The organisers of the Grammy Awards have acknowledged the growth and global influence of Afrobeats, highlighting artists like Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Rema as key contributors to the genre’s rise since 2010.
In a recent feature, the Recording Academy traced the evolution of Afrobeats from its mid-2010s breakthrough to its current global dominance, stating: “From its popularization in the mid-2010s to current global, chart-topping dominance by the likes of @wizkidayo, @burnaboy and @heisrema, the sound of Afrobeats is constantly shifting.”
To celebrate the genre, the Academy released a list of the top ten Afrobeats songs of all time, blending timeless classics with modern chart-toppers. Songs featured include:
African Queen by 2Baba (2004)
Do Me by P-Square (2007)
Bumper 2 Bumper by Wande Coal (2009)
Pon Pon Pon by Dagrin (2009)
Azonto by Fuse ODG ft. Tiffany Owusu (2014)
Ojuelegba by Wizkid (2014)
Mad Over You by Runtown (2016)
Maradona by Niniola (2017)
Sungba by Asake (2022)
Ozeba by Rema (2024)
While some fans praised the recognition of Afrobeats’ pioneers and current stars, others questioned the criteria used for the selection.
Some fans felt that notable artists like Davido were unfairly left out.