WIRELESS9JA: 10 Nigerian Artistes Whose Real Names You Didn’t Know

It was back then we knew artistes by their real names and not just their stage name alone.

Newspapers of then would describe them by their names first then put “aka“. Ayodeji Balogun aka WizKid. When these artistes go for interviews too, you know, the presenter will always introduce them by their birth names.
But with newspapers reading fading especially with the evolution of social media, it’s been hard to keep up with the tradition of knowing artists’ birth names together with their stage names.
We’ll make it easier for you though. Here are ten artistes whose both names you didn’t know:

1. Joeboy – Joseph Akinfewa Donus

 With replete hits to his name, I bet you didn’t know Joeboy bears Donus. The popular phrase we’ve been accustomed to is “Joeboy pon deck”. Well, now you know.

2. Runtown – Douglas Jack Agu

Enugu boy, Runtown’s Real name is one we didn’t even think would be attributed to someone like him. You perhaps thought he would have the name Ifeanyi.

3. Patoranking – Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie

Wait. Same guy that sang Alubarika? Yeah Patoranking was born and raised in Ijegun-Egba though his family roots originated from Onitsha.

4. Rema – Divine Ikubor

 

 One source was telling me Rema’s stage name was Rhema, which is a Christian name and when he was introduced to Don Jazzy, his name was rebranded to Rema. Next time you see him, say Divine my guy.

5. Zlatan – Omoniyi Temidayo

 I bet Zlatan’s parents thought he will be a useful instrument in the house of God. His dad, a pastor might have had high hopes his son would toe his path. But Brother Temidayo had other plans.

6. Phyno – Chibuzor Nelson

The name Chibuzor is a popular Igbo name though. And you’ll wonder why Phyno chose the name Phyno, he could have gone for Chibz or ChibzKid yunno.

7. Barry Jhay – Oluwakayode Junior Balogun

If you listen to Fuji a lot, you’ll know the likes of Kollington, Barrister. Those were the ones who kickstarted the movement. When Barrister died, he left behind so many wives and kids. One of those kids was Barry Jhay.

8. T Classic – Tolu Ajayi

Tolu Ajayi sounds like that name a footballer would bear. Now we know what the T in “T Classic” stands for. Tolu.

9. Tekno – Augustine Miles Kelechi

Augustine and Augustina. Christian and Christiana. Those twin names though. But is there a connection between Tekno and Kelechi? Maybe the letter K.

10. Mz Kiss – Akindele Justina