Wizkid’s landmark single “Ojuelegba” has been named No. 2 on Billboard’s new list of the 50 Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time, cementing the track’s status as one of the genre’s defining anthems nearly a decade after its release.
Wizkid
Released in 2014 on the singer’s sophomore LP Ayo, “Ojuelegba” captured the grit and glow of Lagos hustle culture, turning a neighborhood name into global shorthand for ambition. The record didn’t just anchor Ayo—it became a gateway for new listeners worldwide as Afrobeats exploded into mainstream consciousness in the years that followed.
A star in Nigeria long before crossing borders, Wizkid used “Ojuelegba” to level up from hitmaker to movement-leader. The 2015 remix featuring Skepta and Drake turbocharged the song’s international profile, but the original had already secured heavyweight status across Africa and diaspora communities.
Billboard says its ranking weighed stylistic representation, local popularity, regional reach, cultural impact, and commercial success. With contributors spanning the U.S., U.K., and Nigeria, the list traces how Afrobeats built momentum at home before ricocheting across continents—true to the rallying cry “Afrobeats to the world.” To represent the breadth of the scene, the editors capped each artist at three entries.
“Ojuelegba” now sits in rarefied company, recognized not only for its pristine songwriting and production but for how it opened doors—bridging streetwise Lagos storytelling with a global pop audience. For Wizkid and Nigerian music, the accolade is a fresh reminder: some songs don’t just chart, they change the map.
