One-named singer born in Nigeria

SADE

This smooth-voiced artist rose to fame in the 1980s with hits like "Smooth Operator" and blends soul, jazz, and sophistication in her music.

This clue points to the smooth-voiced British-Nigerian singer known simply as Sade, short for Helen Folasade Adu. She was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, before moving to England, and her stage name fits the "one-named" hint perfectly. The answer plays on her global fame while keeping it concise, as crossword clues often do with well-known figures.