It’s been just over a decade since we heard Wizkid’s voice on Drake’s One Dance, a collaboration that went on to become one the biggest songs of all time. It wasn’t the first time Nigeria artistes had locked fingers with mainstream global superstars. D’Banj had featured Snoop Dogg and later signed to Kanye West’s Good Music label, P-Square had featured Akon and Rick Ross, Davido had featured Meek Mill. However, One Dance felt different. If felt like a sign of things to come, a messenger of possibilities. A year later, Davido’s Fall dropped and heralded the beginning of an unprecedented era for Nigerian pop music.
Grammys and multiple Billboard entries later, the sound (which is now covered by the broad umbrella term “Afrobeats”) has become a global juggernaut with Nigeria as its nucleus. The genre’s custodians are not afraid to be inspired by foreign cultures while making sure their African-ness is unmistakable. Everyone wants a piece of the Afrobeats cake (even Chris Brown is out here singing about Ozumba Mbadiwe). As the movement continues to boldly march into the future, let’s explore its past and highlight its 20 greatest songs to ever grace the airwaves from the turn of the century!
The criteria for deciding what songs make this list and how high they rank are innovation, timelessness, and artistic merit. The popularity of these songs across different demographics are also considered as well as how expertly they blend African identity with global mainstream elements. It is worth mentioning that they do not have to fulfil all criteria to be worthy of a place.
20. Shayo – Bigiano
This reggaeton-reminiscent behemoth had the airwaves in a headlock at a time when Nigerian music industry standards were on the up. Shayo paints a vivid picture of Lagos party culture and all the drama that comes with it. Right from the jump, Bigiano sets the tone by declaring, “First of August na the date o,” then goes on to deliver a masterclass in compelling imagery; weaving a narrative of debauchery, his party rules, and run-ins with the law over Sheyman’s production. It was easy to digest and the hook stuck like velcro. Even though he is often regarded as a one-hit wonder, Bigiano is proof that all it takes is one hit to cause the right ripples.
19. U Go Kill Me – Sarkodie ft. E.L
When U Go Kill Me hit the streets, it was impossible to escape. This banger created a steady wave that travelled across Africa and its diaspora. To many, it was one of those songs they knew without quite knowing the names responsible for it. Out of nowhere, dancehall heavyweight Busy Signal hopped on the beat with a scathing freestyle. A remix featuring Nigeria’s Wizkid and Ice Prince plus Uganda’s Navio solidified the song’s status at a time when a collaboration with Nigeria’s elite was a valuable co-sign in African pop music. The popular instrumental, complete with quirky effects and a simple looped note, provides the perfect floor for the relatively new Sarkodie to skate in his native Twi language. As far as Ghana’s contribution to Afrobeats is concerned, U Go Kill Me is inconspicuously part of its core.
18. Free Madness – Terry G
Within the flurry of spontaneity is where Terry G thrives and Free Madness is arguably the greatest expression of his chaotic genius. The freestyle (which is a collage of gibberish, slang, and rebellious syntax) reinforced the argument that Nigerian dance music did not need deep lyrics to have substance, and Terry G was the biggest crusader for this movement alongside late-2000s contemporaries like Timaya. On Free Madness, his voice is his ultimate instrument as he manipulates cadence, masterfully calibrates his syllables, and shuffles through sound effects like he’s exploring his own built-in sampling machine. His legacy lives on through the Afrobeats figures who still try to dream up new languages through sound.
17. Olufunmi – Styl-Plus
The beauty of Afrobeats is that it can be many things. It is Tyla’s Water but it is also Patapaa’s One Corner and much more. Styl-Plus’ angle was an R&B-leaning harmony-driven sound that felt fresh and timely. Olufunmi was the perfect representative of their favourite formula: an infectious hook, verses sung in Yoruba and English, and a rap verse as the cherry on top.
16. Safe – MI ft Djinee
Before the arrival of MI, Nigerian rap was held together by the likes of Mode 9 and Eedris Abdulkareem. However, MI brought a cool with a different type of chill. With this cool came a new wave of commercial potential for the rap game in Africa. His first hit was Safe, a rap concept epic that interpolated multiple Nigerian artistes as homage to the music ecosystem. Assisted by close collaborator and friend Djinee, MI delivers verses so catchy that you have to wonder if the song even has a hook.
15. Gongo Aso – 9ice
With one of the most recognizable first few seconds of a song in Nigerian music history, Gongo Aso is widely regarded as 9ice’s magnum opus. The Cabasa-crafted jam hits you like a brick and compels you move something. It does not need time to grow on you and its hypnotic appeal does not need to be explained. It just triggers a visceral need to let it all go… for at least 3 minutes and 36 seconds.
14. Buga – Kizz Daniel
Recognized as one of the most consistent contributors to the Afrobeats ecosystem, Kizz Daniel was already a long-established household name in Nigeria before the global explosion of Buga. With the help of Tekno, who is also a certified hitmaker in his own right, Daniel displays the blueprint of how to create a song that penetrates cultural and language barriers: a hook anyone can sing, simplicity, and escapism. A long-running criticism of Afrobeats is its leaning towards music that aims to pacify and distract, especially as the genre is rooted in Africa’s realities. An optimistic counterargument is the unification of the world’s peoples through common joy.
13. Last Last – Burna Boy
Often flattened into the tag of a heartbreak anthem with a Toni Braxton sample, Last Last took the world by storm and gave Burna Boy his biggest global hit till date, but the song is also a reiteration of self-confidence and the inevitability of adversity even if you’re rich. He juxtaposes his pre-fame financial struggles against his near fatal Ferrari accident in Lagos, drawing parallels between the emotional toll both situations took on his psyche. Burna has always stated that he wants to build a bridge between Africa and its diaspora, so Last Last was a sprightly step in the right direction as well as a reflection on his mortality.
12. Yahoozee – Olu Maintain ft LKT
The eternal question of moral responsibility in art found another case study when Yahoozee was let loose on the world. It was an implicit attempt at glorifying ,cybercrime but that didn’t stop the speakers from pumping. It’s just a song, right? It’s just creative expression, right? The talking points raged on, but the music itself was undeniable. With help from LKT’s fuji inflections, Maintain confidently gloats about his supposed megawealth and lust for life, then goes on to declare “It’s all about the Benjamins, baby.”
11. Mad Over You – Runtown
Having served as a template for a chunk of songs within the genre, Mad Over You can now confidently take its place among the greats. Runtown was no stranger to fans of Nigeria’s pop scene, but the international community got the chance to catch up with the release of this crowd pleaser. But better late than never, as they say.
10. Ye – Burna Boy
It’s no secret how people searching for Kanye’s Ye album led to many serendipitously finding Burna Boy’s Ye, but it was also clear as day that Burna would have found his way to the top anyway. He had become impossible to suppress and it was only a matter of time before the world would experience his greatness. Hip-hop, dancehall, Fela Kuti, and a host of benevolent entities known and unknown to us mortals, all played a role in inspiring this special piece of Afrobeats history.
9. Fall – Davido
After the underwhelming reception of his Son of Mercy experiment in 2016, a project that was supposed to be his breakout in the North American market, Davido went back to his roots and the sounds that made him. This return spawned hits like If and Fall, but Fall came with an unprecedented level of international success that would change his life. Teeming with catchy one-liners and powered by Kiddominant’s breezy production, Fall is one of those moments where it all comes together at the right time.
8. Calm Down – Rema
If you were a fan of Afrobeats right before Calm Down was released, you were probably used to seeing its stars winning major awards and hearing the songs playing in massive arenas. However, Calm Down’s success felt like a new level had been unlocked. It wasn’t just a hit, it was *the* hit. Driven by belief in the power of potential and talent, the movement had made its way to the very top of the mountain.
7. Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix) – Flavour
Initially a laidback remake of the Rex Lawson song Sawale, Flavour’s Nwa Baby breathed new life when it was transformed into a highlife-styled dancehall-anchored banger. Under its new name Ashawo Remix, Flavour sounds more energetic over an infectious groove. He emits the aura of a self-assured veteran as he sings in Igbo, the language where he feels most at home. Highlife music has served the Igbo community in Nigeria for decades as a source of inspiration and identity, and Flavour is just one of the many who still walk the paths that those before them paved. With Nwa Baby, Flavour pays homage while pushing the envelope.
6. Love Nwantiti – CKay
Released in 2019, Love Nwantiti took a while to generate the moment it needed to fulfil its destiny. The song’s success is proof that exposure makes all the difference when in search of global relevance. With his typical smoothness, CKay crafts savoury melodies around love-drunk lyrics within the ambient production and turns a simple refrain into one of the most recognizable hooks on the planet. To its credit, Afrobeats has always found a way to leverage the listener’s gravitation towards romance music. So it should come as no surprise that Love Nwantiti is up there with the great love anthems.
5. Fire on the Mountain – Aṣa
When Aṣa released her self-titled album in 2007, she set a lofty standard. The excellence shone through in the mixing, production, lyrics, and pretty much every inch of anything else. Even though the project was influenced by multiple genres synonymous with Western music, she was still true to her roots. One of the standout songs was Fire on the Mountain, a call-to-action against the steady (and sometimes inconspicuous) decay in our societies. Aṣa remains a sterling example of how to embody cross-cultural influences and yet be thoroughly African in outlook and expression.
4. African Queen – 2Baba
Before the so-called Big Three of Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy, there was another big three that held sway in Nigeria for almost a decade. D’Banj, duo P-Square, and 2Baba. They dominated radio and charged unprecedented amounts for appearances. However, it is a popular argument that 2Baba (formerly known as 2Face) was generally superior to his contemporaries. One of the backing points of this stance is the existence of African Queen, an R&B-anchored love song widely considered to be his very best. African Queen holds a place in history as the first music video to be played on MTV Base Africa and it was the propeller behind Africa’s first win at the MTV Europe Music Awards. This one song transcended beyond its surface value into a being a cultural landmark, the symbol of an era, and a beacon of hope for aspirants who may have thought there was no way out of the vacuum.
3. Essence – Wizkid ft Tems
Just like Love Nwantiti, Essence also took a while to get going. Initially released as part of Wizkid’s Made in Lagos album in 2020, it went on to become the monster hit single that introduced Tems to a captivated global audience. Produced by Legendury Beatz and P2J, Essence is a an expression of yearning for an irreplaceable love. A Justin Bieber feature and a Grammy nomination later, it’s safe to say we witnessed a canon event in more ways than one.
2. Do Me – P-Square ft Waje
There is a valid argument to be made that Afrobeats wouldn’t quite be the same without dancehall. Unfortunately, this opinion is often voiced with condescension, as though Africa should be ashamed about this. The mother continent and its diaspora are inseparably connected in different ways and its a thing of pride to be tributaries to each other. There would be no Do Me without dancehall, but the song’s identity is also testament to much more. The song details a cleverly crafted flirtatious exchange that’s barely clean enough for the radio. We could go on all day about P-Square’s influence on the soundscape or their emphasis on excellence in showmanship, but Do Me serves as a sufficient representative of their artistic legacy.
1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid
Talented duo Legendury Beatz makes another appearnace on the list for their production on the iconic Ojuelegba. Without a doubt, Afrobeats’ producers have played a massive role in shaping the destiny of the genre. They have incorporated so much variety into the sound and have never been afraid to adopt whatever was needed. Their ingenuity had led to Europe and Asia marveling at how their sounds were reimagined and they have shown us that regional African genres like soukous and makossa can also be stitched into the collage. Figures like ID Cabasa, Masterkraft, Sheyman, Cobhmas Asuquo, Don Jazzy, OJB Jezreel, and a community of others sonically laid the bricks for the edifice the world is now witnessing.
Ojuelegba caught the world’s attention when Drake hopped on the remix with UK rapper Skepta. Initially released in 2014, Ojuelegba shows us Wizkid expressing gratitude for his success but also reflecting on the difficult socio-economic circumstances that birthed him. The easygoing vibe calls for an evening drive on a freeway or a simple two-step. Complete with bittersweet melancholy, a synth line reminiscent of the g-funk era of hip-hop, and a wholesome airiness, we get a musical marriage of sounds that finds the right balance. Thanks to the attention from Wizkid’s collaborations with Drake (including One Dance, of course), more of the world was able to witness his talent. With over 15 years in the game, he’s still going strong with the confidence of a veteran that has nothing to prove but everything to gain.
Conclusion
It’s been a very eventful quarter-of-a-century for Afrobeats and, by all indications, there is so much more to come. As this is a subjectively generated list, it would be understandable if you feel some solid contenders were unjustly left out. That is the beauty of art; it means different things to different people. Even the meaning and true scope of Afrobeats is still a source of debate as the genre’s tentacles sprawl into different places. Artistes like Congo’s own Awilo Longomba, Ivorian group Magic System, and a host of others are within their rights to claim they are part of this story. At the end of the day, the history of pop music in Africa is one of different eras blending into each other as the sounds continue to shapeshift and wear new masks.
This piece was submitted by a contributing writer, James Ayotundé.
