One of the most exciting aspects of Nigeria’s music journey in 2023 is the increasing number of collaborations between Nigerian artists and their global counterparts. Collaborations between Nigerian and international artists did not only showcase the country’s musical diversity but also contribute to the globalization of African sounds.
Here are five Nigeria’s Biggest International Music Collaborations in 2023:
Unavailable – Davido feat Musa keys
Unavailable by Davido feat Musa Keys“Unavailable” showcases the collaborative efforts of Davido and South African music producer/DJ Musa Keys, combining their unique styles to craft an engaging and contagious track that has garnered significant popularity among music enthusiasts. Recognized as the fifth track on Davido’s latest album, “Timeless,” the song has achieved notable milestones on various streaming platforms.
In addition to the release, Davido utilized social media to introduce a dance step tailored for “Unavailable,” quickly gaining traction and evolving into a viral trend among his fans. The song reached its peak within 127 days, surpassing Oxlade’s “Ku lo sa,” which took 175 days to achieve a similar feat. This marks the fourth Gold-certified song in Davido’s illustrious career.
Davido raised the stakes by collaborating with emerging American rapper Latto for the official remix. Eight months post-release, the viral hit “Unavailable” from the “Timeless” album reached a milestone of 100 million streams on the popular music platform Spotify.
Soweto – Victony, Rema , Tempoe Feat Don Toliver
Victony returned by releasing a remix of his 2022 hit, “Soweto,” collaborating with American rapper Don Toliver and global sensation Rema. The song, which was produced by Tempoe, reflects Victony’s ambition to broaden his musical influence in various markets, particularly in the Americas and Europe.
While maintaining the distinctive Afrobeats cadence that contributed to the success of the original “Soweto,” the remix introduces an international pop appeal, providing the track with a more universally appealing sound.
Tatata- Bayanni feat Jason Derulo
Music sensation and songwriter Bayanni, signed with Mavin Records, debuts in the music scene with the official remix of his electrifying track titled “Ta Ta Ta (Remix).”
In this impressive rendition, he features the musical talents of top-notch American singer-songwriter Jason Derulo, who delivers an outstanding vocal performance.
Additionally, the original version of the composition “Ta Ta Ta” was extracted from his previously unveiled debut album titled “Bayanni EP.”
What’s popping – Stefflon Don ft BNXN
“What’s Poppin'” is a song by British rapper Stefflon Don and Nigerian singer BNXN (fka Buju). It was released on August 11, 2023, as the lead single from Stefflon Don’s upcoming album. The song is an upbeat Afrobeats track with a catchy melody and infectious lyrics. The music video for the song was directed by Lux London and was released on the same day as the song.
The song effortlessly fuses Afro-R&B, highlighting the smooth and sensual dimensions of Stefflon’s vocal skills. BNXN, recognized as a master of West African hits, contributes his unique tone, crafting a summer anthem.
A seven-day preview on TikTok attracted significant interest, generating an impressive 50,000 user-created content pieces within 48 hours.
Notably, it has achieved commercial triumph by claiming the top spot on the Nigerian music charts.
Sensational – Chris Brown feat Davido
“Sensational” is a sultry R&B/Afropop song released by American singer Chris Brown in October 2023, featuring Nigerian artists Davido and Lojay. The song is a collaboration between three acclaimed artists from different musical backgrounds, showcasing their individual styles and talents while blending them seamlessly.
The song has also gained commercial success, reaching the top 10 on various charts in Nigeria and Africa.
“Sensational” is a standout track from Chris Brown’s album “11:11” and a testament to his ability to collaborate with artists from different musical backgrounds to create something truly special.
To sum it up, the surge of international collaborations in Nigeria’s music scene in 2023 has not only showcased the country’s musical diversity but has also contributed to the globalization of African sounds.
This has been highlighted in 2023 by five notable collaborations, including Davido’s “Unavailable” with Musa Keys, Victony, Rema, and Tempoe’s remix of “Soweto” featuring Don Toliver, Bayanni’s “Tatata” remix with Jason Derulo, Stefflon Don’s “What’s Poppin'” with BNXN, and Chris Brown’s “Sensational” featuring Davido.
