Afrobeats has achieved global prominence, showcasing some of the greatest hits that have shaped music history in recent decades. Yet, Billboard's Top 50 Afrobeats songs list reveals a glaring omission: East African artists (EAC) are nowhere to be found, while Nigerian artists dominate the ranks.
Among the 50 songs, Nigerian artists are at the forefront. Icons like 2Baba claimed the #1 spot with “African Queen,” while Wizkid secured multiple spots with “Essence” at #5, “Ojuelegba” at #2, and “Pakurumo” at #25. Burna Boy’s tracks “Last Last” and “Ye” ranked #22 and #9, respectively, while Davido appeared with worldwide hits like “Fall” at #8, “Dami Duro” at #14, and “Unavailable” at #40. D’banj also made the list with “Oliver Twist” at #7 and “Fall in Love” at #16.
Rising stars like Rema (“Calm Down” at #4), CKay (“Love Nwantiti” at #6), and Kizz Daniel (“Buga” at #43) were featured alongside other influential artists such as Olamide, Tiwa Savage, Phyno, Timaya, Flavour, and P-Square.
While West Africa maintains its grip on the international music scene, East African countries – Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Burundi – lacked representation on Billboard’s playlist of Afrobeats milestones.
This disparity highlights Afrobeats’ Nigerian-centered origins and development, while artists from East Africa have struggled for global recognition in this genre.
Billboard's list further underscores Nigeria's instrumental role in promoting and establishing Afrobeats on the world stage, leaving East Africa striving for a more impactful presence in the genre's global narrative.
Afrobeats: A Decade of Global Impact
Over the last decade, Afrobeats has made remarkable strides internationally. The genre has dominated major concerts worldwide, collaborating with Western legends such as Beyoncé, Drake, and Ed Sheeran.
Its influence extends to prestigious awards and newly created categories. Billboard introduced the U.S. Afrobeats Songs Chart in 2022, while the UK’s Official Charts Company launched the U.K. Afrobeats Chart in 2020.
In 2022, The Recording Academy (Grammy Awards) established the Best African Music Performance category, with other institutions such as MTV Video Music Awards and American Music Awards also creating Afrobeats-specific accolades.
These milestones cemented Afrobeats as one of the most rapidly growing genres on the global music stage.
Afrobeats vs. Afrobeat: Key Differences
Billboard clarified that its list emphasizes Afrobeats—with an “s”—distinct from Afrobeat, which was pioneered by Fela Kuti during the 1960s.
Afrobeat was defined by a blend of African rhythms, jazz, and American funk, often bringing strong political narratives to its compositions.
In contrast, Afrobeats emerged in the 2000s with its roots in polyrhythms, syncopation, and influences from hip-hop, R&B, dancehall, and more. It is primarily performed in Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin, and English.
Billboard’s selection process for its top 50 Afrobeats songs considered factors like musical composition, domestic popularity, regional contributions, cultural significance, and international sales.
The list excluded songs globally popular but lacking significant Afrobeats elements, such as South African artist Tyla’s “Water” – a hit that earned global recognition but didn’t fit traditional Afrobeats criteria, despite its influence.
Billboard also included tracks from Nigeria’s alté subculture and street-pop genres, ensuring comprehensive representation of all Afrobeats subcategories.
Media experts and journalists from the US, UK, and Nigeria selected the entries, limiting each artist to a maximum of three songs to allow broader representation of lesser-known talents.
The list was revealed in stages, culminating in the top 10 songs disclosed on August 19, 2025, with 2Baba’s timeless hit “African Queen” earning the #1 spot.
Why East African Artists Missed the Cut
The absence of East African artists from Billboard’s Afrobeats Top 50 list reflects the genre's evolution and its historically Nigerian origins.
Afrobeats can trace its roots primarily to Nigeria, with Ghana offering minor contributions. The genre began as a Nigerian innovation in the 2000s, evolving from Afrobeat under the pioneering work of Fela Kuti. Nigerian artists have propelled Afrobeats globally for decades, making Nigeria its epicenter.
In contrast, East African regions feature vastly different musical styles, detached from Afrobeats. Tanzania shines with Bongo Flava and Singeli, Uganda leans toward reggae and dancehall, Kenya popularizes genres like Genge and Gengetone, while Rwanda and Burundi lean more toward Afro-fusion, RnB, and Hip-hop.
Furthermore, EAC artists often focus on local markets, whereas Nigerians have long invested in reaching international audiences.
Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy owe their international success to collaborations with global superstars like Drake, Beyoncé, and Ed Sheeran.
Nigeria’s music industry also benefits from established labels, top-notch producers, and major music investors like Mavin Records, Starboy, DMW, and Chocolate City – infrastructure still lacking in East Africa.
EAC must develop comparable resources to consistently position its artists on a worldwide stage.
Billboard also highlighted the artists who advanced Afrobeats in the past two decades, featuring giants like Burna Boy, Davido, P-Square, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, and Tiwa Savage.
The Billboard list celebrates Afrobeats for its vibrant rhythms and cultural richness.
WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE #1 SONG ON THE BILLBOARD LIST HERE