These are the Nigerian songs that made waves internationally
Top Nigerian songs that have made waves internationally aren’t necessarily the ones that featured foreign artiste(s), most of the songs are pure Afrobeat and created from the root.
For the past few years, Nigerian songs have been rapidly gaining ground and making an impact on the international stage.
The music of Nigeria includes many kinds of traditional (folk) and popular music fused in one genre as afrobeat or afropop.
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Afrobeat is a genre that implies the mixture of components or elements of West African musical varieties including highlife and fuji music with western jazz and subsequently funk and soul influences, now stylised as Afropop.
These are songs from Nigerian artiste that travels beyond boundary
2Baba – African Queen
African Queen is a song by 2Baba, it was released in 2004 as a supporting single to his debut album that launched him as a viable solo artist.
It cracked the border and became an international, in 2006, African Queen was used in the soundtrack for the film ‘Phat Girlz’, which was released internationally.
D’Banj – Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist is a song by D’banj, it was released in 2012, as a supporting single from DB Records’ compilation album titled D’Kings Men
Oliver Twist debuted at number nine (9) on the UK Singles Chart becoming the first-ever Nigeria song to debut on the chart, the visual also had the cameo appearance of Kanye West.
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Wizkid – Ojuelegba
Ojuelegba” is a song by Wizkid, it was released in 2014, In 2015 as a supporting single self-titled second studio album Ayo
Drake was the first mainstream artiste who jumped on the wave, remixing Wizkid‘s Ojuelegba song and from then established a relationship that birthed his hit single ‘One Dance‘
Davido – Fall
Fall is a song by Nigerian singer Davido, it was released in 2017.
It debuted in US Billboard Hot R&B Songs at #25 becoming the longest charting Nigerian pop song in Billboard.
Burna Boy – Ye
“Ye” is a song by Burna Boy, it was released 2018,
It peaked at #26 on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop and #31 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts
Rema – Iron Man
Iron is a song by Rema, it was released in 2019.
The song appeared on Barack Obama‘s 2019 summer playlist
Wizkid & Tems – Essence
Tems collaboration with Wizkid on their song Essence earned her multiple entries on Bilboard charts and massive reception of song on worldwide airplays mainstream.
Fireboy DML – Peru
“Peru” is a song by Nigerian singer Fireboy DML, it was released on 20 July 2021, through YBNL Nation, and distributed by Empire.
“Peru” was written by Ivory Scott and Fireboy DML and produced by Shizzi. On 23 December 2021, a reworked version of “Peru” was released, a collaboration with English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.
The music video for the version with Sheeran was released on 24 December 2021.
The song was nominated at the 7th annual African Entertainment Awards USA for Song of the Year.
The government of the Republic of Peru endorsed the version with Sheeran, encouraging its citizens to listen to it
Ckay – Love NwaNtiti
“Love Nwantiti” is a song by Nigerian singer and songwriter CKay, released in 2019 as the second track from his second extended play Ckay the First by Chocolate City through Warner Music Group.
A remix of the song titled “Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)” featuring Nigerian singer Joeboy and Ghanaian singer Kuami Eugene, released as a single in 2020, became a commercial success in Nigeria, Middle East, North Africa and in many European club venues, as well as the subject of collaborations with few local artists for localised variations.