The world through the Internet has become a global village and in this global village, social media has become a community in its own right, with a leadership and monitoring system quite different from what exists in physical communities.
This system produced individuals who are now called social media influencers. Their words and actions are believed to influence millions of people who follow them for one reason or another.
A social media influencer is someone who has established credibility in a specific industry, has access to a large audience, and can persuade others to act on their recommendations. In Nigeria, the influencer community is dominated by artists, who are mostly musicians, actors, and comedians.
Nairametrics looked at the popularity of these influencers on the microblogging site, Twitter, judging by the number of their followers on that platform alone and here is what we found:
Davido (11.6 million subscribers)
David Adedeji Adeleke, better known as Davido, is a famous musician with many hits to his name. His popularity extends beyond the shores of Nigeria and he is indeed currently the most popular social media influencer in Nigeria judging by his impressive 11.6 million Twitter followers as of June this year. The Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer blends traditional African elements with global mainstream pop, making him a favorite of many music lovers.
Wizkid (10.1 million subscribers)
Wizkid is a household name among music lovers in Nigeria and it’s no surprise that millions of people follow him on Twitter. The Afrobeat singer, originally named Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, has 10.1 million fans following him on the microblogging site. However, his number of followers is 1.5 million less than his close rival Davido.
Burna Boy (6.8 million subscribers)
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu better known as Burna Boy is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and performer. The Grammy winner is undoubtedly influential on and off social media. And on Twitter alone, he has 6.8 million followers, fans and lovers of his brand of music.
Don Jazzy (6.7 million subscribers)
Michael Collins Ajereh, known professionally as Don Jazzy, is a Nigerian Record Producer, Brand Ambassador, Sound Engineer, Record Executive, Singer, Entrepreneur, Influencer and Comedian. He is the founder and CEO of Mavin Records. Don Jazzy co-owned the former Mo’ Hits Records label with D’banj. Although he is a sensation on Instagram, Don Jazzy also weighs heavily on Twitter with 6.7 million followers.
DJ Cuppy (4.7 million subscribers)
One of the daughters of Nigerian billionaire, Femi Otedola, Florence Otedola popularly known as DJ Cuppy, or simply Cuppy, is a Nigerian disc jockey and producer. Her influence on the social media platform, Twitter, is huge and her engagements on the platform often see her become a trending topic in the Twitter NG space. No wonder she’s one of the platform’s heavyweight influencers with 4.7 million followers.
Banky W (3.7 million subscribers)
Singer and music producer, Bankole Wellington popularly known as Banky W. turned politician is a big influencer on Twitter. Interestingly, his influence transcends social media, which recently saw him win his party’s ticket to contest and represent his Eti-Osa federal constituency in the House of Representatives. Banky W has 3.7 million Twitter followers.
Falz (2.7 million subscribers)
Folarin Falana, better known by his stage name Falz, is a Nigerian rapper, songwriter and actor. He is indeed beloved by many, not only for his music or acting career, but also for his activism and commentary on governance issues. Although he is influential on social media platforms, his 2.7 million Twitter followers make him one of the top influencers.
Ebouka (2.5 million)
TV Host and Host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu popularly known as Ebuka is a household name especially among fans of the popular DStv reality show BBNaija which he hosts every year . He is, without a doubt, one of the top social media influencers in Nigeria with 2.5 million Twitter followers.
Mr Macaroni (2.4 million followers)
Debo Adedayo, popularly known by his stage name Mr Macaroni, is a Nigerian sketch comedy maker, actor and activist. He is best known for his comedy videos, where he plays the role of a “sugar daddy”. But his influence did not come only from his comedy sketches, he was a voice for the masses, and especially for the youth, while calling for good governance. He is currently followed by 2.4 million people on Twitter.
AY Comedian (2.1 million subscribers)
Ayodeji Richard Makun, also known by his stage name AY, is a Nigerian actor, comedian, radio and television presenter, writer, producer and director. His sphere of influence crosses social media platforms. On Twitter, he has 2.4 million followers.
Funke Akindele (1.7 million subscribers)
Olufunke Akindele-Bello, popularly known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa, is a Nigerian film actress and producer. Akindele starred in the sitcom “I Need to Know” from 1998 to 2002, and in 2009 she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She became famous for her role in the movie titled Jenifa which earned her the nickname Jenifa. She is among the top social media influencers with 1.7 million followers on Twitter alone.
