In October 2025, Rolling Stone unveiled its highly anticipated list: The 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century (So Far), a sprawling selection of tracks meant to capture the sonic imagination of the past quarter-century.
Among the usual suspects from the U.S. and Europe, five Nigerian songs made the list, marking a milestone both for those specific tracks and for the continued rise of Afrobeats and contemporary Nigerian music on the global stage. The Nigerian entries reflect generational diversity, sonic experimentation, and the increasing weight of African music in global pop discourse. According to coverage from local media, the five are:
- Essence — Wizkid feat. Tems (ranked No. 22)
- Last Last — Burna Boy (No. 95)
- Woman — Rema (No. 228)
- Free Mind — Tems (No. 232)
- UNAVAILABLE — Davido feat. Musa Keys (No. 243)
Essence — Wizkid ft. Tems (No. 22)
Essence stands out not just among the Nigerian entries, but across the entire list, landing at No. 22, one of the highest positions for any African song.
Released in 2020 on Wizkid’s Made in Lagos album, the track features Tems on a sultry, simmering chorus. The song’s sound, a blend of Afrobeats, subtle R&B inflections, and soft percussive textures, allowed it to cross over widely. Critics have lauded it as “bewitching, shimmering, and impossibly soulful,” highlighting its “tropical bass and mix of sharp and cool tones.”
Essence broke new ground: it became the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Performance, and catalyzed further collaboration and remix activity, including a version with Justin Bieber.
Its inclusion is a powerful statement: it’s not just a hit, it’s being enshrined as one of the defining tracks of this century.
Last Last — Burna Boy (No. 95)
At No. 95 appears Burna Boy’s 2022 single Last Last, drawn from his album Love, Damini.
The song roots itself in heartbreak and self-reflection. On it, Burna Boy samples Toni Braxton’s He Wasn’t Man Enough, reworking the emotional theme into a first-person narrative of recovery. Its chorus includes the now-famous line in Nigerian Pidgin: “last last, na everybody go chop breakfast”, loosely meaning “in the end, everyone will face heartbreak.”
Its global reception confirmed its resonance: critically acclaimed, nominated for awards, and solidified as one of Burna Boy’s key records. The song’s placement underscores how personal storytelling, when paired with musical craft, can transcend boundaries.
Woman — Rema (No. 228)
Rema’s inclusion marks a generational nod. Woman (2020) slots in at No. 228 on the Rolling Stone list.
A spirited track propelled by pulsing beats, catchy hooks, and Rema’s youthful energy, Woman is often cited as an early example of his “Afro-rave” style. It captures a moment when Nigeria’s newer stars began expanding the sound palette of Afrobeats, experimenting with bounce, rap-inflected vocals, and festival-friendly energy.
Rema has since gone on to even bigger breakthroughs, like Calm Down, but the inclusion of Woman in this list cements his early work as part of the century’s musical tapestry.
Free Mind — Tems (No. 232)
Tems appears not just as a feature on Essence, but in her own right with Free Mind (ranked No. 232).
From her 2020 EP For Broken Ears, Free Mind is introspective, tonal, and minimalist in production, a near whisper of emotional expression over sparse instrumentation. Tems’ style, marked by her lower-register voice, atmospheric textures, and candid lyricism, is on full display. The track’s selection is not just for its musicality but for how it foreshadowed her later global appeal as a collaborator on major projects and solo releases.
Tems’ dual presence on the list (as feature and lead artist) suggests that her body of work is already considered foundational in this era.
UNAVAILABLE — Davido ft. Musa Keys (No. 243)
Rounding out the Nigerian entries is UNAVAILABLE, a 2023 track by Davido ft. South African artist Musa Keys. It sits at No. 243.
This song represents the evolving cross-regional nature of African pop. With Amapiano influences (originating in South Africa) interwoven into Davido’s Afrobeats sensibility, Unavailable underscores the fluidity of modern African sound. The track gained traction quickly, and the dance challenge went viral, fueling further visibility and charting across platforms.
Its placement acknowledges not just a hit, but a moment of combined effort between Nigeria and South Africa in musical conversation.
Beyond the Songs: What Their Inclusion Means
Validation of Nigerian Music as Part of Global Music History
Lists like Rolling Stone’s serve as cultural archives. Being part of “the greatest of the century so far” means these songs are now more than just popular hits; they have become reference points for how future generations understand this era. For Nigeria, having five tracks listed is a signal: the country’s music is not peripheral but central to the story of 21st-century pop.
Intergenerational Representation
These five songs span different phases and voices: veterans (Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido), emerging stars (Rema), and songwriters with distinct voices (Tems). The selection acknowledges that Nigeria’s musical strength lies in both continuity and innovation.
Cross-Border Collaborations & African Musical Exchange
The inclusion of UNAVAILABLE with a South African collaborator highlights how African music today is deeply interconnected. The borders within the continent are becoming increasingly musical borders on maps, not in sound.
Artistry Over Just Streaming Success
While these songs were commercially successful, their inclusion signals that Rolling Stone’s curators are looking at more than just streams and chart data. They weigh production, originality, emotional impact, and cultural weight, the way a song ages musically. It suggests that Nigerian tracks are being read not just as “global hits,” but as artistic statements with staying power.
Inspiring Discourse & Pride
Domestically, the announcement has sparked debate, celebration, and introspection. Fans have argued rankings, raised other Nigerian classics that didn’t make it, and expressed pride that the country is being validated on such a stage. News outlets have framed the moment as both a prestige and a challenge, that Nigeria must continue pushing quality, global collaboration, and originality.
The appearance of five Nigerian songs in Rolling Stone’s 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century (So Far) is more than a bragging right; it’s evidence of a musical shift. It tells us:
- Nigeria’s music has moved from export novelty to global standard.
- The songs chosen are more than chart-toppers; they are emotionally, technically, and culturally resonant.
- This recognition spans generations and styles, from introspective ballads to dance-floor anthems to cross-continental collaborations.
When years from now music historians look at the early 21st century, those five Nigerian tracks are guaranteed to be part of the conversation, not footnotes, but chapter titles. And for Nigerian artists, producers, fans, and the broader African music ecosystem, the message is clear: the world is listening, and the work has to keep getting bolder.
