Billboard has officially named 2Baba’s 2004 hit “African Queen” the greatest Afrobeats song of all time.

The magazine released its 50 Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time list yesterday, celebrating tracks that have shaped the genre through their cultural significance, commercial success, and global reach.

According to Billboard, “African Queen” is “a love letter to a generation of women from the continent,” praised for its tender admiration and iconic music video. The publication noted that when Plantashun Boiz split in 2004, many expected 2Baba to shine as a solo act, but few predicted the scale of impact his debut hit would have. The song not only revolutionised Afrobeats at the time but also appeared on the soundtrack of the 2006 Mo’Nique-led film “Phat Girlz,” affirming its international reach.

The top 10 of the list features:

• 2Baba – African Queen (2004)

• Wizkid – Ojuelegba (2014)

• Flavour – Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix) (2011)

• Rema – Calm Down (2022)

• Wizkid feat. Tems – Essence (2020)

• CKay – Love Nwantiti (2019)

• D’banj – Oliver Twist (2011)

• Davido – Fall (2017)

• Burna Boy – Ye (2018)

• P-Square – Chop My Money (Remix) (2012)

Wizkid is the only artiste with two entries in the top 10 – “Ojuelegba” at number 2 and “Essence” featuring Tems at number 5.

The full list also highlights hits from Ayra Starr, Yemi Alade, Flavour, Mr Eazi, Olamide, Wande Coal, Ghana’s Fuse ODG, R2Bees and Sarkodie, Phyno, Fireboy DML, and more.

 

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Veteran Nigerian music producer and singer, ID Cabasa, has added his voice to the growing calls for justice over the recent killings in Benue State.

In a heartfelt post shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, June 16, 2025, the respected music executive expressed deep sorrow over the violence and urged authorities to take swift, decisive action.

Reflecting on his personal connection to the state, ID Cabasa revealed that he once served in Benue and spent some time working in Makurdi, fondly calling it "MarkTown." The producer noted how deeply upsetting it is to witness the ongoing attacks in a place he once called home.

"I served in Benue State! Worked there for a while after service in Makurdi (MarkTown). It breaks my heart, all these killings going on in the state. As my prayer goes out to our people there, I also urge the government to take responsibility to prosecute those behind these crimes against humanity," he tweeted.

His statement comes amid nationwide outrage following a deadly attack by suspected armed herders on the Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area on Friday night, June 13, which claimed the lives of over 200 people, many of them internally displaced persons.

As public figures like 2Baba, Pope Leo XIV, and now ID Cabasa continue to speak out, there’s growing pressure on the government to take decisive steps in addressing the killings and security crisis in Benue State and other affected regions.

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Nigerian music legend Innocent Idibia, better known as 2Baba, has voiced his anguish over the recent killings in Yelwata, Benue State.

In an emotional video shared on Sunday, June 15, 2025, the award-winning singer struggled to find the words to convey his heartbreak and frustration over the relentless violence plaguing his home state.

Speaking alongside his wife, lawmaker Natasha Osawaru, 2Baba described the deteriorating security situation in Benue as nothing short of a national emergency. The entertainer, who recently took on a role as Technical Adviser to the Benue State government, urged both state and national leaders to act decisively and immediately.

“Condemnation is no longer enough,” 2Baba said in the video, visibly pained by the fresh wave of violence and killings in Benue State. He called on government officials, stakeholders, and ordinary Nigerians to unite and find sustainable solutions to end the bloodshed.

His statement comes after armed men, suspected to be herders, launched a deadly attack on the Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area on Friday night, June 13, leaving over 200 people dead, many of them internally displaced persons.

In related developments, reports say that Pope Leo XIV also condemned the tragic massacre, describing it as a horrifying slaughter of innocent lives and urging international attention to the crisis.

As reactions continue to pour in from across the country and beyond, 2Baba’s heartfelt plea has struck a chord with many Nigerians, further amplifying calls for urgent intervention in the conflict-ridden state.

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