Afrobeat music features chanted vocals, incredibly intricate rhythms, and percussion with elements of West African musical genres including fuji music and highlife as well as American jazz and later soul and funk influences. The sizable and wealthy Nigerian community aids in the popularity of Afrobeats on a worldwide scale. Social networking, YouTube, and accessibility to international streaming services like Spotify and Tiktok have also contributed to its expansion.
Popular musicians from around the world as well as members of the general public like listening to afrobeats. One Dance, a massive 2016 summer smash that spent ten weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot 100, was famously co-written by Drake and Wizkid. DJs like Major Lazer and DJ Snake are also collaborating with Nigerian artists. Quavo of the Migos has a single with Davido on his first album, and Ciara has mentioned Tiwa Savage as inspiration for a new song.
Following King Sunny Adé in nominations were Babatunde Olatunji, Femi Kuti, Sikiru Adepoju, Wizkid, Kah-Lo, Seun Kuti, Burna Boy, and Tiwa Savage. The 1991 Planet Drum album by Mickey Hart, which featured Babatunde Olatunji (full name Michael Babatunde Olatunji), earned Babatunde Olatunji the first Grammy prize ever given to a Nigerian.
Afrobeats has also gained popularity at some of the most famous record labels in the world. In the past two years, Sony and Universal Music have both established offices in Nigeria and signed publishing and distribution agreements with several Afrobeats musicians. British pop singers Dua Lipa and Anne-Marie, as well as
R&B musicians like Chris Brown and Roy Woods, have blended the sounds into their own hits, expanding the genre’s appeal beyond West African artists.
It is beyond debate that afrobeat and afrobeats are worldwide phenomena that are gradually spreading to other parts of the world. It makes sense that this would also appear on international charts. For this reason, we’ve compiled a list of the top five Nigerian artists that have had the highest number of albums debut on the renowned Billboard World Albums Chart.
The top 5 Nigerian artists that have had the highest number of albums debut on the renowned Billboard World Albums Chart are listed below:
1. Wizkid
With just two albums, Wizkid made the list of the top five Nigerian artists that have had the highest number of albums debut on the renowned Billboard World Albums Chart. On August 5th, 2017, Wizkid made his chart debut with his album “Sounds From The Other Side.” The album spent 4 weeks on the chart and reached its highest point at number 2.
His second album on the list, “Made In Lagos,” which debuted on November 14, 2022, is Wizkid’s hugely successful album. The album spent a total of 83 weeks on the Billboard World Albums Chart, making it the longest-charting African album ever.
2. Burna Boy
With two albums, Burna Boy also made the list among Nigerian artists with the most entries on the Billboard World Album Chart. On August 3rd, 2019, the Grammy Award-winning musician debuted on the chart with his album African Giant. It spent 36 weeks on the chart, reaching its highest point at number 6. The 29th of August 2020 saw the release of Burna Boy’s album “Twice As Tall,” which spent a total of 12 weeks on the chart and peaked at number one.
3. Davido
With a total of 3 albums, the 30 BG boss Davido also made the list among Nigerian artists with the most entries on the Billboard World Albums Chart. On November 5, 2016, Davido released his first album, “Son Of Mercy (EP),” which peaked at number four and spent one week on the chart.
His second album entered the charts on December 7th, 2019, and was titled “A Good Time.” His record spent a total of 25 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 6 in the process. His third album, “A Better Time,” entered the list on November 28, 2020, peaked at Number 4, and spent two weeks there.
4. Femi Kuti
On the list of Nigerian artists with the most album entries on the Billboard World Albums Chart, the famous Femi Kuti is also listed. He made his chart debut on November 3rd, 2001, with the album “Fight To Win,” which peaked at number 10 and remained six weeks on the chart.
With the release of “Africa For Africa,” which debuted on April 30, 2011, he made his second appearance on the chart. The album reached its peak position of number 12 and spent a total of three weeks there. Femi Kuti’s third album, “No Place For My Dream,” which launched on July 13th, 2013, was in the chart. After spending a total of two weeks on the chart, it eventually peaked at number seven.
5. Fela
With a total of 8 albums, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the father of afrobeat, is the Nigerian artist with the most album entries on the Billboard World Albums Chart. The late singer and performer made his chart debut on December 1, 1990, with “ODOO,” an album that peaked at number 13 and spent seven weeks on top. The Best Of The Black President, which made its debut on December 5th, 2009, was his second album to reach the top of the charts. It spent 25 weeks on the top 40 and peaked at number 3.
His third album, “Vinyl Box Set #1,” debuted on the chart on February 19, 2011, peaked at number 14, and spent one week there. The fourth album by Fela to debut on the Billboard World Albums Chart was “Live In Detroit 1986,” which was released on May 26, 2012. It spent one week on the chart and peaked at number 9.
His fifth album, “Fela: The Best Of The Black President 2,” entered the charts on March 2nd, 2013. It spent one week on the chart and peaked at number eight. Fela’s sixth album, “Finding Fela (Soundtrack),” entered the list on August 23, 2013, peaked at number 9, and spent one week there.
The sixth album to appear on the Billboard World Albums Chart was “Fela: Vinyl Box Set 4 Compiled By Erykah Badu” on January 3. It spent two weeks on the chart and peaked at number 11. “Open & Close,” was Fela Kuti’s seventh album to reach the top of the charts. It spent just one week on the chart and peaked at number 7.