Wow! What a year, over eleven months of friendly competitions, beefs, smash singles, unexpected breakouts, trends that decided the turnouts of records, and unforgettable moments. 2022 took off right where 2021 left, the continuation of African Music ascension, and it reached higher heights this time.
This year, the world has experienced beautiful music from artists in Africa and the diaspora. Although Afrobeats and Amapiano are the powerhouses when it comes to African music genres, they’re not the only genres to birth all the beautiful and viral songs that we all bumped to this year. African music in many other genres such as Highlife, drill, Soul, Jazz, alternative, and HipHop also dominated the airwaves and charts both in Africa and beyond.
In 2022, the world of African music treated us to club bangers, heartbreak songs that saw us through all the breakups, and more. We also saw the emergence and dominance of an Afrobeats artiste who dominated the charts with both his debut EP and Album. The world also witnessed a Colors performance that birthed one of 2022 most viral songs.
In the midst of it all, one of the year’s greatest moments was the crossover of African artists to the international stage, African Music felt as vital as ever in 2022, dominating charts and securing a stranglehold on the pop cultural zeitgeist. In that same time frame, some of the continent’s bold acts stood up and dictated their path to greatness on their own terms. It has been an exciting year and we took the time to cobble together the best records of the year, songs that defined the mood at that moment and served as a montage for the year.
Check out the songs that got everybody in a chokehold this year. To read about the songs or stream just click on the links.
50. Tneeya – Coming
49. Moliy – 9 to 5
48. Stormzy – Mel Made Me Do It
47. Adekunle Gold ft Ty Dolla $ign – One Woman
46. Magixx ft Ayra Starr – Love Don’t Cost A Dime
45. Mayorkun – Certified Loner
44. SuperJazzClub – Mad
43. Ria Boss – Somali Rose
42. Shaybo – Crocs
41. Soundz – Attention
40. Ckay ft Davido & Focalistic – WATAWI
39. Mr Eazi ft Dj Tarico & Joey B – Patek
38. Stonebwoy – Therapy
37. Tay Iwar – Bad4U
36. Blaqbonez – Back in Uni
35. King Promise – Ginger
34. Uncle Waffles & Tony Duardo ft Sino Msolo & BoiBizza – Tanzania
33. Dj Maphorisa & Visca ft Stompiiey, ShaunMusiq, Ftearss, Madumane & 2woshort – Ba Straata
32. Davido ft Sunday Service Choir – Stand Strong
31. Kwesi Arthur – Disturb
30. Wizkid – Bad To Me
29. Tim Lyre – Present
28. Crayon – Ijo Laba Laba
27. Asa – Ocean
26. NSG – RoadBock
25. Knucks & Stormzy – Die Hard
24. Joeboy – Contour
23. Young Jonn – Xtra Cool
22. Ruger – Girlfriend
21. Cruel Santino – Final Champion
20. Gyakie – Something
19. Jae5, BNXN & Dave – Propeller
18. Ayra Starr – Rush
17. Omah Lay – I’m a mess
16. Mavins, Crayon, Ayra Starr, LADIPOE, Magixx & Boy Spyce – Overloading (Overdose)
15. Boj ft Wizkid & Darkovibes – Awolowo
14. Fireboy DML ft Asake – Bandana
13. Kelvyn Boy – Down Flat
12. Central Cee – Doja
11. D Jay – Balance It
10. Daliwonga ft Mellow & Sleazy & MJ – Abo Mvelo
9. Victony – Soweto
8. Pheelz ft BNXN – Finesse
7. Oxlade – KU LO SA
6. Kizz Daniel – Buga
5. Rema – Calm Down
4. Black Sherif – Kweku The Traveler
3. Camidoh ft Mayorkun, King Promise & Darkoo – Sugarcane Remix
2. Asake ft Burna Boy – Sungba Remix
1. Burna Boy – Last Last
