Ghana’s Sarkodie, Amaarae Make Billboard’s Afrobeats Top Songs of All Time List

Billboard has released its Top 50 Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time, with Nigerian legend 2Baba’s timeless hit “African Queen” taking the number one spot.

Ghana was well represented on the list, with songs from Sarkodie, Castro, Fuse ODG, Amaarae, R2Bees, and Moliy making the cut. The featured Ghanaian tracks include:

• R2Bees ft. Wande Coal – “Kiss Your Hand” (No. 13)
• Fuse ODG ft. Itz Tiffany – “Azonto” (No. 18)
• Sarkodie ft. Castro – “Adonai” (No. 19)
• Amaarae & Moliy – “Sad Girlz Luv Money” (No. 29)

The rest of the top five features Wizkid’s Ojuelegba (No. 2), Flavour’s Nwa Baby [Ashawo Remix] (No. 3), Rema’s global smash Calm Down (No. 4), and Wizkid & Tems’ Essence (No. 5). CKay’s viral anthem Love Nwantiti secured the sixth position.

Billboard explained that the ranking celebrates “the game changers of the genre” and was based on stylistic representation, local popularity, regional expansion, cultural impact, and commercial success. Importantly, the publication clarified that Afrobeats (with an “s”) should not be confused with Afrobeat, the 1960s genre pioneered by Fela Kuti.

Other iconic songs in the top 20 include Styl-Plus’ Olufunmi (11), 9ice’s Gongo Aso (12), Davido’s Fall (8), Burna Boy’s Ye (9), and P-Square’s Do Me.

The full list spans several generations of Afrobeats, from early 2000s classics like Styl-Plus’ Olufunmi and Olu Maintain’s Yahooze, to modern global chart-toppers such as Asake’s Peace Be Unto You (PBUY), Libianca’s People, and Davido’s Unavailable.

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🔗 Full Billboard Top 50 Afrobeats Songs of All Time (selected highlights):

1. 2Baba – African Queen (2004)
2. Wizkid – Ojuelegba (2014)
3. Flavour – Nwa Baby [Ashawo Remix] (2011)
4. Rema – Calm Down (2022)
5. Wizkid ft. Tems – Essence (2020)
6. CKay – Love Nwantiti (2019)
   …
7. R2Bees ft. Wande Coal – Kiss Your Hand (2009)
8. Fuse ODG ft. Itz Tiffany – Azonto (2013)
9. Sarkodie ft. Castro – Adonai (2014)
10. Amaarae & Moliy – Sad Girlz Luv Money (2020)
    …
11. Weird MC – Ijoya (2006)