Afrobeats has exploded from Lagos and Accra nightclubs to global playlists, but some albums cut through the noise and remain staples in culture, streaming, and radio charts years after their release. Billboard recently published a staff list of the 50 greatest Afrobeats songs of all time, which helps illustrate how editors and critics are evaluating longevity and influence in the genre.
1. “African Queen” — 2Baba (then 2Face) (2004)
A calming ballad of lovers with pan-African mass appeal, “African Queen” turned 2Baba into a continental sensation and has been embraced across generations. The song has perennially appeared in lists of nostalgia. It consistently ranks at or near the top of Billboard’s recent “Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time” list, indicating its enduring cultural relevance two decades after its release.
2. “Ojuelegba” — Wizkid (2014)
“Ojuelegba” is widely credited as one of the Afrobeats breakout hits that brought the genre’s global popularity to the map. Its minimalist, tear-jerking tale of life in a Lagos neighbourhood resonated beyond borders. It spawned a high-profile remix with Drake and Skepta that brought further international attention to Nigerian pop. Critics still reference “Ojuelegba” as the moment when Afrobeats went global.
3. “Oliver Twist” — D’banj (2011)
D’banj’s “Oliver Twist” was among the first crossover hits that found their way onto UK charts and gave Afropop its initial big European commercial success. Placements on UK charts and heavy radio rotation made Afrobeats sounds familiar to new landscapes and proved that Nigerian pop could compete in the global single charts. That crossover legacy is much of the reason this song can still be found on “best of” retrospectives.
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4. “Fall” — Davido (2017)
“Fall” is arguably the most clear-cut example of a modern Afrobeats song that was gradually, naturally gaining international momentum. It stayed abnormally long on Billboard charts for a Nigerian pop song, achieved major streaming milestones and was Davido’s first on international playlists. Media attention has turned “Fall” into a textbook example of how an Afrobeats song can translate into long-term, cross-border commercial success.
5. “Ye” — Burna Boy (2018)
“Ye” entered as the single that catapulted Burna Boy from respected critic’s darling to global mainstream sensation. The rhythmic cadence, sing-along chorus and pertinently relevant timeliness made it a diaspora anthem and a frequent shorthand for Afrobeats today globally. “Ye” is now commonly cited in arguments over the genre’s artistic depth and global reach.
Why these five last?
Sustained presence comes from a mix of musicality, storytelling, shrewd collaborations or remixes, and long-term radio and streaming visibility. Some of those albums, like “Ojuelegba” and “Oliver Twist,” were early tests of Nigerian music’s capability to go beyond borders. Others, like “Fall” and “Ye,” set streaming trails and chart histories that endured as Afrobeats crossed into the mainstream. Lastly, classics like “African Queen” remind us that emotional songwriting and melody are as important as beat and production when it comes to standing the test of time.
