African songs are among the most popular worldwide, with a high-pitched melody or vocal pattern that incorporates elements of traditional African rhythms and Western pop music styles. They instantly put us in a good mood whenever we hear them and make us want to dance the night away. The list of the best African songs of all time is lengthy, but in this article, we will highlight only the best and briefly describe each song.
So, without further ado, here’s a look at the Top 5 Best African Songs of All Time!
African Queen by 2Face Idibia (Nigerian)
2Face Idibia is the king of African pop music and has received numerous awards for his work. As one of the most successful hip-hop artists of all time, 2Face’s songs have become some of the most popular in Africa and around the world.
African Queen is a beautiful song that features his smooth vocals and celebrates “African women” and how they should be perceived. This song instills confidence in African women and makes them feel special. The music video is just as beautiful as the song, and it features women dancing, singing, and doing other things that highlight their beauty.
The song, which was released in 2004, became a huge hit across the continent. Some will argue that the song is about how men treat African women, but it actually shows how amazing African women are. They don’t need men to be self-assured or to look down on other women.
. Ojuelegba by Wizkid (Nigerian)
Wizkid, flipped the script on this ‘Rag to Riches’ cliched track from his self-titled second studio album ‘Ayo’ released in 2014, winning millions of hearts with his style and melody. The song was produced by Legendury Beatz and written by Wizkid himself.
Drenched in blobs of emotions, he conveniently conveyed a deep nostalgic message across to all, vividly telling a story of how he painstakingly struggled to establish a music career, which required him moving from one studio to another in Ojuelegba, also giving credence to his mum, who supported him the best way a mother could, through her prayers.
His heartfelt lyrics on the cross-over appealing afrobeat number, can be felt for years and yes, it most certainly was by not just one top international act in the person of English rapper, Skepta, but also Canadian born American rapper, Drake, both of whom joined forces with Wizkid, to record a remix.
Ojuelegba, upon release back in 2014, topped major charts and won several awards including ‘Song of the year’ Headies Award 2015, Song of the year and Best Video Of The Year at African Muzik Magazine Awards, ‘Hottest Single of The Year’ at the 2015 NEA awards, and ‘Best Recording of The Year’ and ‘Song Of The Year’ at Mobo Awards.
With this track, Wizkid, solidified his stance in the game, making it known that he was not going to be one of the many fizzy artists out there with no staying power. This he has shown with his numerous accolades, features and achievement in just two years after.
Wombo Lombo by Angelique Kidjo (Benin)
“Wombo Lombo” is one of the few African songs that represents the true nature and style of African music and culture. This song, which was released in 1996 by Angelique Kidjo is a song created to introduce such Africa as we do not normally see it.
It was a song about the African spirit, the heart, and the soul of the people. The matter-of-fact style of the song immediately captured the attention of music lovers all over the world. “Wombo Lombo” is a folk song that describes the feeling of energy and power that flows through Africa. It tells of the sense of pride in being African and the strength to carry on despite adversity. The song speaks to us from the heart of Africa with its rich rhythms and traditional African melodies.
The lyrics are easy to understand with each verse blending into another, creating an atmosphere that allows for variations in feel between verses. The song has a steady rhythm, with a lot of power behind the words. The words are sung in French and English, creating an international feel to the song that allows for wider appeal. The song is about a woman who is talking of her people and the glory they have brought to the African continent. It’s about a yearning for celebration and enjoying life to its fullest to honor those who had gone before.
The song begins with the drummer and a chorus singing “Wombo lombo”, repeated several times as the lead singer sings. The song is about African strength, about being able to rise above any trouble that life can throw at you. The singers repeat themselves a couple of times then fade off as the lead singer comes back in and sings her verses, ending with “Oh Africa”.
Nomakhanjani’ by Brenda Fassie (South African)
Brenda Fassie is considered to be Africa’s first international star. She was one of the most successful African singers and her songs are still widely popular, even today. Nomakhanjani is the song for which she is most known. The song was very popular in South Africa especially, but it was also very popular in other parts of the continent. The song talks about how Brenda fell in love with a man and couldn’t stay away from him regardless of his imperfections.
The song was released in 1999 as the fourteenth album. The song was a hit on radio and TV and became one of her signature songs in her career, spanning nearly three decades. The song was the best-selling South African Music Awards and had massive success in South Africa with over half a million sales in a short time.
The massive success of Nomakhanjani made her a huge name. The song also achieved great international recognition and was included on several compilations even after Brenda’s death in 2004 after an asthma attack.
Malaika by Fadhili Williams (Kenyan)
Malaika originally came out in 1963 by the late Fadhili Williams. “Malaika” is Swahili for “angel.” This song is one of the greatest songs to have ever been recorded by a Kenyan artist. The song is about a woman who is described as being “beautiful in every way.” No other words come to mind when you listen to this song, other than amazing and perfect. This song tells us that beauty should be loved, admired, and celebrated daily.
This is an ideal example of the greatness of African music from the Lullabies album. The song was widely popular in Kenya and all over Africa. It was also very popular in the U.S. as well, especially in the African American community, who fell in love with this song’s groove and melody. Malaika is a song that does not get mentioned enough when talking about some of the greatest songs ever made, but it should. This is a beautiful song that leaves you with a feeling of hope, joy, and love that is unmatched.
