You probably have never heard of Solomon Ayo Hanniel, but you sure have heard of Reekado Banks. Well, both names belong to one man, who is is perhaps the best artiste recently signed on to Don Jazzy’s Mavin records. It was an awesome introduction for Banks, who hit the scenes with a feature on hit track Dorobucci by the Mavin crew. This song became almost as popular as the previous decade’s Yahoozee by Olu Maintain, and was perhaps the country’s most sung song of 2014. Every new artiste on that song sure became a revelation for 2014. Banks released Turn it up, an album under the record label (Mavin) in 2014. His hit single, Chop am, also went on to win him the Rookie of the year at The Headies . TIMI DAKOLO

This is one name you may not have expected to see on this list. However, he was one great revelation for 2014. Dakolo won the very first edition of Idols West Africa, beating Pop queen, Omawumi to the top prize. His year of revelation was to be 2007/2008 after he had registered such a milestone at the Idols, but the impact of this breed of two countries – born to a Nigerian father and a Ghanaian mother – was pronounced in 2014. In 2009, he released a couple of songs and was considered hip hop world revelation of the year in 2010. In 2011, he released another single, There’s a cry, which went on to increase his popularity in the industry. However, 2014 was the year that Timi Dakolo released a song that not only got air play all through Africa, but also at virtually all wedding ceremonies in the country. It’s a suitable replacement for Tosin Martin’s Olo mi. This song is the emotion-laced Iyawo Mi. The 33-year-old crowned his 2014 efforts with a humorous sensation video to complement the lovely song. Iyawo Mi won the best male vocal performance of the year at The Headies. KOREDE BELLO

‘Mavin’s Michael Jackson’, Korede Bello is more than just a pretty face who leaves the girls in odd fantasies but also a multi-talented artiste set to add a missing piece to the Nigerian music scene. Korede found his way to limelight by getting signed on to Don Jazzy’s Mavin records and featuring on two hit songs, Dorobucci and Adaobi, by the Mavin crew. The mass communication student at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos, is also a guitarist of worth. Recently, Woodin Nation endorsed him as an ambassador. Born on February 29, a date which shows up on the calendar only once every four years, the 18-year-old has a couple awards for his efforts. The outgoing year was no doubt a “blessed year” for the “African Prince”. LIL KESH