This list is basically centered on the most successful Nigerian pop songs of all time, and by successful the criteria are;
How popular these songs are in Nigeria, how popular they are abroad
and feats and records set by these songs, pardon the songs on this list
are mostly focused on 21st century songs.
TEN MOST POPULAR NIGERIAN SONGS OF ALL TIME
10. KUKERE – IYANYA

“Kukere” (Efik: “Don’t Worry” is a song by Nigerian singer Iyanya. It
was released as the lead single from his second studio album, Desire
(2013). Upon its release, the song peaked at number 1 on Top FM’s May
Chart, Soundcity’s Viewers Choice, Rhythm FM, and The Beat 99.9 FM’s
Blackberry Top Ten Countdown.
In addition, it peaked at number 2 on Radio Port Harcourt. CEO
Dancers performed the song during their performance on Britain’s Got
Talent. To further promote his second studio album in London, Cokobar
and Iyanya held the “Kukere Queen Competition”. Participants of the
competition were asked to upload a dance video of themselves and state
three reasons why they deserve to win
9. WOJU – KISS DANIEL

“Woju” is a song by Nigerian afropop recording artist Kiss Daniel,
released on September 1, 2014 through G-Worldwide Entertainment.
Dubbed as “one of the best Nigerian songs of 2014”, the song went on
to be nominated in the “Hottest Single” category at the 2015 edition of
the Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
“Woju (Remix) is a song by Nigerian afropop artist Kiss Daniel
featuring vocals from Tiwa Savage and Davido. The song was released on
28 February 2015 under G-Worldwide Entertainment and was produced by DJ
Coublon. Rated as one of the “biggest record in Nigeria” by David Drake
of Complex, “Woju (Remix)” made history on MTV Base’s Official Naija Top
10 music video chart alongside “Woju” as the first time an original
song and its remix would peak at the first and second spots.
8. ADA ADA – FLAVOUR

“Ada Ada” was released as the fifth single from the album on June 30,
2013. It was released simultaneously with its music video. The song
celebrates traditional weddings across the African continent.
Flavour describes it as a song made to showcase the beauty of Africa,
particularly African women. John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu,
and Nwachukwu Uti, the winner of Big Brother Africa 5, made cameo
appearances in the video.
“Ada Ada” peaked at number 14 on Afribiz’s Top 100 Music Chart. The
music video for “Ada Ada” won Video of the Year, Best High Life Video,
Best Indigenous Concept and Best Use of Costumes at the 2013 Nigeria
Music Video Awards (NMVA).
7. OJUELEGBA – WIZKID

“Ojuelegba” is a song by Nigerian recording artist Wizkid from his
self-titled second studio album, Ayo (2014). It was written by Wizkid
and produced by the record producing duo Legendury Beatz. The song
shares its title with the metropolitan subsection of Lagos Mainland.
It highlights Wizkid’s struggles as an underground artist, who roamed
the streets of Ojuelegba to support his recording interest. The song
received numerous airplay on all major radio stations in Nigeria, and
peaked at number 1 on Capital Xtra’s Afrobeats Chart for February 2015.
The official remix for “Ojuelegba” features vocals from Canadian
rapper Drake and English grime artist Skepta. It made its premiere on
OVO Sound Radio in July 2015. The song was ranked number 12 on the list
of the 107 Best Songs of 2015 compiled by The Fader magazine. Prior to
the release of the official remix, Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie released his
rendition of “Ojuelegba”.
6. AYE – DAVIDO

“Aye” (pronounced ah yay) is a song by Nigerian recording artist
Davido, released as the fourth single from his upcoming studio album.
The song was produced by TSpize, a record producer affiliated with
Runtown. It peaked at number 5 on MTV Base’s Official Naija Top 10 chart
from March 28 through April 3, 2014. The song was primarily released to
celebrate Valentine’s Day.
The music video for “Aye” was shot and directed in Nigeria by
Clarence Peters. It was uploaded onto YouTube on February 7, 2014, at a
total length of 4 minutes and 11 seconds. In the music video, Davido
plays a poor farmer who is physically attracted to a princess.
On “Aye”, he professes his love for his admirer. Davido took the
unconventional route by shooting the video in a rural setting. The
locality of the area where the video was shot complements the lyrics of
the song. According to YouTube’s first quarter report, it was the most
watched video by Nigerians on the video sharing site.
“Aye” won the Hottest Single of the Year category at the 2014 Nigeria
Entertainment Awards. The song was nominated for Most Popular Song of
the Year at the 2014 City People Entertainment Awards.
The music video for “Aye” was nominated for Most Gifted Male, Most
Gifted Afro Pop, Most Gifted West and Most Gifted Video of the Year at
the 2014 Channel O Music Video Awards. “Aye” was nominated for Best Pop
Single and won Song of the Year at The Headies 2014.
5. GODWIN – KOREDE BELLO

“Godwin” is a song by Nigerian songwriter and singer Korede Bello. It
was released on 28 January 2015 under Mavin Records, the record label
he is signed to. The song features backup vocals from Don Jazzy.
The music video of “Godwin” was shot and directed in Lagos, Nigeria
by Adasa Cookey and was released on YouTube on 3 June 2015 at a total
length of 4 minutes 27 seconds.
The video which went on to amass over one million views on YouTube
after 5weeks of its upload on the website featured Don Jazzy and cameo
appearances from Bovi, A.Y, Elenu, Yaw, Emma oh my God, Dr SID and T.V
personality Labi.
4. PERSONALLY – P-SQUARE

“Personally” is a song by Nigerian R&B duo P-Square, released as
the second single from their sixth studio album Double Trouble (2014).
The music video, directed by Jude Engees Okoye and Clarence Peters, was
uploaded onto Vevo on June 21, 2013. It features a cameo appearance from
Osita Iheme.
Upon its release, the song received positive reviews from many people
who were addicted to its catchy beats and lyrical rhyme schemes. As of
February 2015, the music video has eclipsed the 37 million views mark on
Vevo. “Personally” claimed the number 1 spot on MTV Base’s Official
Naija Top 10 Chart from August 10 through August 22 2013.
P-Square was nominated for “Best International Performance” at the
2013 Soul Train Music Awards for “Personally”. “Personally” was
nominated for Song of the Year at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards. The
music video for “Personally” was nominated for Best Music Video of the
Year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. The music video for
“Personally” was also nominated for Most Gifted Dance at the 2014
Channel O Music Video Awards
3. DOROBUCCI – MAVINS

“Dorobucci” is a song by The Mavins, a collective composed of Don
Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr SID, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, Di’Ja and
D’Prince. Released on May 1, 2014, it received generally positive
reviews from music critics. Positive remarks went towards its
production, instrumentation, and composition. The music video, on the
contrary, received mixed reviews. While some critics described the video
as brilliant, others felt like it was dull and not up to par.
The music video for “Dorobucci” was shot and directed in South Africa
by Nick Roux of Molotov Cocktail Productions. It was released on July
23, 2014 and uploaded onto YouTube at a total length of 4 minutes and 41
seconds.
Natalie Pitswe, the winner of Channel O’s Mavin Super Fan
competition, made a cameo appearance in the video. The video portrayed
The Mavins living a lavish lifestyle: exotic cars and Gatsby-style
parties. There were shots of the Empire State Building and White House,
as well as shots of a golf ball traveling from Ikoyi to Washington DC.
The music video received mixed reviews from music critics. Although some
saw it as a flop, others felt like it was top notch.
“Dorobucci” won Best Pop Single and was nominated for Song of the
Year at The Headies 2014. The song was nominated for Hottest Single of
the Year at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards
2. OLIVER TWIST – D’BANJ

“Oliver Twist” is a song by Nigerian singer-songwriter D’banj. The
track was first released in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2012, as the
first single from DB Records’ compilation album, D’Kings Men (2013). For
the chart week dated May 26, “Oliver Twist” debuted at number nine on
the UK Singles Chart—marking the musician’s first chart appearance.
Lyrically, the song expresses D’banj’s crave for more women, relating to
how the fictional character Oliver Twist asked for more gruel.
A music video, directed by Sesan Ogunro, to accompany the release of
“Oliver Twist” was first released onto YouTube on March 19, 2012. The
video itself runs for a total of three minutes and fifty-five seconds
and sees the artist, D’banj, performing the track in an empty studio
designed as a run down home. It is performed in the key of G# Minor
throughout the entire song.
A member of D’banj’s live set (David Vujanic) makes an appearance
dressed as Oliver Twist, whilst the CEO Dancers (three female dancers)
perform to the track. In August 2013, the music video has surpassed 21.5
million views making it the Nigerian song with highest number of views
on YouTube at the time.
The video features cameos from D’banj’s GOOD Music label mates Big
Sean, Pusha T, GOOD Music producer Hit-Boy and the label’s founder Kanye
West; whilst Mike Dean, Bricka Bricka, comedian, Eddie Kadi and Keisha
Buchanan of MKS fame also make cameos.
“Oliver Twist” made its first chart appearance on the chart week
dated May 26, 2012—where it debuted at number nine on the UK Singles
Chart; as the second highest new entry after The Saturdays “30 Days”
(#7).The track also debuted at number two on the UK R&B Chart for
the same charting week.
“Oliver Twist” spent only one week inside the UK top 10, falling four
places to number thirteen on its second charting week—and as of the
week dated August 20 has spent thirteen consecutive weeks inside the top
75.
The music video for “Oliver Twist” won Most Gifted Male Video and Most
Gifted Video of the Year at the 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards.
The song won Song of the Year and was nominated for Best Pop Single
at The Headies 2012. D’banj received the Best Male West Africa
nomination at the 2012 Kora Awards for Oliver Twist.Furthermore, the
song was nominated in the Hottest Single of the Year category at the
2012 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. It was also nominated for World’s
Best Song and World’s Best Video at the 2014 World Music Awards.
1. AFRICAN QUEEN – 2BABA IDIBIA

Tu face’s African Queen made history as one of the most successful
hits in recent years. Apart from making Face 2 Face, the album in which
it appears, sell widely, it also won a number of awards that shot its
sleek-faced singer, Innocent Idibia, into further limelight. About four
years after the Pan Africanist, pro-womanhood and highly exciting song
hit the market.
In 2006, his song “African Queen” was used in the soundtrack for the
film Phat Girlz, which was released internationally. “African Queen,”
from his 2004 album ‘Face 2 Face’ which has reportedly sold over 2
million copies, 2Face says the success of his single has come as a great
surprise to him.
His single ‘African Queen’ has been made popular by its catchy lyrics
and memorable rhythm and melody, which has made the single reach the
top of the African pop charts – helped considerably by heavy airplay on
MTV Base and MTV Africa.
Not only has this young and successful singer won an MTV- ‘African
Artist of The Year’ award at the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon,
he has also been busy touring around the globe promoting his single
release and made his first visit to the UK and later to Brooklyn -New
York back in March 2005.
The easy going and humble African pop star (formerly of the
Plantasion Boyz) says his inspiration for the song came from his love
for African women, “I wanted a song to celebrate their strength, show
appreciation of how they support the African man. African women are very
warm and they know how to take care of their family”
NOTABLE MENTIONS:
Chop My Money- Psqaure, MAMA –
Kiss Daniel, MY WOMAN- Patoranking, BOBO- Olamide, SHOKI – Lil Kesh,
JOHNNY- Yemi Alade, Skelewu – Davido, GOBE – Davido, Mad Over You –
Runtown