Top 10 Yoruba Gospel Musicians (2025 Ranking)
This guide lists the top ten Yoruba gospel musicians whose talent has grown the genre, inspired many people, and earned them both national and international recognition.
- Tope Alabi
- Lara George
- Sola Allyson
- Kunle Ajayi
- Bola Are
- Yinka Ayefele
- Mega 9’9 (Abel Dosunmu)
- Lanre Teriba
- Mike Abdul
- Bidemi Olaoba
1. Tope Alabi
Tope Alabi is an icon in Yoruba gospel music, having begun her career in the 1990s as an actress and singer with the Jesters International theater group.
She rose to fame in 2000 with the release of Ore ti o Common (Uncommon Favor), a debut album that made her a household name.
Alabi’s music speaks deeply to faith, grace, and divine power. Her other popular albums include Agbara Nla (2001), Angeli Mi (2007), and Yes and Amen (2018).
She is praised for her powerful voice, spiritual lyrics, and ability to fuse traditional Yoruba sound with modern gospel.
A mentor to many, Tope Alabi has won several awards, including Gospel Artiste of the Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards and Best Gospel Musician at the City People Music Awards.
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2. Lara George
Lara George is one of the most respected voices in Yoruba gospel music. She began singing at the University of Lagos, where she joined the campus fellowship choir.
She rose to fame as a member of the gospel group KUSH before launching a solo career. Her 2008 debut album, Forever In My Heart, featured the hit single “Ijoba Orun” and earned her multiple awards, including Voice of the Year at the Nigeria Music Awards and Best Female Vocalist at The Headies.
Lara has performed at major events like The Experience, Calabar Festival, and Festival of Life in the UK and Canada.
She shared the stage with global stars like Don Moen, Cece Winans, and Ron Kenoly. A true trailblazer, she was one of the first Nigerian artists featured on BET International and also served on its Voting Academy.
3. Sola Allyson
Sola Allyson rose to fame in 2003 with Eji Owuro, the soundtrack to a film of the same name. Her music draws from soul, folk, and traditional Yoruba sounds, rich with emotional depth and spiritual meaning.
Some of her popular songs include “Obinrin Ni Mi,” “Aseye,” and “Isinmi.” Born in Ikorodu, Lagos, Allyson grew up in a Muslim home but found her calling in gospel music. She began singing backup at just 13 and studied Music Technology at The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
Fortunately, after meeting a filmmaker on a bus, she was invited to sing for a movie, which led to her breakout album. Aside from singing, she is also a voice coach, counselor, and music consultant.
4. Kunle Ajayi
Kunle Ajayi is a renowned Yoruba gospel musician known for his spiritual sound and mastery of the saxophone. Born in June 1964 in Mushin, Lagos State, he began his music career early, forming a band called The Ambassador with friends.
Though health challenges once forced him to stop playing, he returned stronger, becoming one of Nigeria’s most respected gospel artists.
Ajayi studied music in Nigeria and at the Royal College of Music in London. He is best known for his long-standing role as Director of Music at the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Ordained a full pastor in 1997, he combines ministry with music.
Over the decades, he has received several awards, including RCCG’s Award of Excellence and the Leadership Award in Nigerian Music. In 2018, he celebrated 30 years on stage with a grand concert at Eko Hotel.
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5. Bola Are
Born on October 1, 1954, in Erio, Ekiti State, Bola Are is one of the most prominent Yoruba gospel musicians. Raised under the spiritual guidance of four major prophets of the Christ Apostolic Church, she began singing at the age of two.
In 1973, she formed Bola and Her Spiritual Singers, and by 1977, she released her first album, Baba Ku Ise. Since then, she has released over 70 albums, including classics like Adura Owuro and Oore Ofe.
She earned a diploma in Accounting from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and was awarded an honorary doctorate in Music in 1985. Bola also founded the School of Gospel Music International in 1990.
6. Yinka Ayefele
Yinka Ayefele, born in Ipoti-Ekiti, Ekiti State, is a top Yoruba gospel singer, music producer, and founder of the Fresh FM radio network.
He began his career as a broadcaster with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria in Ibadan. In 1997, a tragic car accident left him in a wheelchair. While recovering, a friend encouraged him to record music.
This led to his breakthrough debut album, Bitter Experience (1998), followed by Sweet Experience and many others. Ayefele’s music combines gospel with Yoruba storytelling, drawing from his personal life.
He has earned over 200 awards, including the national honor of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) in 2011. His Fresh FM radio stations operate across southwestern Nigeria. In 2018, his Music House in Ibadan was controversially demolished.
7. Mega 9’9 (Abel Dosunmu)
Abel Dosunmu, popularly known as Mega 9’9, is a leading voice in Yoruba gospel juju music. A graduate of Accountancy from Olabisi Onabanjo University, he chose music over numbers and formed the Mega 99 Band in 1994.
His debut album, My Mother, came out in 1998, followed by Prayer (2000), Money (2003), and Ona Ara (2006), which brought him wider recognition.
Plus, albums like Weep Not (2008), Thanksgiving (2010), Fear Not (2013), and Emajo Emayo (2014). Mega 9’9 has also collaborated with gospel legends like Bola Are.
8. Lanre Teriba
Lanre Teriba, widely known as Atorise, is one of the most recognized voices in Yoruba gospel music. He rose to fame with his debut album Atorise (Reformer), which introduced his signature style, Tungba Gospel, a vibrant fusion of traditional Yoruba rhythms with modern gospel sounds.
Teriba grew up in church, where he discovered his gift for singing. While studying Accounting at Federal Polytechnic Offa, he joined the Kegites Club and began composing spiritually uplifting songs that inspired his peers.
After graduation, Teriba faced years of joblessness. Still, he kept writing music and eventually recorded a demo. In 1998, promoter Tunde Olokodana heard the song and decided to support him, which helped launch Teriba’s music career. Lanre Teriba has released over 20 albums, including his latest, Ope Nla.
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9. Mike Abdul
Mike Abdul, born in Lagos and raised in Ogun State, is one of the most influential names in Yoruba gospel music. He studied Electrical Engineering at Yaba College of Technology before diving into gospel ministry.
He later trained in Theology and Christian Education. His music career began in 2001 with the iconic gospel group Midnight Crew, known for the hit song Igwe.
After the group’s 20th anniversary, Mike launched a successful solo career in 2013 with Morire, featuring MoniQue. He’s known for energetic praise songs like Korede, Iro Halleluyah, and 30 Billion Halleluyah.
He’s featured on over 100 tracks, worked with top gospel acts like Tim Godfrey, and is considered Nigeria’s most featured gospel artist.
His 2021 hit Baba Ese topped Boomplay’s gospel chart. Mike has won several awards, including the 2014 Crystal Award and the 2018 City People Gospel Artist of the Year.
10. Joseph Adebayo Adelakun
Joseph Adebayo Adelakun, popularly known as Baba Ayewa, is a legendary Yoruba gospel musician and evangelist.
Born on June 12, 1949, in Saki, Oyo State, he was raised in a Muslim home but converted to Christianity in 1972. That same year, he began his career as an evangelist.
Before music, Adelakun trained as an electrical engineer and served in the Nigerian Army. His passion for gospel music took off in 1976 while in Kaduna, where he joined the Christ Apostolic Church choir.
In 1978, he released his first album, Emi yio kokiki Re.
In 1982, he left the Army to fully pursue gospel music and founded the Ayewa International Gospel Singers.
His 1984 hit, Amona Tete Maa Bo, made him a household name. With over 30 albums to his credit, Baba Ayewa is a legend in Yoruba gospel music. In 2014, he received the Crystal Awards’ Evergreen Award for his lasting impact.
