Forget the MTV Base list: Here’s the authentic list of the top 20 Nigerian songs of all time

by Anike Jacobs

So earlier today, MTV Africa released a list of the top 20 greatest Naija songs of all time, with 2face Idibia’s  ‘African Queen’ topping the compilation.

Singer 9ice’s Gongo Aso, D’banj’s Oliver twist, Davido’s Skelewu and other contemporary tracks made the list but Nigerians do not agree with it and so we do.

We kinda agree with actor Chidi Mokeme’s submission who says “You can’t even do a Top 20 greatest AFRICAN Songs of ALL TIME without FELA. Not to talk of….. If na of ALL TIME, Abami Eda #FELA might even keep more than one slot to himself on that list. For wetin na? Abeg o! Thank God for #MASS. Movement Against Second Slavery! Don’t come and re colonize us o That’s how my teenage son will now think these age mates of his have contributed more to the growth of African Music than FELA… I know some songs have earned their place on the list (African Queen, Oliver Twist) but if we’re talking ALL TIME, pleeeeeease

We also agree with musician Eedris Abdulkareem, even though he went a little too far by cussing out on twitter.

I would like to say that from the director of research MTV Nigeria and all that made the selection of the evergreen songs may GOD punish u. Where are the Fela classic evergreen songs, where is Nigeria Jagajaga…Mtv is a fraud. Ubanku

Now we bring you our list of the top 20 Nigerian songs of all time.

  1. 2face – African Queen
  2. 9ice – Gongo Aso
  3. Fatai rolling dollars – Won Kere Si Number Wa
  4. King Sunny Ade – Suku Suku Bam Bam
  5. Fela Kuti – Zombie or Suffering & Smiling or Abami Eda
  6. Christy Essien IgbokweSeun Rere
  7. Victor Olaiya – Baby Jowo
  8. Onyeka Onwenu – Ekwe
  9. Prince Nico Mbarga – Sweet Mother
  10. Osita Osadebe – Osondi Owendi
  11. Mike Okri – Time Na Money
  12. Lagbaja – konko below
  13. King Sunny Ade and Onyeka Onwenu – Wait for me
  14. Sunny Okosuns – African Soldiers
  15. Ebenezer Obey – Eda
  16. Iyanya – Kukere
  17. Paul Dairo – Moso rire o
  18. Eedris Abdulkareem – Jagajaga
  19. Ras Kimono – under pressure
  20. Psquare – Do Me

 

Comments (4)

  1. Allowing for subjectivity, my top 20 would look like this…

    Fela Kuti – Teacher don’t teach me nonsense
    Prince Nico Mbarga – Sweet Mother
    Stylplus – Olufunmi
    Trybesmen – Shake Bodi
    2Face – African Queen
    Sir Shina Peters – AfroJuju
    Sunny Ade – Merciful God
    9ice – Gongo Aso
    D’banj – Oliver twist
    Dr. Victor Olaiya – Omo Pupa
    Bongos Ikwue – Still Searching
    Bunny Mack – My Sweety My Sugar
    Sonny Okosun- Fire in Soweto
    Onyeka Onwenu – You and I
    Da Grin – Pon Pon Pon
    Yvonne Maha – Diocha
    Christy Essien Igbokwe – Seun Rere
    Asa – Eye Adaba
    Lagbaja – konko below
    Davido – Dami Duro

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