Nigerian Singer Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba’s 2004 classic ‘African Queen’ has topped Billboard’s Greatest Afrobeats Songs of All Time list.

This places him as one of Africa’s most influential voices for the genre.

The list of the best Afrobeats hits was curated by Billboard’s staff and includes 50 songs, with 2Baba’s ‘African Queen’ at the top.

The timeless hit, produced by OJB Jezreel and released in 2004 on his debut album Face2Face, which received numerous awards and was later featured in the Hollywood film ‘Phat Girlz’ in 2006, remains one of Afrobeats’ greatest love anthems.

In second place was ‘Ojuelegba,’ a breakthrough track from Ayodeji Balogun, also called Wizkid, which amplified the global reach of his music career, collaborating with other international artistes such as Drake and Skepta. Flavour’s song Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix) ranked third. 

Rema’s song Calm Down, the first African song to reach over one billion streams on Spotify, was in fourth place. His remix featuring Selena Gomez topped the Billboard Global Excl. US chart, reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and stayed at No. 1 on the U.S. Radio Songs chart for ten weeks. 

Wizkid’s song Essence featuring Tems, from his ‘Made in Lagos’ album, is in the top five, earning many international certifications, and was also nominated for Best Global Music at the 64th Grammy Awards. 

Other tracks in the top 10 include CKay’s Love Nwantiti, D’banj’s Oliver Twist, Davido’s Fall, Burna Boy’s Ye, and P-Square’s Chop My Money (Remix) with Akon.

Billboard explained that the list highlights Afrobeats’ most influential and popular songs (with an “s”), not to be confused with Afrobeat, Fela Kuti’s 1960s genre blending West African rhythms, fuji, highlife, jazz, funk, and political lyrics.

To celebrate the “game changers of the genre,” with selections based on popularity, cultural impact, commercial success, and regional reach.

The ranking highlights the finest the genre’s finest hits, both from the past and the present, showcasing the genre’s evolution from its early pioneers to its current global “heavy hitters” Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Rema, Asake, and others who have propelled Afrobeats onto the world stage.

The list also recognises all-time favourites such as Styl-Plus’ Olufunmi, 9ice’s Gongo Aso, Timaya’s Dem Mama, Weird MC’s Ijoya, Yemi Alade’s Johnny, Wande Coal’s Bumper to Bumper, and Phyno’s Fada Fada with Olamide. 

More recent songs from the rise of the Afrobeats streaming era, such as Burna Boy’s Last Last, Fireboy DML’s Peru, Oxlade’s Ku Lo Sa, Asake’s Peace Be Unto You, and Kizz Daniel’s Buga

Here’s the full list by Billboard:

1.       2Baba, “African Queen” (2004)

2.       Wizkid, “Ojuelegba” (2014)

3.       Flavour, “Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)” (2011)

4.       Rema, “Calm Down” (2022)

5.       Wizkid feat. Tems, “Essence” (2020)

6.       CKay, “Love Nwantiti” (2019)

7.       D’banj, “Oliver Twist” (2011)

8.       Davido, “Fall” (2017)

9.       Burna Boy, “Ye” (2018)

10.   P-Square, “Chop My Money (Remix)” (2012)

11.   Styl-Plus, “Olufunmi” (2003)

12.   9ice, “Gongo Aso” (2008)

13.   R2Bees feat. Wande Coal, “Kiss Your Hand” (2009)

14.   Davido, “Dami Duro” (2011)

15.   Yemi Alade, “Johnny” (2013)

16.   D’banj, “Fall in Love” (2008)

17.   Wande Coal, “Bumper to Bumper” (2008)

18.   Fuse ODG feat. Itz Tiffany, “Azonto” (2013)

19.   Sarkodie feat. Castro, “Adonai” (2014)

20.   Phyno ft. Olamide, “Fada Fada” (2016)

21.   Tiwa Savage & Don Jazzy, “Eminado” (2013)

22.   Burna Boy, “Last Last” (2022)

23.   Olamide, “Bobo” (2015)

24.   Afro B, “Drogba (Joanna)” (2018)

25.   Wizkid, “Pakurumo” (2011)

26.   Mr. Eazi & Efya, “Skin Tight” (2015)

27.   Wande Coal & DJ Tunez, “Iskaba” (2016)

28.   Fireboy DML, “Peru” (2021)

29.   Amaarae & MOLIY, “Sad Girlz Luv Money” (2020)

30.   Burna Boy feat. Zlatan, “Killin Dem” (2019)

31.   Ayra Starr, “Rush” (2022)

32.   The Mavins, “Dorobucci” (2014)

33.   Runtown, “Mad Over You” (2016)

34.   P-Square, “Personally” (2013)

35.   Tekno, “Pana” (2016)

36.   Maleek Berry, “Kontrol” (2016)

37.   Oxlade, “Ku Lo Sa” (2022)

38.   Lojay & Sarz, “Monalisa” (2021)

39.   Skales, “Shake Body” (2014)

40.   Davido feat. Musa Keys, “Unavailable” (2023)

41.   Asake, “Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)” (2022)

42.   Libianca, “People” (2022)

43.   Kizz Daniel feat. Tekno, “Buga” (2022)

44.   Ice Prince feat. Brymo, “Oleku” (2010)

45.   Olu Maintain, “Yahooze” (2007)

46.   Victony & Tempoe, “Soweto” (2022)

47.   Jazzman Olofin feat. Adewale Ayuba, “Raise Da Roof” (2004)

48.   Timaya, “Dem Mama” (2005)

49.   Nonso Amadi, “Tonight” (2016)

50.   Weird MC, “Ijoya” (2006)