The Top Nigerian Songs of All-Time - Starting Eleven

I asked my Nigerian friends to name their top 5 songs ever, from Nigeria. My Nigerian alter-ego, Ayooluwaato Eze, also contributed, thanks to all he has learnt around Museke. I also asked Google Gemini (yes, not Meta AI, Chat GPT, Grok, Deepseek, or POE - because, I asked it through Google Sheets). You know it is my friend these days right? I also contributed my top 5, while reminiscing this list from 2009.

My first time in Nigeria was in 2011. But prior to that, I had been hearing a lot of Nigerian music (not like circa 2011 though) on Ghanaian TV. I did not even have to learn too much from my Nigerian friends at MIT. I got to know much more about Nigerian music when me, Edward Mabonga and others started Museke in 2006. It was great to see some of my friends suggest songs that we were jamming to back in the day.

I wanted to do a list of top 5, but there are too many songs. So I have aggregated 11, to represent Nigeria in the World Cup of #MusicWeDeyFeel. The starting eleven. Drop your opinions, props, suggestions in the comments section. Here we go, in no particular order, you can suggest who plays centre forward, sweeper, maestro, left wing back or goalkeeper in the comments. 

Sweet Mother - Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz (1976)

You know this song and you know it is from Nigeria right? Now, you know it is by a gentleman called Prince Nico Mbarga. You're welcome. If you do not play this song at an African party that includes mothers, the deejay is on a loooooooong thing.

Oliver Twist - D'Banj 

Talking about long things, don't get it twisted, love is a beautiful thing. D'Banj was unleashed by Don Jazzy, and we were asking for more. Oliver Twist is the standout track from Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo. Kanye (during those times and not the one of these times) was in the music video. This is the song that got Afrobeats on the way to being hugely popular in Europe and the world. Mo'hits! Ooooooshe! 

Jailer - Asa (2007)

Bukola Elemide appeared out of the blue. When Asa's first album came out, it sounded new, different, and unlike Nigerian music that we knew.  And she lived in ..... wait for it.... France! W8! W@?! But that is also why her music became such a hit! I saw her perform in San Francisco circa 2009, and the diversity of the crowd proved that she's on top of her game and a global superstar. I named her as 1 of the top 10 African female vocalists. She leads in her field.

African Queen - Tuface Idibia (2Baba) (2004)

I have met Innocent Idibia 3 times in my life - Accra, Boston and Oakland. 2Baba is a very nice guy in person, and he is Young, Famous and African. No, I am not going there. Yes, I know Anne was in the music video. When I used to club seriously in the Bay Area, I visited Reggae Gold in San Francisco almost every Saturday I could afford to. This is not your regular club in San Fran, but it was a popular club for black people and it closed at 5am. Yes, shun those 2am #wecantsellalcoholsoweareclosingshenanigans. There were 2 African songs that were normally played during the 6 hours of clubbing. Premier Gaou and African Queen. Legendary. Tuface is a legend. I especially like thanks to the patriotic songs he made. Ebe Like Say I for end or else I use too many examples For Instance.

Wait For Me - King Sunny Ade & Onyeka Onwenu (1989)

Talking about kings and queens, 2 legends of Nigerian music combined on this classic. If you are Nigerian and you do not know this song, na wa o! Both of them were nominated individually, aside this track. "If you love me, you would wait for me". If you love me, you would read to the end of this blog post, carefully. 

Chop My Money - P-Square ft Akon & May-D (2011)

Here's another twosome. Peter and Paul Okoye. They proved commercial success for African music on the continent and in African spaces. One P-Square song has to feature in this list. I have used my editorial prowess and powers to take this personally and choose this song that features Akon and May D. This is the ultimate party song for arguably the best group of music entertainers ever from Africa. You have to do the kick when it gets to Pushaa! They're a vibe. Yes, they excel at love songs too. On second thought, are we sure No One Like You should not take this spot. What a song that was! P-Square's songs helped me learn more Igbo. 

Lady - Fela & Africa 70 (1972)

You like that Fela is here but you disagree with the song? Water, e no get enemy! Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti is probably the most famous Nigerian artiste, ever, to this day. Argue in a gentlemanly manner (comments section please). Fela's career has legend written all over it. I visited the New Afrika Shrine sometime in 2011, during my very first trip to Naija. Tourist site ke. Fela has inspired so many African musicians. Wizkid & Burna Boy both went to another level when they started channeling "Abami Eda". This song celebrates African women in many ways. Let me save you the Google Search - Fela had 28 wives. Nigeria has 36 states. They all adore Fela's music. 

Calm Down - Rema ft Selena Gomez (2022)

You know when we were waiting for popular music from Africa to truly make a mark on the world stage, starting with America. Rema should have told us to calm down sometime in 2011. Because Divine Ikubor made sure we arrived! Calm Down rose as high as #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. I couldn't believe it. Well, not until he was invited to perform at the Ballon D'Or ceremony at least. Another banger! Selena Gomez made this song more popular, but do you know that there are Nigerians in her Mexican hometown? I dey lie? There are more YouTube views for this song than there are Nigerians. I bet you did not know that.

Essence - Wizkid ft Tems (2020)

Before Rema got to those heights, there was a whizzkid of Nigerian music. Wizkid has been one of the biggest Nigerian music superstars, ever since he said "Holla At Your Boi". Ojuelegba is an all0time classic too. However, he had a helping hand from Tems to get into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. It was the first Nigerian song to achieve this. Its remix with featuring Justin Bieber helped as well. Before that, he had scored a #1 with One Dance (with Drake). I met Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun once at the Kotoka airport in Accra. Yes, you know he comes to chill here a lot and he has made such great music with R2Bees. 

Ye - Burna Boy (2018)

The day I realised how way too big Burna was, was one fine day in 2018 in Kenya. I was debating where to go chill in Nairobi but people were talking about this Burna Boy concert. I knew Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, but I didn't know him like that. Respect! We had seen the likes of Soweto Gospel Choir, Angelique Kidjo, and got nominated for Grammys. They were making the kind of popular African music that didn't really feature in African playlists, radios and parties. Burna Boy burned down those bridges with Ye. We need to find a video of Barack Obama himself singing along. Burna became a true African Giant. He likes to party paa, all over the continent. If you think Last Last should have made this list instead of Ye or some other song here, I feel you.

Nwa Baby (Ashawo) - Flavour (2008)

I know the song is about prostitutes (you didn't know) but it is truly one of the greats. It seriously travelled across Nigeria's borders to many other African (and beyond) countries. I cannot take hearing this song in Addis Ababa out of my head. Flavour (N'abania) has been one of the top Nigerian acts for years, the odogwu himself. Chinedu Izuchukwu Okoli has endeared himself to many. 

Many thanks to friends like who contributed to this - Ade Johnson, Chidinma Obi, Ike Obidike, Manre Chirtau, Tayo Oguntebi, Ishaya Bako, Michael Akinnike, Rotimi Olawale, Misan Rewane, Uchechi and Misan Rewane. Have more #MusicWeDeyFeel to contribute? Drop a comment.

Check out this playlist of songs that were nominated, etc on YouTube.

PS: If you are asking about Davido ---- here we go.
Fall - Davido (2018)

The first thing you need to know about Davido is that he comes from a rich family but he works very hard. Davido has featured on way too many songs, with musicians from too many African countries. He deserves his accolades. Money Fall On You took Davido to another level. Circa 2018 especially. He is easily 1 of the 3 biggest Nigerian musicians now, this has been the case for many years now, since he said "Girl, your behind is a killer". Gobe!

PPS: I should add a song by Ayra Starr? Yes, her music and those of the likes of Fireboy DML and Asake give us vibes on vibes, but you dey rush.