- Some notable music documentaries have captured transformative lives and experiences of Nigerian artistes
- From Ayra Starr’s Dare to Dream, and Mr Eazi’s Lagos to London, these are true life stories of how these artistes conquered their fears to become who they are today.
- Following Asake’s upcoming documentary trailer, TheRadar curated 6 notable music documentaries you should watch
Over the years, the Nigerian music industry has captivated the world with the consistent rise of countless global superstars.
Embedded in inspiring stories of guts and glory, many of these industry giants have had their music journey documented in compelling documentaries.
These documentaries explore unique perspectives of Nigerian artistes to help their fans to understand who they are and what drives their passion for music.
Check out these 6 notable documentaries that captured the music experiences and life of Nigerian artistes as curated by TheRadar.
6 notable music documentaries about popular Nigerian singers
- Lungu Boy —Asake (2024)
Afrobeats sensation and singer Ololade Asake, known as Asake, recently previewed his upcoming documentary, Lungu Boy on Monday, September 23, 2024. The clip highlights the story of the singer from a typical ghetto to a worldwide and record-charting artiste. His love for music and skating is also captured in the viral snippet voiced by popular British actor and rapper, Idris Elba. The documentary bears the same title as his third studio album, meaning “Boy in the hood.”
- Dare to Dream —Ayra Starr (2024)
The Amazon Music Originals documentary, Dare to Dream follows Ayra Starr’s rise to fame. It talks about the Afrobeats sensation’s consistent music game to reach her international status, from travelling between her home in Lagos selling out shows.
- 24 hours with Davido —David Adeleke (2023)
What do you think a typical day in the life of one of Africa's biggest artistes is? This quest led popular YouTuber, Tayo Aina to spend 24 hours with Davido to find answers to his question. The documentary-style video showcased Davido’s flamboyant lifestyle and challenges of being a popular singer. It also explored Davido’s journey in the music industry from his debut Back When, to his global superstar status.
- Lagos to London — Mr Eazi (2019)
For Mr Eazi, his documentary, Lagos to London simply explored how Afrobeats became a major movement in the UK. Produced by The Swanky Group, it discusses the transformative movements of Mr Eazi’s music from Ghana, to the UK and then Nigeria. The inspiring piece breaks down the various facets of Nigerian music and its growing cultural influence in the UK.
- Finding Fela —Fela Ransome Kuti (2014)
Directed by Oscar Award-winning director, Alex Gibney, Finding Fela captured the life and achievements of Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti. It was released on Netflix in 2014 to reference the works of the African music icon. From his personal life, to his musical journey, political impact, activism, and mastery of the Afrobeat genre, the documentary is an historical reference to what Fela did as a famous singer.
- The Legend of Osita Osadebe — Chief Osita Osadebe (2010)
This documentary as it should tells the story of popular highlife singer Chief Osita Osadebe. It provided insights into his musical journey and mostly the cultural significance of his genre of music. It was directed by Obi Emelonye, who went down memory lane to trace Osadebe’s early days to being a hitmaker with his Osondi Owendi track. With archival footage of his songs, and interviews of friends and family, this documentary is also a historical piece about the legendary singer.
From Asa’s ‘Bibanke’ to Tems’ ‘Damages,’ here are 20 popular Nigerian heartbreak anthems
Heartbreak songs, unlike happy ones, owe their existence and composure to the painful yet creative force of heartbreak.
TheRadar earlier curated the Top 20 heartbreak songs to help you deal with a breakup and find expressions for your feelings in Afrobeats music.
