Afrobeat has had an exciting year in music, with singles and diverse projects from our favourite artists. Not only did we get solo works, but we also got collaborations between the most unexpected artists that made it into our top rankings. This is our top 10 album rankings for the year so far.
- “M$NEY” by Asake
Asake’s “M$NEY” album was released in April, and yet no album has been able to take its crown. The 13-track album felt like listening to the singer tell his own autobiography, and it was indeed an historic milestone we could not get enough of; Nigerians agreed, as the album reached 37.5 million streams on Nigerian Spotify within six days, breaking the previous record held by Wizkid’s “Morayo.” It ranks 1 on our list for once again proving that a cultural Afrobeat album will always be the greatest work of art.
- “StarrGirl” by Ayra Starr
“StarrGirl” hasn’t been out for a week, and yet it has topped our rankings for albums released this year. Ayra Starr is one of the most talented women in the Nigerian industry this decade, and this album was proof of why she is called a versatile artist. This album is at number 2 in our rankings for its versatility, diversity, and the way she fit so many different genres of music into one album while keeping it cohesive.
- “Clarity of Mind” by Omah Lay
Omah Lay is one of those artists who just know how to drop a perfect album, and “Clarity of Mind” is exactly that: a perfect album. The 12-track album was released in April, and months later, it is still one of the best bodies of work to come out of Afrobeats this decade. It ranks number 3 on our list for its unique sounds, creativity, and the emotional depth of every track. Listening to “Clarity of Mind” felt like a warm hug.
- “Real, Vol.1” by Wizkid & Asake
When two Afrobeat legends come together to put out a body of work, you have no choice but to pay attention, and with this EP, we did, and we came out believing it was a cultural reset. The 4-track EP gave us a concentrated dose of two of Afrobeats’ biggest stars in full sync, and since its release in January, it has remained on our list as the greatest work dropped in Afrobeat this year. It ranks number 4 on our list for how much great music it gave us without overwhelming us, and yet it is an iconic body of work.
- “The Game Needs Us” by Sarz & BNXN
This year, Afrobeat artists found joy in teaming up to give us solid bodies of work, and “The Game Needs Us” did just that. The 5-track project released in May was short and yet a flawless execution by both Sarz and BNXN. The sounds on this project borrowed from both Amapiano and Afrobeat, yet the execution, which included a sample of Amadou and Mariam’s 1990 classic, made it a flawless hit. Ranked at number 5, this album gave us production excellence and emphasised the need for diversity in Afrobeats.
- “Break Time” by Falz
Released in June, this five-track EP was truly the break time we needed. It sat us down and took us through musical history with hard rap tracks, Afrobeat, and Afro-fusion, and followed the consistent trend of Afrobeat artists choosing versatility in their projects this year. “Break Time” is ranked 6th because it proved to us that Falz still knows how to get his audience to listen when he speaks.
- “Before The Morning Light” by Johnny Drille
2026 has truly been an exciting year for Afrobeats, with Johnny Drille releasing his long-awaited sophomore album, which is his first full-length project since 2021, and it did not disappoint. The album had everything we have come to love about Johnny Drille’s artistry, from the storytelling to the production and the air of vulnerability present in all the tracks. This 14-track project is undoubtedly Johnny’s best work to date, and for this, it ranks at number 7 on our list.
- “Oriadé” by Davido
Released in July, this 13-track album by Davido is the 6th studio album released by the Afrobeat legend. This album showed Davido’s growth as an artist and how his discography continues to evolve; it is also his most experimental, featuring hip-hop, Afrobeats, and R&B tracks while carrying an air of nostalgia. Although this is Davido’s shortest album, it is undoubtedly one of his slower-paced projects,, and it ranks 8th on our list.
- “Business” by Mavo
Mavo has been a fast-rising artist over the past two years, and this album shows he is here to stay. It was released in July, and the 13-track album was one of the most cohesive bodies of work released this year. Mavo has always been an experimental artist, and it was evident in the production and genres explored on this album, which is exactly why it ranks at number 9th on our list. It was an exciting, creative, and culturally significant sound.
- “Agba Romantic” by Joeboy and Wizard Chan
Ranked 10th, this album is for lovers and those who enjoy storytelling in their music. Once again, with this album, Afrobeat artists showed us the path to success in 2026 was duo albums, and in this 7-track project, they set a tone of love, maturity, and heartfelt expression, delivered with the calm confidence of two artists who know what they are doing with their music and artistry. This is one of the most perfectly executed collaborations between two artists with distinct sounds, creating magic.
