Namenj, born Ali Jubril Namanjo, is a Northern Nigerian singer and songwriter whose Hausa-language music has made him one of the standout names to emerge from Mr Eazi’s emPawa Africa talent programme.
Although born and raised in Ibadan, Oyo State, in South Western Nigeria, Namenj is Hausa through and through, drawing on his cultural roots to shape both his lyrical content and identity as an artist. Growing up, he was inspired by global stars like Westlife and Celine Dion, influences that shaped his melodic sensibility long before he began recording professionally in 2012.
His breakthrough moment came in 2015, when his Hausa-language cover of Adekunle Gold’s “Orente” went viral and turned him into a social media sensation within the Arewa community. That moment caught the attention of Mr Eazi, who selected him through the emPawa30 Artiste Talent Programme in 2019, positioning Namenj to lead a new generation of Arewa pop singers.
Namenj released his official debut single, “Rayuwata,” in July 2020, an Afropop track rendered in Hausa and produced by Deratheboy, who also produced Joeboy’s breakout hit “Baby.” He has since continued building his catalogue, including collaborative records like “Dama” featuring fellow Arewa star Hamisu Breaker, which has racked up millions of views online.
Living what he describes as a nomadic lifestyle across cities like Jos, Maiduguri and Kano, Namenj continues to work toward growing Arewa music’s reach beyond Northern Nigeria, aiming to redefine what it means to be a Northern artist in today’s mainstream industry.
