14 Most Googled Musicians And Actors Of 2014

Google announced its annual 14th Annual Year in Search, a look at 2014 through the collective eyes of the world on the web, offering a unique perspective on the year’s major events and hottest trends based on searches conducted in Nigeria.

JOAN OMIONAWELE chronicles the list.

Don Jazzy
Just recently, Don Jazzy was named the producer of the year at the Headies awards as his crew gathered to celebrate their boss and leader.

Don Jazzy is the future of most up and coming musicians in Nigeria as most of them dream to be signed unto his record label in order to record a breakthrough in their musical career

Also on the Forbes’ list of richest musicians in Africa, Don Jazzy is set to take his crew, Mavin, to its eldorado this year.

Davido
From winning the Best African Act (BET) award to the MTV EMA awards to the Headies awards, award winning musician, Davido surely had a good year.

During the Headies awards last week, Davido went home with two awards as the Song of the Year and Artiste of the Year categories.

Davido was also a big winner at the 2014 NEA Awards which held in New York, USA. The ‘Aye‘ singer walked home with the ‘Artiste Of The Year’ award, while also jointly clinching the ‘Best Collaboration’ gong with singer, Runtown.

Though not yet a graduate, the 21-year-old has promised his fans that he is sure to graduate in 2015.

Tiwa Savage
Love her or hate her, Tiwa Savage has grown to register her name in the minds of music lovers. This year, the Eminado crooner, who became an ambassador for Forte Oil, got married last year, but news of her separation from her manager and husband, Tee Billz, filtered into the social media, but the couple found a way of resolving their issues amicably.

Also her video, ‘Wanted‘ which was released in May 27, a song from the ‘Once Upon a Time’ album, prompted a huge public backlash across various social networking sites, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Phyno
When Phyno released his ‘no guts no glory’ album, it was sure that the rapper was set to take the industry by a storm.

Collaborating with popular musicians like Sean Tizzle, Olamide, Chidinma and others, there was hardly no major event that Phyno did not perform at in 2014.

In August 2014, Phyno became an ambassador of Guinness Nigeria’s Made of Black campaign alongside Olamide and Eva Alordiah. In an interview with Saturday Tribune, Phyno, who is known for rapping in Igbo language, told the Saturday Tribune that he raps in Igbo because he respects his culture and loves being himself.

Kefee
Social media were flooded with prayers when it was reported that Branama queen, Kefee slumped and went into coma aboard a US plane and reportedly gave up the ghost on Thursday, June 12, 2014. According to the Netng, the singer had finished recording songs for her upcoming album in Nigeria and was returning to Chicago where she was based. Friends and associates, including Darey, Yaw, Yemi Alade, mourned continuously on Social media. Kefee was married to radio and show host, Teddy Don-Momoh.

Kefee was born in Sapele, Delta State, to Mr & Mrs Andrew Obareki who were at a time deacons at a church founded by the parents of her ex husband, Alec Godwin. Kefee graduated from University of Benin with a degree in Business Administration. Growing up as teen, she actively engaged herself in church activities, especially singing in the choir.

Sean Tizzle
When Sean Tizzle won the ‘next rated’ musician award in 2013, many tongues wagged, but this year, the 25-year-old artiste was able to shut the wagging tongues when he bagged the Best Pop album of The Year award during the Headies, with his Album ‘The Journey’. He also became an MTN ambassador and performed at major events during the year.

Lil Kesh
Street rap crooner, Olamide, during the year signed new act, Lil Kesh, to his new artistes to his label, YBNL record .

The 18-year-old Lil Kesh, who is also a rapper, released his hit single, titled ‘Shoki‘ which was widely received among Nigerians this year. Though he was not given the rookie of the year award at the Headies, it is certain that Lil Kesh should have a solid ground in 2015.

Yemi Alade
Since she won at an edition of the Peak talent hunt some years back, Yemi Alade has not rested on her oars. She released Tangerine and a hit song, Johnny which had nine million views on YouTube.

Then she went ahead and released an album, entitled ‘King of queens’ which took about two years to put together. Though she also lost out at the Headies, Yemi has been out and about various countries, performing her songs and having the best time of her life.

Mercy Johnson Okojie
In the realm of Nollywood celebs, Mercy Johnson-Okojie retained her position as most-searched Nollywood personality, as she also was google’s most searched celebrity last year.

During the year, the ban which was placed on the actress for charging over N1million per role was lifted because Nollywood producers kept piling up scripts for the actress.

But as a wife, the actress got pregnant and went to the US for delivery of her child. She got delivered of a baby boy which she named Henry on October 15, 2014.

Amaka Igwe
Amaka Igwe was a foremost filmmaker, writer, director and producer, and CEO of Amaka Igwe Studios. A visionary and pioneer of modern Nigerian TV drama and movie production, she stamped her authority on numerous roles she played in the Nigerian television sector, as well as the home video industry, known as Nollywood.

News of her death filtered into the air in May 2014, as she was said to have died of complications from asthmatic condition.

She will be remembered for some of her popular productions which include Rattle Snake, Violated, Checkmate and Fuji’s House of Commotion. She organised the annual Best of the Best in African Film and Television Programmes Expo, BoBTV, the regular forum for idea exchange, policy evaluation and business connections. A graduate of both the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and the University of Ibadan, she was the CEO of TOP RADIO 90.9FM, one of the leading radio stations in Lagos, Nigeria. She founded Q Entertainment Network, the first Nigerian drama series channel in 2014.

Ini Edo
Nollywood actress, Ini Edo’s five-year marriage came to an end in August 2014 amid so many speculations and rumours. Some sources close to the actress said that her parents were ready to return her bride price to her husband family. This led her to react to the news of the break-up on Twitter where she denied the story that her marriage ended because of infidelity on her part. She said: “I asked for a divorce from my ex-husband because of irreconcilable differences. I never cheated on my husband. There is a conscious and malicious attempt at tarnishing my image. This whole saga is familiar, let’s not forget the past. Thanks and God bless.”

Omoni Oboli
In the course of the year, Nollywood actress, Omoni Oboli’s movie was recognised by the Federal Government and her first movie was premiered at Aso Rock with President Goodluck Jonathan in attendance.

Her dressing to the premiere sparked an uproar on Twitter as fans lashed her for dressing in an open necked blue long dress, but the actress was unperturbed. Rather, she counted her blessings.

In an interview with Saturday Tribune, she said, “it was more than glorious. I honestly didn’t believe it was going to happen. The producer, The Film Marketers’ Association of Nigeria, wrote the presidency about my new movie. We didn’t expect to get any response from them, not even a quick response, but to our surprise, the presidency accepted to watch my movie. Even after the premiere, I told my sister that if I woke now to realise this was a dream, I was going to be very unhappy.

So, I would often pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Yet I couldn’t believe it was real. She told me that both of us couldn’t be having the same dream. It was real. I think it is a very big achievement for Nollywood. When things like this happen, it boosts courage; it makes people believe that they could still do more. People would aspire to become better. For us, that is a good thing. We all know where Nollywood is coming from.”

Charles Novia
He is a filmmaker, but in the last eight months, Charles Novia was more known for lending his voice on ongoing issues and also looking critically and making rather controversial points about those issues than movie appearances.

He thrived on commenting on entertainers who erred or had bad videos and dressed provocatively, through his blog this year. He was, however, placed on a hot seat after affirming that a particular Nollywood actress was better than Genevieve Nnaji.

Most recently, he lashed out at Etisalat ambassador, Seyi Shay, for dressing in a provocative outfit to the Channel O Africa awards. He was, however, asked to apologise for saying that Shay’s career would soon dwindle, which the filmmaker did.