The bond between South African and Nigerian artists has existed for a long time. The 1990s saw the likes of South Africa’s “Queen of Africa Pop” Brenda Fassie and Nigeria’s pioneer of afrobeat Fela Kuti achieving a lot together. With the South African Amapiano sound gaining foot in the Nigerian music industry, Nigerians and South African artists have not stopped building relationships and collaborating to produce good music ranging from Amapiano to rap and pop. Despite the diversity in background, culture and language between the two countries in the past, music keeps bringing them together and the artists from both countries have found a way to make it work. We’ve listed eight of our best collaborations between our very own Nigerian and South African artists below.
1. Ke Star Remix – Focalistic & Davido ft. Vigro Deep
In February 2021, the South African singer, Focalistic teamed up with Davido to release the remix of the Amapiano dance tune, “Ke Star”.
2. Coming – Naira Marley ft. Busiswa:
Naira Marley, the president of the controversial fan base “Marlians” and the South African singer, songwriter and poet, Busiswa collaborated on the thrilling single “Coming” in March 2021.
3. Check On You – Cassper Nyovest ft. Davido
: In 2018, Cassper Nyovest, a South African rapper linked up with DMW Boss, Davido to produce the sensational single, “Check On You”.
4. Particula – Major Lazer ft. Nasty C, Ice Prince, Patoranking & Jidenna
Off the Know You Better EP by the American artist, Major Lazer comes the single, “Particula” featuring the South African artist Nasty C and Nigerian artists, Ice Prince, Patoranking and Jidenna. The collaboration earned the song a peak position of No. 2 on Billboard US Reggae Digital Songs.
5.Get Through This – Yemi Alade ft Mi Casa
Nigeria’s very own Yemi Alade often referred to as Mama Africa worked with the South Africa based house band, Mi Casa in 2016 on the single titled “Get Through This” produced by Maleek Berry.
6. Soweto Baby – Dj Maphorisa ft. Wizkid & Dj Buckz
This song by the South African record producer, DJ Maphorisa, Nigeria’s Grammy award-winning artist, Wizkid and South African, DJ Buckz is an oldie but goldie. The collaboration by the trio in 2016 birthed this single that became a hit in Nigeria and South Africa.
7. All Eyes on Me – AKA ft. Burna Boy, Da L.E.S & JR Hutson
This great collaboration between the South African rapper, AKA, Nigeria’s African Giant, Burna Boy, Da L.E.S & JR Hutson earned the single, “All Eyes on Me” a South African Music Award nomination for Collaboration of the Year and Record of the Year in 2016.
8. Said – Runtown & Nasty C
In 2017, the talented Nigerian singer, Runtown teamed up with South African rapper, Nasty C on the global hit single, “Said”. The song was one of the songs from the first Coke Studio Africa sessions that topped music charts in both South Africa and Nigeria.
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