The year 2022 has been quite wonderful for the Nigerian music scene, as it saw the global success of Afrobeats.
While there were so many great African songs in 2022, we have compiled the top 5 afrobeat songs of 2022 just for you.
The sound, which is sourced from Africa but embraces pulses from around the world, remains the comfort of nostalgia and continues to push boundaries which has been rewarded with continuous appearances on the charts and notable award platforms globally.
This revolutionary deed is owed to the many Nigerian artists whose talents and hard work have helped take the genre global.
Here is an (unranked) rundown of the biggest Afrobeats songs for the year…
Kizz Daniel – Cough (Odo)
https://youtu.be/4j7Fa2PCMow
Following the massive success of his masterpiece ‘BUGA’ which moved the world with over 264.5 million views on TikTok, among other social media platforms, incredibly gifted Afro pop artist, Kizz Daniel, released an equally addictive new single:
“Cough – (Odo)” on Friday, October 14, 2022.
According to Kizz Daniel, in his track, he “wanted to highlight the feeling of new love.
The song itself is energetic, celebratory and really captures what it’s like to impress someone new.”
Cough (Odo) has been described multiple times over as another banger with a fantastic rhythm delivery and well-blended vocals.
This track definitely deserves a spot on your playlist.
Rema – Calm Down
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CQLsdm1ZYAw
If you’ve not listened to, or don’t have Rema’s “calm down” on your playlist.. Dey Play!
Released on the 25th of March as the 4th track on his album titled “Rave And Roses,” Rema’s hit single, calm down, has enjoyed year-round success after achieving international acclaim.
Over the song’s rhythmic production, Rema sings “Baby calm, this your body dey put my heart for lockdown,” on the song’s infectious hook, inviting his love interest to give into his advances with an irresistible boyish charm… and for most of us, we are able to see ourselves reflected in his catchy lyrics.
According to Pulse (Nig), “Rema has successfully toured Europe and America selling out venues including the O2 Brixton hall where he revealed that ‘Calm Down’ has surpassed 1 billion streams across all platforms.”
Pheelz ft. BNXN – Finesse
https://youtu.be/Vcwhe0pY4Bg
For those who have actively been on TikTok since the beginning of this year, you probably caught wind of the #FolakeChallenge in early February.
The challenge spurred from the song ‘Finesse,’ and based on the spirit of the song’s relatable lyric, “If I broke na my business/ ama shana e go bright o, Folake for the night o,” which speaks directly to many socio-economic issues that Nigerians currently face, folks on TikTok went with the flow, depicting themselves in sticky financial situations.
The origin of the song, Finesse, is owed to one of Nigeria’s leading producers, Pheelz, joined by an Afro-fusion feature-killer, BNXN (Buju).
What’s amusing and amazing about Finesse is that right after a snippet of the chorus from the song was released by Pheelz on TikTok, it immediately became a fan favorite.
Not that many snippets can actually pull off a stunt like that. Following the song’s release on 3 March 2022, it went on to do so well and spent a few weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
Asake ft. Burna Boy – Sungba
https://youtu.be/7WU__JQuB8g
Since dropping ‘Ololade‘, his eponymous EP, Asake has remained in the heart of Nigerian mainstream music, maintaining leg works at clubs, bars, and weddings with his hit tracks.
Adding pressure to it, Asake enlisted one of the respected African artists Burna Boy for the remix of ‘Sungba’, his hit song. On this song, Sungba (Remix), Asake came through with catchy lyrics while Burna Boy from his own dimension made the melody a remarkable one.
Ayra Starr – Rush
https://youtu.be/crtQSTYWtqE
After a brief hiatus from music, “Ayra Starr” makes a grand return with a sonorous, rhythmic and melodic tune titled “Rush”; taken from the deluxe edition of her hit album, 19 & Dangerous Album(out 14 October).
In a social media post, Ayra Starr said said she took a break from music to “master my craft and learn about myself, God”.
She went on to say of her intentions in making Rush: “Rush’ is really a description of where I am at the moment – a place of reflection, zeal and gratitude. E dey rush well well – all that I’ve dreamt of is happening and I’m in the middle of it all, living my dream and it can only get better.”
Ayra Starr creates a metaphorical description of “Rush” between “overflowing tap”‘ and “plenty money”. She says “kudi na my fantasy” and ready to dance like “Poco Lee”. Clearly, she is on her path trying to do what she does best with her life unrelenting, inspite of hate from enemies.
What Arya Starr said on social media is reflected in her lyrics where she sang: Me no getty time for the hate and the bad energy/Got mi mind on my money/Make you dance like Poco Lee/Steady green like broccoli/Steady on my grind, no wan hear what they want telly me/Kudi na my fantasy/Dem wan dey check if my tap e no rush.
