Nollywood icon, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde enjoys the enviable record as the first Nigerian entertainer to cross the one million followership mark on Facebook. At the moment, Mrs. Ekeinde’s fan base is at 1.4 million with an extra 362,000 followers on Twitter. It is unsurprising that the mother of four was named last year among other global icons in TIME Magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential.

Tonto Dikeh
Like or hate her, Tonto Dikeh commands a gargantuan reputation on social media. The Rivers State-born Nollywood queen who follows closely after Omosexy is less than 80,000 shy of equally hitting her one million fan base mark on Facebook.com. Tontolet as she is fondly called boasts of 369,000 followers on Twitter.

Wizkid
Ayodeji Balogun otherwise known as Wizkid penultimate week became the first Nigerian entertainer to hit the one million mark on Twitter. The Starboy/EME artiste was named last year as the most searched Nigerian artiste by Google. Similarly, four of the singer’s collaborative songs made the Youtube’s 10 top most watched music videos of last year.

D’banj
Over two years into his solo career under DB Records, Oliver Twist crooner, D’Banj continues to wax stronger. D’banj boasts of a combined 1.6 million official fanbase on both Facebook and Twitter ranking him as perhaps the biggest Nigerian entertainer on the social media. The singer’s global hit, Oliver Twist is Youtube most viewed video by a Nigerian artiste raking over 25 million views.
Don Jazzy
His fame as a producer overwhelms that of many artistes. Mavin Records boss, Don Jazzy is unarguably one of Nigeria’s most generous entertainer who regularly deploys social media to support causes and help people. His followership on Twitter alone stands at 723, 000 thus making him Nigeria’s biggest music producer and label executive.

Tiwa Savage
Songstress, Tiwatope Savage is about the highest flying female artiste in Nigeria with over 593,000 fanbase on Twitter alone. Her hit song entitled Eminado featuring Don Jazzy was named last year among Youtube’s 10 top most watched videos.

Banky W
EME label executive and multi-talented, Bankole Wellinton enjoys an unprecedented fan base for an R&B singer in a contemporary hip hop dominated space. At the moment, he is itching very close to 700,000 followership mark on Twitter. This has endeared the Ebutte Metta and Yes or No crooner to corporate organizations such as Samsung as their brand ambassador.

Tuface Idibia
Even with the threats of dominance from younger artistes, Tuface Idibia continues to hold down his own. Like old wine, he has gotten better with age. The Idoma, Benue State-born Hypertek Records singer boasts of 691,000 fan base on Twitter alone.

PSquare’s Peter Okoye
In between them, the joint-winners of Entertainment Express’s Entertainer of the Year boast of over 800,000 followership on Twitter. Their Personally video raked in more views than any other music video last year.

Ice Prince
For the Oleku crooner, social media is a big deal. Insiders told EE that the Chocolate City artiste has a permanent social media manager that oversees all his social media accounts on various platforms.  Ice Prince regularly keeps in touch with over 475,000 followers on Twitter and 665,000 on Facebook.

MI Abaga
He enjoys a reputation as the most loved rapper in Nigeria. In a 2012 report, MI Abaga was ranked as second most viewed Nigerian musician. At the moment, the Vice President of Chocolate City music empire has followers on Twitter in the region of 450,000.

Flavour
His Ada Ada song is unarguably the biggest song of last year with over 15 million views from across the world. Flavour has ranked among Google’s 10 top most searched Nigerian celebrities of the last two years.

Genevieve Nnaji
On Twitter, she stands head and shoulder above other thespians in Nollywood. Talented actress, Genevieve Nnaji has over 547,000 followers on Twitter. She is also followed by more than 97,000 fans on Instagram.                   

Davido
With a staggering over 672,000 fans on Twitter, Skelewu crooner, Davido continues to hold sway among music lovers in Nigeria and beyond. There is another 106,000 followers hooked on the singer on Instagram.

 By FEMI SALAWU