Afrobeats didn’t magically appear on global charts or land Grammy nominations overnight. Long before TikTok snippets, festival crowds in Europe, and sold-out tours abroad, there were songs that carried the sound on their backs through dusty speakers, campus hostels, roadside parties, weddings, and long bus rides home.

These are the records that made Afrobeats what it is today. Not because they went viral, but because they lasted. If you call yourself an Afrobeats lover, these songs should not just be familiar, they should live permanently on your playlist.

1. 2Face Idibia - African Queen (2004):

Yes, I know 2Face has been on the news for the wrong reasons lately but this is where we separate the artist from the art. There are love songs and there is African Queen. This track defined love for a whole generation. Parents sang it, weddings played it, movies used it –- it was literally everywhere.

Till today, a bald lady is usually referred to as African Queen, thanks to the iconic music video. I know 2004 is a whopping 22 years back but here me out, there are some classics that don’t age no matter how much music technology advanced. We call them ‘evergreen.’

2. Styl Plus - Olufunmi (2006):

Before heartbreak playlists became a thing, there was Styl Plus. Quick fact, Styl Plus was a band. Olufunmi is that slow, emotional rendition that has you begging an imaginary lover not to leave you.

It is that song you listen to and start playing out scenarios of heartbreak with a crush you have never met. Or maybe your ex.

Do I need to convince you more than this? Now, add to your playlist.

3.D’banj - Oliver Twist (2012):

This was the anthem of the early 2010s alongside Fuse ODG ‘Azonto’ and P Square ‘Personally.’ From every corner, you hear people singing, ‘oliver, oliver, oliver twist.’ This song looks into the life of a persona who likes everyone and cannot be satisfied alluding to Oliver Twist.

This song broke the international charts as at the time it felt impossible. Every global Afrobeats moment ever since owes something to this song.

4.P Square - Bizzy Body (2007):

If you know P square, you’d know their songs are synonymous to the anthems for the year. This particular song ruled the university party life of Nollywood movies and you have probably heard it recently on those Y2k clips on Tiktok. Bizzy Bodywas another anthem of the late 2000s and the 2010s. It is sad the duo had to separate, we could have more songs to cling to till the end of the 2010s.

5.Wizkid - Ojuelegba (2014):

This was the song that brought more international attention to Wizkid and it is safe to say it is evergreen. This song speaks about his upbringing in Ojuelegba and it is very relatable to people who grew up in middle-class or poor homes.The song’s raw emotion caught the attention of Drake and Skepta who jumped on the remix.

You should definitely add it to your playlist.

6.Yemi Alade - Johnny (2013):

Johnnywas that track everyone had on their lips. Go to the left, you’d hear ‘I’m looking for my Johnny.’ Go to the right, you’d hear ‘where is my Johnny?’ The track was very catchy and it resonated with women who have once experienced an unfaithful partner. This song garnered over 100 million views on Youtube and the song’s infectious energy makes it impossible to skip.

7.Adekunle Gold - Sade (2015):

Another love song that deserves the spot on your playlist. Sade is one of those tracks you find yourself relating to not because you are ready to settle down or walk down the aisle, but because it taps into that quiet hope of love done right.

It is about wanting something genuine, choosing commitment in a world that often treats love as temporary, and believing that softness is not weakness. So philosophical right? Because love is.

8. Burna Boy - Ye (2018):

This was another anthem for the streets and it introduced many to Burna Boy’s artistry. The chorus ‘ye, ye, ye, ye, ye o’ was quite catchy and will have you singing and grooving along. Up till today, this song is still played and many refer to it as their ultimate Burna Boy’s song, even alongside his recent tracks.

A non-negotiable for your playlist.

9.Davido - Aye (2014):

You cannot be a fan of Afrobeats and not know Aye. It feels like a criminal offence. Aye was one of the songs that carried 2014 and the years to come.

Go to a party, the DJ is blasting Aye in the baddest mix, tune to your radios, Ayeis most likely being played. Go to schools, you will definitely hear this masterpiece on the lips of the children. It was the national anthem.

This was one of the songs that cemented Davido’s place in the mainstream.

10. Olamide - Bobo (2015):

You know that dance where you raise one of your legs as you move your shoulders and arms to the rhythm of the song? This is the song that birthed the choreography.

The whole country was dancing, the boys were buying the brown Timberlands and pairing with their skinny jeans, the children were singing ‘Shakiti bobo.’ If you knew the dance steps, you were on top of the world. That was how much of an influence this song was.

Do I need to say more? This one deserves a permanent residency on your playlist.

The Playlist That Built a Movement

These 10 tracks are not just songs, they are time capsules. They carry the weight of a generation that danced through power outages, sang along on okada rides, and turned every small speaker into a party.

Long before Afrobeats became a "global phenomenon," these were the songs that made us proud to be African.

You might discover newer Afrobeats tracks that hit harder or sound more polished, but these classics? They are the foundation. They are the songs your older siblings argued over, the ones your parents tolerated at family gatherings, the ones that made DJs legends at campus parties.

So whether you are rediscovering them or hearing some for the first time, press play, turn the volume up, and let the music take you back. Some songs don’t age. They simply wait for the next generation to fall in love with them again.