Grammys unveils new Afrobeats ranking and list

The Recording Academy, organizers of the prestigious Grammy Awards, has stirred controversy across Nigerian social media following a recent post spotlighting Afrobeats music and its leading stars.

In a tweet shared via their official X account, the Grammy Awards celebrated the growth of Afrobeats while identifying Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Rema as the genre’s top three acts from 2010 to date. The post quickly triggered heated debates online, with many Nigerians questioning the selection and perceived exclusion of other influential names in the scene.

Beyond naming their top three, the Recording Academy also unveiled what they described as the Top 10 Afrobeats Songs of All Time. The list featured 2Baba’s classic African Queen (2004), P-Square’s Do Me (2007), Wande Coal’s Bumper 2 Bumper (2009), Dagrin’s Pon Pon Pon (2009), and Azonto by Fuse ODG featuring Tiffany (2014). Also included were Wizkid’s Ojuelegba (2014), Runtown’s Mad Over You (2016), Niniola’s Maradona (2017), Asake’s Sungba (2022), and Rema’s Ozeba (2024).

The Academy’s post read in part: "From its popularization in the mid-2010s to current global, chart-topping dominance by the likes of Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Rema, the sound of Afrobeats is constantly shifting."

The announcement immediately sparked backlash, with many fans and industry figures arguing that several influential artists and pivotal records were overlooked. The list’s heavy focus on more recent releases and selective recognition of key players in Afrobeats history fueled further debate about how international bodies interpret and curate African music narratives.

As conversations trend across social platforms, the Recording Academy is yet to issue a follow-up statement addressing the reactions.

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.

Explore the sonic evolution. https://t.co/pgkgGMN5Js

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