From Lynxxx and Samsong to Judikay, Stella Damasus and a new generation of rappers and singers, meet the music acts with roots in Delta State’s capital, Asaba. The capital of Delta State, is widely known for its thriving film industry, entertainment businesses and vibrant social scene. But beyond the movie sets, hotels and busy streets, the city has also produced musicians who have made their marks in Nigerian music.
Some have become household names through hit records, gospel songs and mainstream recognition. Others have built careers in rap, highlife, alternative music and independent music circles. While they may not all enjoy the same level of fame, their stories reveal another side of Asaba’s contribution to the entertainment industry.
Here are 20 music acts with documented roots in Asaba.
Lynxxx
Chukie Edozien, popularly known as Lynxxx, is one of the best-known musicians with roots in Asaba. He became popular in the Nigerian music industry with his blend of hip-hop, R&B and what he described as Jollof Music.
His breakthrough came with songs such as Fine Lady, featuring Wizkid, and Change Your Parade. His style combined rap, melody and a polished urban sound that helped him stand out during the period when Nigerian hip-hop was expanding its mainstream audience.
Although Lynxxx grew up in Lagos, he has been identified in published interviews as hailing from Asaba. He later became known for balancing his music career with business interests.
Samsong
Samsong, born Samson Uche Mogekwu, is one of Nigeria’s recognised contemporary gospel musicians. Born in Asaba, he built a career around inspirational songs that combine gospel messages with contemporary African rhythms, soul and R&B.
His music includes Bianule, Turn Me Around, Capable God and Idinma. Over the years, he has developed a loyal gospel audience through recordings and live performances.
His journey is an important reminder that Asaba’s musical influence extends beyond secular entertainment. Gospel music has also produced artistes who have carried their sound to audiences across Nigeria and beyond.
Judikay
Judith Ifeyinwa Kanayo, professionally known as Judikay, is another gospel star associated with Asaba. She studied Theatre Arts and Film Studies at Redeemer’s University and began her music career as a backing vocalist for gospel musician Florocka.
She gained wider attention with More Than Gold, featuring Mercy Chinwo, a worship song that helped establish her name among contemporary gospel listeners. Other releases have strengthened her reputation as a vocalist whose music focuses on worship, faith and spiritual encouragement.
Judikay’s biography identifies her as hailing from the Asaba area, making her an important name in any discussion of gospel music and the city’s entertainment heritage.
Stella Damasus
Stella Damasus is better known to many Nigerians as an actress, but music was also an important part of her early entertainment career.
Born in Asaba, she developed her musical interests before moving to Lagos, where she joined a band and began performing live. Her background in music later complemented her work in Nollywood and other creative fields.
Her story illustrates how musical talent can open doors into different areas of entertainment. Although acting eventually became her most visible profession, her connection to music remains part of her artistic background.
Pat Uwaje-King
Pat Uwaje-King, the gospel singer widely recognised for her work with Midnight Crew, also hails from Asaba.
She became known to a large Nigerian audience through the gospel group’s music, particularly Igwe, a song that enjoyed extensive popularity in churches and among gospel music lovers. She later pursued a solo career, releasing her album He’s Done Me Well in 2015.
Her journey demonstrates the opportunities available to gospel musicians who develop their talents in church settings before moving into professional music.
Azuka Moweta
Azuka Anthony Moweta represents the traditional side of Asaba’s musical heritage.
The singer and bandleader is known for Ekobe music, a style that combines elements of Igbo highlife with traditional instruments, chants and the distinctive Asaba dialect. His work with the Anioma Brothers Band of Africa has helped bring this cultural sound to listeners outside Nigeria.
His albums include Nwanne Bu Ife and Ekobe Global. Unlike music built primarily around contemporary pop trends, his work places local language, cultural memory and traditional instrumentation at the centre of the listening experience.
Moweta is one of the artistes whose work shows how music can preserve a community’s identity while introducing it to a wider audience.
B-Ice
Born Ike Udobi, B-Ice is a rapper, singer and producer who hails from Asaba.
He came into the music conversation with a sound influenced by hip-hop, R&B, soul and Afrobeats. One of his releases, Liki Liki, featured Tekno and was promoted as a dance-friendly record produced by Selebobo.
B-Ice also studied engineering, demonstrating that his interests extended beyond music. His career reflects the ambitions of independent Nigerian artistes who attempt to combine professional pursuits with a place in the entertainment industry.
GTS 40k
Happy Nwaobori, known professionally as GTS 40k, was born and raised in Asaba.
The singer and rapper has developed a sound that combines hip-hop, R&B and other contemporary influences. He has also spoken about his determination to remain true to his musical identity despite the criticism that can come with experimenting across genres.
His record Hands Up helped bring him attention, while his subsequent performances generated conversations about his style and stage delivery.
GTS 40k belongs to a younger generation of musicians seeking to build careers through digital platforms, independent releases and live performances.
Ray G
Ray G, whose real name is Uwoloh Nwabueze Raymond, is an Afro-hip-hop artiste born in Asaba.
He developed an interest in music at a young age and reportedly began writing rap verses while still a child. His early releases included Show Me Your Love and Stay in da Game, which received airplay during his early career.
Ray G represents a generation of Nigerian rappers who began developing their craft before the current explosion of streaming services and social media promotion.
His career is another example of the city’s connection to hip-hop, a genre that continues to inspire younger musicians in the region.
Vehnorm
Nwokobia Chukwuka Senator, popularly known as Vehnorm, is a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist who hails from Asaba.
He developed an interest in music while growing up in the city and began writing songs during his secondary school years. His releases include Because, Shine, No Lele and Journey Just Come.
Vehnorm also has an engineering background and has worked to develop his music independently. His story reflects the determination of emerging artistes who must build their audiences while navigating the demands of recording, promotion and performance.
Magnificent
Hansen Agbagwu, known as Magnificent, is a rapper, singer and songwriter who hails from Asaba.
He attracted attention in 2012 with songs including E Go Easy and Follow You Go. His profile at the time highlighted his lyrical delivery, performance ability and ambition to make a name for himself in Nigerian hip-hop.
Although he has not remained as prominent in mainstream music conversations as some of his contemporaries, his story is part of the city’s rap history and its contribution to the development of Nigerian hip-hop.
Young Pizzy
Young Pizzy, born Agbambu Prince Uchechukwu, is a rapper who hails from Ibuza, in the wider Asaba area of Delta State.
He grew up in a family with connections to show business and reportedly began writing lyrics as a child. His early musical experiences included church music and playing the snare drum in the Boys’ Brigade.
He later joined the Raymass Family and released music including Apology, featuring Zara.
Young Pizzy’s background provides another example of the young performers who emerged from the wider Asaba entertainment environment and pursued careers in Nigerian hip-hop.
Perxentage
Precious Okocha, known as Perxentage, is a rapper and singer whose published biography identifies Asaba as his birthplace.
His music draws from contemporary Nigerian sounds, including Afrobeats and hip-hop. Like many independent artistes, he has had to build his identity through recordings, digital distribution and the steady development of his audience.
His inclusion adds another emerging voice to the list, showing that the city’s music story is not limited to established stars or musicians who dominated the industry in earlier decades.
Famousat13
Famousat13 is an emerging singer and rapper identified in an artist profile as being from Asaba.
His music combines singing with rap, reflecting the increasingly fluid boundaries between genres among younger Nigerian musicians.
While he may not yet have the public profile of more established artistes on this list, he represents the newer generation of performers trying to turn their creative interests into sustainable careers.
His story also points to the need to pay closer attention to independent musicians outside the biggest commercial centres.
C’Classics
Chidinma Chukwuka, known professionally as C’Classics, is a vocalist, violinist and music educator whose biography identifies Asaba as her birthplace.
Her musical interests extend beyond singing to instrumental performance, giving her a different place in the city’s wider musical landscape.
She represents the musicians whose work involves both performance and musical development, rather than the pursuit of mainstream pop success alone.
Her background also highlights the importance of formal musical skills and instrumental training in an industry where attention often focuses primarily on singers and rappers.
Chisong
Chisong Obi is a gospel singer and songwriter who hails from Asaba.
He has been associated with Loveworld Music and Arts Ministry, the creative arm connected with Christ Embassy. His song No Me Without You was released in 2018, with a video following in 2019.
His work is focused on worship and Christian expression, placing him among the gospel musicians whose careers are built around church communities and faith-based audiences.
Chisong’s inclusion reinforces the role of gospel music in the musical identity of Asaba and the wider Delta region.
Amaeya
Peace Chidinma Amaefula, known as Amaeya, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter born in Asaba.
She works in the Afro-soul and R&B space and has developed a musical identity around love, relationships and personal experiences. Her releases include the The Flowers EP and songs such as On My Own, Too Much, How Do You? and Delusion.
Her biography also identifies her as having worked as a background vocalist for major Nigerian artistes, giving her experience behind the scenes as well as in her own recording career.
Amaeya represents a new generation of female artistes whose sound sits between mainstream Afrobeats, soul and contemporary R&B.
Kozykid
Daniel Ogwu Chukura, known professionally as Kozykid, is an Afropop singer, songwriter and record producer who hails from Asaba.
In an interview with The Guardian Life in 2021, he discussed his musical influences and ambitions, describing his desire to tell stories and develop a sound of his own.
His educational background also connects him closely to the city, where he attended secondary school and pursued further education before seeking wider opportunities for his music.
Kozykid’s story reflects the experience of many young Nigerian artistes: developing a craft at home, building an initial audience and looking beyond their immediate environment to reach more listeners.
Alex Kwentua
Evangelist Alex Kwentua is a gospel artiste, songwriter and worship leader born in Asaba.
His musical journey began in church, where he developed his skills as a singer and instrumentalist. He later formed music groups and pursued a ministry that combines worship with evangelism.
His albums include This Miracle, and his work has reached audiences in Nigeria and the United States.
Kwentua’s story is a reminder that musicians with roots in Asaba have also taken their talents abroad, using music as a means of religious expression and community engagement.
Emma Ogosi
Emma Ekenem Ogosi is a veteran musician who hails from Asaba, although he was born in Akure, Ondo State, in 1942.
His life and career took him across different places, including Germany, where he trained as an aircraft engineer while serving in the Nigerian Air Force. He later entered music professionally and performed with several bands.
His musical influences ranged from Nigerian highlife and popular music to international pop and rock. His career, which began professionally in 1968, connects Asaba’s musical heritage with an earlier period in the evolution of Nigerian popular music.
Ogosi is a reminder that the city’s musical roots extend further back than the contemporary Afrobeats era.
By Emmanuel Daniji
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