Yemi Alade studio portrait, poise and power

Once upon a time, Afrobeats was just the sound of Lagos traffic blending with the drums of our neighborhoods. Today, it is a global language, filling arenas from New York to London and breaking every streaming record you can think of. The genre that started as street rhythm now owns a seat at the world’s biggest tables, and Billboard has just sealed that truth with an unforgettable moment, the release of its 50 Greatest Afrobeats Songs of All Time list.

This list is  a celebration of culture, hustle, and the undeniable power of African music. From 2Baba’s love anthem to Wizkid’s soulful hustle story, here’s the full story, the top rankings, and why these tracks matter more than ever.

Billboard’s Top 10 Afrobeats Songs Ever

1. African Queen – 2Baba (2004)
The anthem that started it all. When 2Baba sang African Queen, he wasn’t just praising beauty, he was introducing the world to Afrobeats. This song traveled continents before social media even knew how to trend.

2. Ojuelegba – Wizkid (2014)
Raw. Real. Resilient. Wizkid told a survival story every Lagos dreamer could relate to. Ojuelegba wasn’t just music, it was a map of hope, and Billboard recognized it.

3. Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix) – Flavour (2011)
The sound of pure joy. Flavour gave us a song that lights up weddings, clubs, and street carnivals even now. Highlife fused with Afrobeats? Legendary.

4. Calm Down – Rema (2022)
A modern classic. Calm Down didn’t just break the internet, it redefined global Afrobeats success. With Selena Gomez on the remix, this record became unstoppable, breaking charts from Lagos to Los Angeles.

5. Essence – Wizkid ft. Tems (2020)
The summer anthem that melted borders. Essence gave Afrobeats a seat at the mainstream table. It wasn’t just a song, it was a cultural passport.

6. Love Nwantiti – CKay (2019)
TikTok’s golden child. A love ballad turned into a global dance challenge, Love Nwantiti became one of the most streamed Afrobeats tracks ever.

7. Ye – Burna Boy (2018)
An anthem born from serendipity. Kanye West dropped Ye and the world stumbled on Burna Boy’s masterpiece. From then on, there was no stopping him.

8. Fall – Davido (2017)
Love and luxury in one hit. Fall became the longest-charting Afrobeats track in Billboard history at its peak. It was a game changer.

9. Oliver Twist – D’banj (2012)
Before Afrobeats became the darling of global stages, D’banj carried it to the UK charts with this cheeky, addictive jam.

10. Chop My Money (Remix) – P-Square ft. Akon (2012)
Pure vibes and international star power. This collab cemented Afrobeats’ early global ambitions.


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The Complete Top 50 List

Based on the Billboard staff list.

1. African Queen, 2Baba
2. Essence, Wizkid with Tems
3. Fall, Davido
4. Calm Down, Rema
5. Oliver Twist, D Banj
6. Love Nwantiti, CKay
7. Ye, Burna Boy
8. Ojuelegba, Wizkid
9. Fia, Davido
10. Peru, Fireboy DML with Ed Sheeran
11. Last Last, Burna Boy
12. Johnny, Yemi Alade
13. Ku Lo Sa, Oxlade
14. Buga, Kizz Daniel with Tekno
15. Fall In Love, D Banj with Wande Coal
16. Personally, P Square
17. Pull Over, Kcee with Wizkid
18. Skintight, Mr Eazi with Efya
19. Aye, Davido
20. One Dance, Drake with Wizkid and Kyla
21. Love Me, Tiwa Savage
22. Bounce, Ruger
23. If, Davido
24. Fever, Wizkid
25. Anybody, Burna Boy
26. On The Low, Burna Boy
27. Do Like That, Korede Bello
28. Kilometre, Burna Boy
29. High, Adekunle Gold with Davido
30. Skelewu, Davido
31. Ginger, Wizkid with Burna Boy
32. Who Is Your Guy, Spyro
33. Soco, Starboy with Wizkid, Terri, Spotless, Ceeza Milli
34. Iskaba, Wande Coal with DJ Tunez
35. True Love, Wizkid with Tay Iwar and Projexx
36. Joromi, Simi
37. Durosoke, Olamide
38. Kontrol, Maleek Berry
39. Woju, Kizz Daniel
40. 4 Days, Kcee
41. Ada Ada, Flavour
42. Die For You, Rema
43. Madame Poutine, Aya Nakamura
44. Joli, Khaid
45. Soapy, Naira Marley
46. Zazoo Zehh, Portable
47. Rover, Darkoo with One Acen
48. Soweto, Victony with Tempoe
49. For My Hand, Burna Boy with Ed Sheeran
50. Who You Epp, Olamide with Wande Coal and Phyno

Why These Songs Matter

Afrobeats is more than beats and hooks. These songs shaped stories and broke boundaries.

  • Cultural Impact: African Queen was the first whisper, Ojuelegba became the survival anthem, and Essence turned into a bridge between cultures.

  • Streaming Era Influence: Calm Down and Love Nwantiti showed how viral power changes the game.

  • Global Respect: Billboard didn’t just compile a list, they documented history in real time.

What This Means for Afrobeats

This recognition is not the finish line, it’s the beginning of a bigger wave. The next generation , Ayra Starr, Asake, Fireboy DML , are already pushing boundaries. Afrobeats is not just trending, it’s evolving, dominating, and redefining what global pop sounds like.

Your Turn

Which of these songs owns your heart? Do you agree with African Queen at number one, or should another anthem take the crown? Drop your thoughts in the comments and share this with every Afrobeats lover you know!

 

Davido performs on stage, pure joy with crowd and lights
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