These female producers are rare gems!
I typed in: “music of producers in Nigeria” and Google gave me 51 names–49 of them were males. Checked the Headies too and not once during all of their 15 editions was any female music producer nominated.
It surprises me that these things are still happening in 2023. Anyway, I went digging and I found these six astounding female music producers who deserve more press:
1. Saszy Afroshii
Meet Saszy Afroshii, a sound wizard, if I do say so myself. You are less likely to disagree if you have ever bopped Fave’s Mr man. Sazsy produced it.
Saszy has worked with many celebs all around the world. Poupie, a French artist featured her on their remixed song, Ça Me Dérange. She’s worked with Chike, Mohbad, Barry Jhay, and the list goes on.
Her most popular works are two songs off Ceeza Milli’s Diamond in the Rough album. One of the two songs is a Wizkid feature, Shayo.
2. Bloody Civilian
We have also Bloody Civilian–a Northern star (literally and figuratively). Coming all the way from Taraba to serve altè sounds at the highest tables.
In Black Panther’s “Wake up”, Bloody Civilian was a co-producer and singer alongside Rema. Her single, How to Kill a Man is perfect for when you are feeling salty and just want to imagine deadly thoughts (I can’t be the only one who does that).
3. Milakeyzz
“Give me space make I no kill person, on top your matter”. Perhaps, that line rings a bell. It’s a line in Mabel, Dremo and Davido’s 2020 hit. And you guessed right, Milakeyzz produced it.
Milakeyzz also has personal songs like Lollipop. Plus a couple of collaborations with Dremo.
4. Official Dunnie
Dunnie’s Twitter header reads Dunnie the Legend and I’ve never seen a more appropriate description for a human being. She produced How Bad Could It Be, a thought-provoking track off the Love, Damini album.
She collaborated with Chike on Already Won Brymo’s Meji Meji, and Ife Wami by Limoblaze was also her work but that’s not the real wow. She once produced a song that was all in Portuguese! BKBN by Soraia Ramos, go check it out. Dunnie finished work on that song
To crown it all, she partners with Audio Girl Africa, an NGO that preaches women’s inclusivity in music. Dunnie is the legend, for many reasons!
5. Yimeeka
By now, you will have noticed that everyone on this list all has one thing in common (apart from being women whose works go unrecognised), they sing and write songs, too.
Yimeeka, real name Owoseni Olayinka, released her debut album, Alter Ego in 2022. All 7 songs, which are every bit excellent, were produced by her. I recommend you start with Here With You, it just feels right that way.
6. DJ Toxiq
Last but not the least is Dj Toxiq, an OG disc jockey, songwriter and music producer. She’s a 2-Baba-endorsed talent who has been in the game as far back as 2018 (if not earlier).
She produced almost all of the songs on Pasuma Alabi Wonder’s hip-hop album, My World.
These are all amazing women we hope they get the recognition they deserve very soon.
