Following Senegal’s AFCON win which in turn, means a win for West Africa as a whole. I thought we would take some time to champion music from the region. In particular, the best music collaborations between the biggest west African music powerhouses: Nigeria and Ghana.
1. Kiss Your Hand – R2Bees x Wande Coal
A west African hall party staple. With Hiplife the core of Ghanian music during the early noughties and 2010s, the Ghanaian duo R2Bees recruited the help of the talented Wande Coal to lace the track with his adlibs and high tenor vocals. The dancehall influences and infectious refrain culminate in a record guaranteed to have everyone up from their seats.
2. Skin Tight- Mr Eazi x Efya
Midway through the 2010s, we have a sound pioneered by Mr Eazi. ‘Banku music’ had made its presence felt across Ghanaian and Nigerian airwaves. A fusion of sound grounded in his Nigerian roots but influenced by Mr Eazi’s time spent studying in Ghana. With Juls on production, we then have this cultural hybrid of typical Nigerian chord progressions with Ghanian highlife inflections.
3. Forever – Gyakie x Omah Lay
Gyakie’s ‘Forever’ was already a breakout hit. Off the success of her debut ‘Seed’ EP, a remix would only guarantee a greater global impact for her sound. Enlisting the assistance of fellow breakout sensation, Omah Lay, he sprinkles a few laidback lines over the slow-paced number. The verse is such a cohesive fit for lovers and music lovers alike.
4. Dance For Me – Eugy x Mr Eazi
In 2015, we see Eugy alter the kind of music he was initially producing. Growing up in London, Grime was a huge influence on youth culture however, he then made the decision to intertwine his raps with his mother tongue, Twi. Then in 2016, whilst working alongside the Nigerian Mr Eazi they delivered the feel-good ‘Dance for me’. And thus the choreographed moves of Shoki, Alkayida, and Dab were born.
5. Bling – Blaqbonez x Amaarae x Buju
‘Bling’ was a smash hit from the moment it dropped. But then again how could it not be with such perfectly hand-picked features. With Ghana’s Amaarae gracing the track with her alluring sensuous appeal and Nigeria’s Buju adding his signature husky vocals. An Afropop-rap hybrid all over the most infectious beat, the replay value is immense.
6. Ghana Jollof – Basketmouth x Kwabena Kwabena x Falz
In the never-ending debate between who has the better jollof, Nigerian actor and artist Basketmouth delivered the single ‘Ghana Jollof’ alongside his comedy series bearing the same name. Accompanied by fellow Nigerian artist Falz, and Ghanian highlife musician Kwabena Kwabena, the song is just as sweet as jollof itself. For me the instrumentation really makes his track.
7. Baajo – Kwesi Arthur x Joeboy
In collaboration between the Ghanian hip-hop artist Kwesi Arthur and Nigerian afropop singer Joeboy, I feel both their easy going personalities shine through on this track. It has this gentle bounce that just emanates good vibes. The pair conjured two undeniable hits with ‘Door’ and ‘Baajo’, helping to firmly establish the duo as strong collaborators.
8. Tinkerbell – R2Bees x Wizkid
R2bees are making their second entry on this list, with another era-defining collaboration. It was a difficult decision to make between ‘Slow Down’ also featuring Wizkid for the spot. Their latest project ‘Back 2 Basics’ edged it, however. Full of well-picked features, I believe it is one skill to make good music but another to self-A&R your own project. I could not imagine who was better fitting to croon over the languid tempo of this track.
9. Ameno Amapiano (Remix) – Goya Menor x Nektunez
“You want to bam bam, you want to chill with the big boys…” There is no way you can say you were outside if you did not hear these lyrics. Blasting from phone speakers as the Tiktoks were incessantly played to large club sound systems throughout Detty December. Initially written by Goya Menor as a joke, the US-based Ghanian Nektunez produced the Amapiano song’s remix. The single initially picked up steam in Uganda, the pair since taking the ‘Ameno’ amapiano remix viral.
10. Second Sermon (Remix) – Black Sherif x Burna Boy
Since the release of “Second Sermon” last summer, Black Sherif has been consistently growing his personal cult following off his unique hard-hitting flow. Although already having made a name for himself in the Ghanaian rap scene, when THE African Giant hopped on the remix with a betting-ly fire verse to match the energy of the drill track; the song was catapulted to new heights.
