Over the years we’ve had Top musicians in Nigeria who at some point in their career decided to change their name from what their fans got to know them by when they started their journey to different ones. Now some of these name changes happened because of legal issues while some; as a result of growth. Today we would take a look at these artists and the reasons for their name change.
No. 4. 2baba (formally known as 2face): Innocent Ujah Idibia (born 18 September 1975), known by his stage name 2Baba, is a Nigerian musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, humanitarian, and activist. Prior to July 2016, he went by the stage name 2face Idibia. In 2016, Nigerian musician 2face Idibia declared that he had changed his stage name. He announced his new moniker, 2baba, on social media.
He added that the name change was not shocking because many people had been calling him “2Baba” for a long time, and that it was only natural for him to alter his name to 2Baba because he is now a father “Baba” and a chief (Tafidan Kudandan in Kaduna). The legend has so many songs but we can only play you one which is our current fan fav:
Amaka feat. Peruzzi
The speroachbeatz produced song has over 15M views on youtube and features vocals from DMW’s Peruzzi.
No. 3. Kizz Daniel (formally Kiss Daniel): Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, better known by his stage name Kizz Daniel, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He is best known for his singles “Woju” and “Yeba”. He went by the stage name Kiss Daniel prior to changing it in May 2018. He signed a record deal with G-Worldwide Entertainment in 2013, but left the label following a contract dispute and court case. He founded the Fly Boy Inc record label in November 2017.
In November 2017, Kizz Daniel announced his split from his record label, G-Worldwide and created his own label called FLYBOY I.N.C He was sued to court by the former record label but was not found guilty for any of the crimes he was accused of. In May 2018, Kizz Daniel announced that he had changed his stage name from Kiss Daniel to Kizz Daniel, a name which immediately reflected on his social media accounts. New Spotify and Apple Music accounts were also created immediately with the names Kizz Daniel, with his new songs featured.
In June 2018, Kizz Daniel’s former record label G-Worldwide made a move to own the rights to the name “Kizz Daniel” and further advised the singer to desist from using the name or face legal consequences in a press release sent out to media houses. In October 2018 Daniel responded to the suit and statement made by his former record label G-Worldwide through his own lawyer.
Eh God (barnabas)
Off his latest project and album “Barnabas”. It was released in 2021 and mixed and mastered by S.T.G.
No. 2. Cruel Santino (formally called Santi): Osayaba Andrew Ize-Iyamu, better known by his stage name Cruel Santino, is a Nigerian alternative singer-songwriter, rapper, creative director, filmmaker, and Music video director. He is a member of Monster Boy collective, with music producers Genio Bambino, and GMK. He is signed to Interscope Records, and Love Renaissance. He came into the music scene with a critically acclaimed studio album Mandy & The Jungle, which introduced the alté scene into the mainstream with his track “Rapid Fire”released in 2018.
On the 16th of June 2020, Santi announced on his social media platform that he would be changing his name to Cruel Santino after failing to secure the copyrights to the name Santi. However, this is not the first time Cruel Santino is changing his name, as he made a similar change from Ozzy B to Santi before Cruel Santino.
End of the Wicked feat. Octavian
The Alte/Indie song was released in 2020 and was written by GMK, Oluwademilade Alabi, Osayaba Ize-Iyamu & Octavian.
No. 1. BNXN (Buju): This is our number one because it is the most recent and shocking name change.
Daniel Benson (born 19 May 1997) known professionally as BNXN (pronounced as Benson) and formerly known as “Bujutoyourears”, is a Nigerian Afro-Fusion singer, songwriter and record producer. In 2019 he was nominated for the “Rookie of the Year” category at The Headies 2019.
In 2020 he won the City People Entertainment Awards for revelation of the year.
On 17 February 2022, Daniel Benson formerly known as Buju officially changed his professional or stage name to BNXN (which is pronounced simply as Benson). He made this known through his official Twitter and instagram page. He also explained the name change became necessary after he was mistaken for another Jamaican grammy award winning singer known as Buju Banton.
Italy (refix) feat. Blaq Diamond
Italy is originally owned by Blaq Diamond and produced by Kitie and Mfowam. On the song music video they make sure that they serve African fashion, antique aesthetics, and street culture.
Buju’s Italy Refix is a follow up to his debut EP – ‘Sorry I’m Late‘.
