2baba | SpotifyBillboard has named 2Baba’s 2004 classic African Queen the greatest Afrobeats song of all time, cementing its place as one of the most influential tracks in the genre’s history.
The hit single, which introduced 2Baba as a solo artist after the breakup of the Nigerian group Plantashun Boiz, has long been hailed as a defining moment for Afrobeats.
Billboard described it as a groundbreaking release that reshaped the sound of African music and showcased the artist’s unique voice on the global stage.
“From 2Baba’s tender admiration of African women’s beauty to the striking warmth of the song’s video, African Queen is a love letter to a generation of women from the continent,” wrote music journalist W. Oloworekende on Billboard’s website.
The ranking is part of Billboard’s “50 Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time” list, curated by a team of journalists and contributors from Nigeria, the UK, and the US.
Songs were evaluated on stylistic representation, local popularity, regional reach, cultural impact, and commercial success.
Nigerian artists dominate the list, reflecting the country’s central role in shaping Afrobeats into a global movement.
Ghanaian stars also made strong appearances, with Fuse ODG’s Azonto ranked at number 18 and Sarkodie’s Adonai at number 19.
Among female artists, Yemi Alade stood out with Johnny, which placed 15th, making her the highest-ranked female solo act on the list.
The top 20 features a who’s who of Afrobeats royalty, including Davido, Burna Boy, Wizkid, P-Square, Tems, and Rema.
According to Billboard, the top 10 Afrobeats songs of all time are:
2Baba – African Queen
Wizkid – Ojuelegba
Flavour – Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)
Rema – Calm Down
Wizkid feat. Tems – Essence
CKay – Love Nwantiti
D’Banj – Oliver Twist
Davido – Fall
Burna Boy – Ye
P-Square – Chop My Money
The recognition comes at a time when Afrobeats continues to expand its global footprint.
From international collaborations with stars like Drake and Beyoncé to sold-out concerts across major cities, the genre has cemented its influence well beyond Africa.
Its growth has also been institutionalised through global charts. In 2022, Billboard launched the U.S. Afrobeats Songs Chart to track the 50 most popular Afrobeats tracks in America.
This was followed in 2024 by the Official UK Afrobeats Chart, which ranks the top 20 Afrobeats songs in Britain.
With African Queen now officially crowned the number one Afrobeats song of all time, 2Baba’s legacy as a pioneer of the genre has been firmly etched in music history.
