10 Nigerian Songs That Gained International Recognition

The Nigerian music industry has surprisingly benefited from the new technologies and the artists are now famend globally. So now that Afrobeats is gaining mainstream success Nigerian musicians are not just limited to being celebrities in Nigeria but celebrities worldwide. From Grammy awards, to featuring with international artists, here are the 10 Nigerian songs that went worldwide.

1. Burna Boy – “Ye”

The one Nigerian song that could be consider to have impacted the international scene when it was released has be Burna Boy – Ye. This is a 2018 Afrobeats hit that went viral when people looking for Kanye West’s album which is also titled ‘Ye’ came across it. The rhythm was impressive and catchy, Burna Boy, there is no need to introduce, but still, having a genuine and memorable text about work and the lack of it was very popular all around the globe. “Ye” continued in affirming Burna Boy as the African Giant that he is.

2. Wizkid- Come Closer ft Drake

Wizkid is one artist who has shaken things up for Afrobeats and when he featured in Drake’s “come closer” in 2017. The track was a huge tropical-tinged hit during summer, and its combination of Afrobeats and Caribbean rhythms not only allowed Wizkid to make his beats known beyond the African audience. The release of “Come Closer” included Drake and it mark Afrobeats as the genre for crossing over to the mainstream international scene.

3. Davido – “Fall”

Davido did not disappoint, “Fall” which came out in 2017 was a global anthem especially for Africa and America, the song was in the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and was one of the most extended Nigerian songs on the billboard chart. “Fall” has overall eventually set free for Davido many states that earlier are still creating troubles for the Afrobeats artists.

4. Tiwa Savage – “All Over”

I love afro pop, the queen of afro pop, Tiwa Savage came into the lime light when she released her hit maker “all over”. The 2017 track was also special because of the jig like rhythm and the enthralling voice of Tiwa Savage. The music video received a huge success on YouTube and its view counts are in millions now. With “All Over”, Tiwa wasn’t only in every Nigerian home but she became a household name afro-pop star.

5. Burna Boy – “Anybody”

The climb to international recognition carried on with “Anybody”, a track that took Afrobeats international. Sung and written for the film Charlie’s Angels which hit cinema’s in 2019, “Anybody” is a funky, upbeat song, where the lyrics are all about having confidence in oneself. The track got an international reception, and Burna took the track to different prestigious platforms including Jimmy Kimmel Live!, to unveil Nigerian talents to the world.

READ ALSO: Jose Mourinho Sent Off During Fenerbahce’s 1-1 Draw against Manchester United

6. Wizkid ft. Tems – “Essence”

It is impossible to mention songs that went global without paying attention to “Essence.” This erotica released in the last year, in the `Made in Lagos’ album and which was just recently dropped featuring Tems became the pop song of the Summer of 2021. This was a break-through for Nigerian pop music, blending Tems’ other-worldly vocals with an Afrobeats drum-line, “Essence” was Wizkid’s first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100, securing him a place in the history of global popular music.

7. Simi – “Duduke”

As for Ajeero, “Duduke” is that song they released that was featured Internationally and also went viral. As a touching message to her unborn child, the song came out in 2020 found its resonant listeners across the globe including moms. The melodious lyrics well complimented the heart touching, sweet and lively vocals from Simi which ensured that “Duduke” was a hit across Africa and Asia, where fans also engaged in the #DudukeChallenge.

8. Rema – “Dumebi”

Rema gained the recognition from his fans with the song, Dumebi released in 2019. In a matter of weeks it started to gain popularity among Afrobeats lovers and the public was introduced to Rema’s music. The video for Dumebi with its lively rhythm and the memorable chorus was viewed by millions of listeners and established Rema as one of Nigeria’s music market leaders of the future.

9. Mr Eazi – “Leg Over”

This guy called Mr Eazi is quite relaxed in his music videos, and “Leg Over” is his biggest song to date. The track was released in 2017 and was famous in Africa, and it did not spread beyond it, taking hold overseas. The album’s blend of highlife Ghanaian and Afrobeat Nigerian was well received by fans around the globe thus, leading to Mr Eazi getting global acclaim.

10. Yemi Alade – “Johnny”

Taking a close look at Yemi Alade’s “Johnny‚” it can be said that it is still a song that has gone global. This song was released in 2014 and was widely received across the continent; it shot Yemi to fame across the world. The audacious storyline, rhythms, and Yemi overwhelmingly gave “Johnny” a place among the most popular Nigerian songs in the international market with the video featuring about 140 million views on YouTube.

Many Nigerian artists are exploring new frontiers and taking Afrobeats to new heights, and reaching the global market. Do you have any song in these lists in particular? Are there any other Nigerian hits that you think should feature into such a list? Don’t hesitate to leave your comment below!

Source: Xtrememediaonline.com