A few years ago, getting featured in a song by a popular foreign artiste and vice versa was a symbol of a thriving music career and success.
Lately, the partnership in music between foreign and African artists has become commonplace.
Local and international award bodies have recognized some albums and singles, taking international music collaborations differently.
This article will discuss the Top 5 significant collaborations that got nominations and won awards.
1. Brown Skin Girl by Beyonce, Blue Ivy, and Wizkid
The song Brown Skin Girl is a track by American singer Beyonce from the 2019 Album ‘Lion King’:The Gift
American singer Beyonce’s 2019 Album ‘Lion King’:The Gift
The song, co-owned by Nigerian celebrity singer, Wizkid, Beyonce’s 9year old daughter, Blue Ivy, featuring Saint JHN [Guyanese Rapper], was released July 23, 2019.
The track broke the internet with the tag #BrownSkinGirl topping the trend list on all social platforms and winning the Soul Train’s music award for Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s award
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After the track’s success, Beyonce released ‘Brown Skin Girl music video on August 24, 2020.
American singer Beyonce and Wizkid
Beyonce’s 9 year old daughter Blue Ivy
2. Twice As Tall by Burna Boy Featuring Cold Play’s Chris Martin, Youssou N’dour Stormzy, Sauti Sol and others.
Twice as tall album cover art
August 14, 2020, acclaimed African giant Burna Boy released a 14 track album “Twice as Tall” featuring both local and international musicians Sauti Sol, Stormy, Chris Martin and Youssou N’dour.
LB-top: Twice As Tall by Burna Boy features Chris Martin , Youssou N’dour
“Twice as Tall” album created an evolutionary version of African music.
Burna Boy was nominated during the 62nd annual Grammy awards 2019, but he lost to Angelique Kidjo.
Angelique Kidjo won the 62nd Grammy Award in 2019
After Twice As Tall was released, Burna Boy was nominated and won the 63rd Annual Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album of the Year.
Burna Boy performing at the 63rd Grammy awards ceremony.
The album hinged on representation for all Africans. At the end of the premiere, Burna Boy performed songs from the Twice as Tall album.
3. Essence by Wizkid Feat Tems and Justin Bieber.
Released on October 30 2021, the song Essence is from Grammy winner Wizkid Made In Lagos album and is the 11th track.
The song Essence is written by Wizkid and Tem, who featured on the track. A music video was released, April 9, 2021, and produced in Ghana.
Wizkid’s “Made in Lagos” album track ‘Essence’ featured Tems and Justin Bieber
The Afrobeat, R&B, and Afropop song, Essence is the first in Nigerian history to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200. An interesting remix of the song by Canadian singer and songwriter Justin Bieber further increased the accolades from fans across the globe.
Made in Lagos cover by Wizkid
Wizkid’s Essence was recently nominated best music collaborations at the Soul Train Music Awards.
“Made in Lagos” was named “song of the summer” after it slashed its way to number 1 in the US on Shazam.
Placing Afro beat singer above 10 artists in the US(Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat etc) on August 30 2021.
You can call it a milestone, but between July and now, both the original and remixed version of Essence boasts 54million streams on Spotify.
4. Blow My Mind by Davido Feat Chris Brown
Davido, son of Nigerian Billionaire Adedeji Adeleke, featuring American R&B star Chris Brown was released on July 26 2019, as the fourth single from Davido’s album “A Good Time”.
Blow my mind cover art
The Afro pop song ” Blow my mind” achieved a thrilling view of 10million in the first 3 weeks of its release.
Selling over 40,000 copies at Platinum in South Africa, it peaked on Billboard’s Top Triller Global Chart on August 9 2019, at no 3.
In 2020, Blow my mind was nominated for Best Collaboration at the African Entertainment Awards USA.Best Collaboration at the African Entertainment Awards USA.
Blow my mind by Davido featured Chris Brown. The track was nominated for Best Collaboration at the African Entertainment Awards USA
5. One Dance By Drake Feat Wizkid and Kyla
Officially the biggest song on the planet in 2016, according to Global Music Report, Drake’s piece had the highest number of streams and the best selling album record of 2016.
Unsurprisingly a smashing hit in every country, “One Dance” featured Nigerian star boy, Wizkid and British singer Kyla.
The song had a long winning streak with 12.5million views.
One Dance song featured Afrobeat singer, Wizkid and British singer Kyla
Placed at number 1 in 15 countries and sitting on number 3 on Rob Sheffield’s list of “50 Best songs of 2015”, ” One Dance” featuring Nigerian celebrity Afrobeat star, Wizkid, won several awards 11 years after its release;
Billboard Music Award For Top R&B Collaboration(2017)
Echo Award Song of the Year(2017)
Billboard Music Award For Top R&B Song(2017)
Billboard Music Awards For Top Streaming Song (2017
iHeartRadio Music Award for Most Thumbed Up Song of the Year
Drake and Wizkid
In the wake of these awards, Wizkid released his album,’ Sounds From The Other Side.’ The ‘Come Closer’ track featuring Drake won the Headies Award for Viewers Choice and Best Music Video. It also got nominated for Headies Award Best Collabo.
