Music has the power to instantly cheer you up and uplift your mood. In a patriarchal society, where women are often overlooked and relegated to the background, we need constant reminders that women matter. And what better way to make this clear than through music?
Thanks to successful women like Ayra Starr, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, and Tems, we have music that makes women feel unstoppable. These artistes have used their voices to bend stereotypes and spearhead unprecedented music.
In honour of International Women’s Day, we’ve curated 12 Afrobeat songs that will make you feel like dominating.
Loaded by Tiwa Savage And Asake
After facing the backlashes that trailed her leaked sex tape, Tiwa Savage, with an Asake-assist, returned with Loaded. On the intense tune, she addresses the scandal mentioned above: “awon blogger blogger t’ofe fi mi gba star / Sex tape o le ba’ye mi je/ Igbadun kekere yen (Na who never fuck hands in the air).” And also brags about her power and fortunes.
Cash by Lady Donli
The only addiction with no cure or rehabilitation center. If you don’t know what women like, Lady Donli has said it all: “It’s all about the money, it’s all about the fame / it’s all for the paper, it’s all for my name / I’m addicted to cash.”
Ferrari by Yemi Alade
Almost a decade later, Ferrari is more relevant than ever. This groovy track reminds women that they deserve better than miserly, deceitful men and they should not settle: “If you love me you go buy me Ferrari / If you love me you go pay me salary / Soup wey sweet na money dey cook am / If you want it you go spend to chop am.”
Kele Kele by Tiwa Savage
In this classic about self-worth, Tiwa Savage clarifies that though she is in demand, her heart is closed off to players and lax “candidates”: “Only serious candidates should come and holla.” She unapologetically asserts her value, warning that she is not easily impressed and won’t lower her standards: “You only want to see me after hours / I ain’t gon be your undercover lover.”
Pin Me Down by Ria Sean
Typically, Afrobeat music leans towards love and women, but Ria Sean confidently pushes the envelope. On this high-energy anthem, Ria embraces sexual liberation. She deeply expresses her needs and demands they are met: “push it up when you on me / Give me speed like a Rover / I don’t wanna know how you do, what you do, just pin me down.”
Koroba by Tiwa Savage
Trust Tiwa Savage to instantly elevate your confidence with this crowd-pleasing record. On Koroba, the heavy-hitter calls out the double standard between men and women craving the good life. She opens the track with an unforgettable verse: “I no come this life to suffer, if I follow politician / You go hear am for paper, they go call am prostitution / Who no like enjoyment?.”
Rush by Ayra Starr
Rush is an anthem for audacious women who simply don’t give a fuck. On this fan-favorite, Ayra brags about being unrattled and expresses her determination to multiply her funds: ”I no get the time for the hate, and the bad energy / got my mind on my money” steady on my grind no wan hear what they wan tell me / Kudi na my fantasy.”
49-99 by Tiwa Savage
Tiwa Savage sings about working hard to live a soft life while addressing the country’s hardships. The song opener, “49 sitting, 99 standing,” references Fela Kuti’s Shuffering and Shmiling, where he addresses the misery and torture Nigerians experience. She told the Guardian her song “addresses some political leaders who, instead of focusing on the growth of a nation, are there just for the money and having affairs with underage girls – while the citizenry is hustling hard to make a daily living.”
Money Bag by Ria Sean
Money Bag is the track for women whose ultimate goal is to make money: “Only the cheese lives in my head.” On your way to work? Switch on Ria’s Money Bag and instantly feel like you are in control: “You know I can make a badman fall in line / Cash talk or I no dey go.”
Try Me by Tems
Tems experiences the challenges and hurdles that life throws at us and passionately voices them in a sonic fight for liberation: “Now you wanna lock me away, I’m winning / So why you wanna try me, yea, try me? / You out to destroy me, destroy me”. Try Me is the best driving force for overcoming dark times, and Tems’ willingness to be vulnerable makes her relatable.
Stamina by Ria Sean
Normally, most women in Afrobeat convey their feelings through modest lyrics, but Ria broke new ground on this unapologetically titillating tune that sees her talk about sex. She uses smutty inviting lyrics like we’ve barely seen in Afrobeat to articulate her thoughts and desires: “rub my thighs, don’t be shy / cum on me face make we fornicate.”
Away by Ayra Starr
Ayra Starr‘s music and style exude pure confidence and female dominance. Rather than gloss over her wooer’s lack of respect, she chooses peace and solitude: “Take all your troubles and leave me be.” Ayra also warbles about not crying over an absent or inconsistent man: “Understand I won’t be the girl that used to cry / Cry about a man that never came through.”
Listen to this curated playlist on women empowerment here:
