For 25 years, the success of Nigerian pop music has been driven by a steady release of smash hit records that have birthed new stars, impacted the culture, and exported Afrobeats to a global audience.
At every point in Afrobeats history since 1999, there have been era-defining songs that pushed creative boundaries and held the aspirations of a culture.
To mark 25 years of Afrobeats (1999 – 2024), Pulse Music Desk has compiled a list of the 25 greatest songs that have left an indelible mark on the nation’s pop culture and played a part in the local and international expansion of Nigerian music.
This list is compiled with contributions from industry experts, including veteran music journalists, executives, and media personalities.
The panelists were guided by the following criteria:
Commercial Success – The commercial scale of the song and its impact on the Nigerian music scene.
Cultural significance – The importance of the song in pop culture and its contribution to the sonic direction and mileage of Nigerian music.
The first installment of this list (NO. 25 – 11) was unveiled last week. This week, we unveil the top 10 greatest Afrobeats songs of all time.
10. Jaga Jaga – Eedris Abdulkareem (2004)
In 2004, Eedris Abdulkareem was already the country’s biggest rapper. With his song ‘Jaga Jaga’, he didn’t aim for the club. Rather, he dug into the conscience of a nation grappling with socioeconomic injustice.
The bold track united the Nigerian masses and angered the then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, who publicly condemned Abdulkareem for daring to make a national anthem of resistance.
9. Oleku – Ice Prince feat. Brymo (2010)
‘Oleku’ announced the entrance of the rapper whose music would dominate the African hip hop scene and underscore the influence of rap in Afrobeats.
Ice Prince’s swaggering new school rap, Brymo’s captivating chorus, and Jesse Jagz’s vibrant production delivered a record that dominated the country and gave Nigerian pop music mileage on the continent through one of the most covered Afrobeats songs yet.
8. My Car – Tony Tetuila (2001)
“You don hit my car, oyinbo repete,” is one of the most famous and iconic lyrics in Afrobeats history.
Released in 2001, Tony Tetulia‘s ‘My Car’ delivered what was Afrobeats’ earliest hit record that offered insights into the sonic structure of a genre combining hip hop, Nigerian language, and drums, and the daily reality of life in making music that would export Nigerian culture to the world.
7. Dami Duro – Davido (2011)
Few songs have impacted the Nigerian party scene, music industry, and the career of a star like ‘Dami Duro,’ which rocketed a teenage Davido from new star to superstar.
Over a decade later, the song continues to capture Davido‘s essence and Afrobeats spirit. ‘Dami Duro’ is loud, confident, captivating, and an unapologetic announcement of the entrance of a star and culture ready to take on the world.
6.Ojuelegba – Wizkid (2014)
When Afrobeats needed to get into the second gear of its global ascent, Wizkid stepped in with the mid-tempo groove ‘Ojuelegba’.
The song soulfully tells the story of a star who rose from Ojuelegba, Surulere, to an international superstar face of Afrobeats.
The emotions, hope, and delight it offers won the hearts of listeners, including Nigerian-British star Skepta and Canadian global star Drake, who jumped on the record and rocketed it to international fame.
5.Oliver Twist– D’banj (2012)
D’banj is one of Afrobeats’ most enigmatic stars whose music, videos, and persona captured the confidence and flamboyance of Nigerian pop music.
His hit single ‘Oliver Twist’ held the perfect blend of Afrobeats, hip hop, and EDM, which combined for a song that took Nigerian pop to the big international stage, evidenced in its historic number nine peak on the UK Singles Chart.
With ‘Oliver Twist’, D’banj caught the ears of Kanye West, who signed him to his label GOOD Music, which was a cultural breakthrough that positioned the famous Koko Master as one of the first Nigerian pop stars to truly taste global success
