For years, African pop stars were told the world was not ready for their music. These ten songs proved otherwise. Each one broke records or reached charts far from home, and together they tell the story of how African music went global.
1. One Dance by Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla (2016)
Technically it is Drake’s song, but “One Dance” changed everything for Afrobeats. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks and spent 15 weeks at number one in the UK. With it, Wizkid became the first Nigerian artist to top the Hot 100.
In October 2016 it became the most-streamed song ever on Spotify at the time, with over a billion plays. South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa was one of its co-producers.
2. Calm Down (Remix) by Rema and Selena Gomez (2022)
The Selena Gomez remix of “Calm Down” reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one in Canada. The IFPI named it the second best-selling single in the world in 2023, with 1.89 billion subscription stream equivalents.
3. Water by Tyla (2023)
“Water” made Tyla the first South African soloist to enter the Hot 100 in over 55 years, since Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing in the Grass” in 1968. It peaked at number seven, higher than Miriam Makeba’s “Pata Pata”, making Tyla the highest-charting African female soloist in the chart’s history.
4. Essence by Wizkid featuring Tems (2020)
“Essence” was the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead single, and on the Billboard Global 200. Billboard later called its top ten entry a sign “that the ascendant genre had real staying power” in America.
5. Love Nwantiti by CKay (2019)
Few African songs have travelled as widely. “Love Nwantiti” topped the charts in India, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland and reached number three in the UK. A version by the rapper ElGrandeToto became a hit in Germany, Italy, Austria and Denmark.
6. Love Me JeJe by Tems (2024)
Tems took Seyi Sodimu’s 1997 Nigerian hit “Love Me Jeje” and rebuilt it as Afrobeats for her debut album, Born in the Wild. It won the Grammy for Best African Music Performance in 2025.
Her earlier single “Free Mind” had already reached number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “Love Me JeJe” confirmed her as a global name.
7. Jerusalema by Master KG featuring Nomcebo (2019)
Sung in Zulu, “Jerusalema” went viral in mid-2020 through the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge, as people around the world filmed themselves dancing to it. It reached number one in Belgium, the Netherlands, Romania and Switzerland.
A remix with Burna Boy, singing in Zulu and Yoruba, followed in June 2020, and another with Venezuelan and Colombian singers that September.
8. Active by Asake and Travis Scott (2024)
From Asake’s third album, Lungu Boy, “Active” paired him with Travis Scott. Produced by Mike Dean and Sarz, it samples Jazzman Olofin’s “Raise Da Roof”, which ties a big-name American collaboration back to classic Nigerian music.
9. Dumebi by Rema (2019)
Rema’s debut single, produced by Ozedikus, was a sleeper hit that kept growing. Its success led to five remixes, including one with the American singer Becky G in February 2020.
It was the first sign of the international reach “Calm Down” would later confirm.
10. Location by Dave featuring Burna Boy (2019)
From the British rapper Dave’s debut album, Psychodrama, “Location” put Burna Boy’s voice at the centre of UK rap. It reached the top ten in the UK and has been certified five times platinum.
Find these artists, with track previews and streaming links, in the AfroYard artist directory.
