Every year brings to the public eye a new crop of thinkers, creatives, disruptors and noisemakers.

We cast our memories back to come up with 10 people who had a swell 2015, moving from the underground world of relative obscurity to become headliners in their own right.

Chigozie Obioma

The Nigerian born author of The Fishermen, unarguably the breakout novel of 2015 has had quite the year. Currently residing in the United States where he lectures on Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Obioma, whose writing has appeared in Virginia Quarterly Review and Transition is a finalist for this year’s Man Booker Prize for Fiction and winner of the inaugural FT/Oppenheimer awards.

Kiss Daniel

Woju by Kiss Daniel may have been released late in 2014 but it was this year that confirmed its status as a bona fide hit. finding its way onto every playlist that mattered- from club djs to prime time television, the song placed Mr Daniel terra firma on the path of recognition. He took advantage and followed up with Laye, another effective if derivative chart topper. Daniel became the flavour of the month participating in A-List concerts and winning his fair share of trophies.

Ijeoma Grace Agu

You may not know the name now but you will soon. A graduate of Biochemistry at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agu who has been working bit part roles non-stop for a while now scored a home run when she was cast as the female lead in this year’s breakout film, Taxi Driver (Oko Ashewo). Agu who has played a prostitute in director Daniel Oriahi’s previous outing Misfit, brought a certain edge to the role that would ensure she is not overlooked anymore.

Lil Kesh

This protégé of YBNL boss and hit maker, Olamide has been all over the airwaves this year. From a sizzling contribution to the track Ladi, on Olamide and Phyno’s joint album, 2 Kings where he steals the song from the two elders, to back to back successes with the songs, Gbese, Efejoku and Is it because I love you. These days a chirpy verse by Lil Kesh is enough to brighten even the drabbest of songs.

Aramide

Aramide, an Afro-Soul/Jazz singer presently signed to Baseline Music has toiled in the underground scene for some time now before signing her record deal and scoring with her singles Iwo nikan, I don’t care and Feeling this feeling. She discovered the talents of singing and writing as a teenager and decided to nurture them. Aramide was nominated in the Female Artist of The Year category at the 2015 edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Award (NEA), and also the Most Promising Artist in Africa Category at the 2015 edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

Adekunle Gold

Adekunle Gold has been one of the most visible artistes of 2015. He scored a sleeper hit late last year with Sade, a reimagining of the One Direction song, Story of my life. This year he was signed to Olamide’s YBNL and he released the smash singles, Orente and Pick up.

Orezi

Alhaji Orezi has been on the verge of exploding for many years now. He finally did so this year after capitalizing on the warm reception for his trend joining Shoki single. Back to back hit singles followed with Shuperu remix (with Davido) and Baby Abeg as well as a critically acclaimed debut disc, The Gehn Gehn album.

Philip Obaji Jr                                                                       

Philip Obaji Jnr’s 1 GAME campaign has shown courage and commitment in advocating for basic primary education for street children popularly called Almajiris in North-East Nigeria. For four years now, Obaji Jr and his volunteering team have been meeting with community leaders in North-East states of Borno, Yobe and Gombe to encourage parents to send their children to tuition-free public primary schools rather than to Almajiri Mallams. His work was beamed to a wider audience when he was named Young Person of the Year at this year’s The Future Awards Africa event.

Team Meddlelane

The 4 talented individuals that make up Team Meddlelane took the fashion world by storm when they participated in this year’s Fayrouz L’Original competition. Comprising a designer (Frank Aghuno), model (Freda Oluku), makeup artiste (Titi Olayinka) and photographer (Demola Mako), Team Meddlelane proved their success was no fluke at the Heineken Lagos Fashion and Design Week when they put up a vibrant, colourful performance.

Yahaya Bello

Until intensely dramatic events transpired to gift Yahaya Bello, Kogi state governor-elect, with the All Progressives Congress ticket to contest the state gubernatorial elections, he was a virtual unknown as far as mainstream national politics was concerned. A civil servant and business man, the 40 year old Bello contested for the APC ticket against the late prince Abubakar Audu but lost out in the primaries. He played the political game of his life and was nominated by the party to contest the supplementary elections after INEC declared the results inconclusive.