Many Nigerian artists like Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid have made cover versions of several old songs. Which is nice if you are thinking of nostalgia and the throwback. Take for instance Burna Boy’s Last Last — it was purely in Pidgin English, and you somewhat had to listen closer to hear Toni Braxton’s He Wasn’t Man Enough for me. We got the vibe. Then came Ayra Starr, who almost five sampled songs in her discography, including Sare (2021) samples Lijadu Sisters’ Orere Elejigbo, Sability (2023) interpolates Awilo Longomba’s Coupé Bibamba, and Gimme Dat (2025) samples Mary J. Blige and Wyclef Jean’s 911.
Although Afrobeats singers add a personal touch and that Afrobeats vibe to the songs they sample, it is worth asking: do Afrobeats top acts need to sample older songs so much
Why Sampling Songs Need to Be Curbed in Afrobeats
As mentioned above, the feeling of nostalgia in music and bringing the old sound back can never be underestimated. However, for the following reasons, it may be best for Afrobeats singers to steer clear of sampled songs, or maybe tone it back a little:
There are billions of sounds and songs ever to be made. No one ever said the well may ever dry out. Hence, there are even billions more that could be made. Afrobeats fans actually do deserve fresh sounds to dance to.
What now happens to creativity? Why give onlookers a reason to think heavily that maybe Afrobeats’ favourite artists are relying on or taking the easy way to churn out new bangers?
Is sampling that song really so important, or does it really make sense paying so heavily to do it?
Some of the Best Samples by Afrobeats Singers
- Burna Boy sampled Toni Braxton — He Wasn’t Man Enough for Last Last (2022)
- Burna Boy sampled Brandy — Top of the World for Sittin’ on Top of the World (2023)
- Burna Boy sampled Prince Nico Mbarga — Sweet Mother for Behold (2019)
- Tems sampled Seyi Sodimu — Love Me JeJe for Love Me JeJe (2024)
- Ayra Starr sampled Lijadu Sisters — Orere Elejigbo for Sare (2021)
- Ayra Starr interpolated Awilo Longomba — Coupé Bibamba for Sability (2023)
- Ayra Starr sampled Mary J. Blige and Wyclef Jean — 911 for Gimme Dat (2025)
Mariam Emily Adama is a copywriter, SEO strategist, and digital marketer passionate about using words to inform, inspire, and influence. With over seven years of experience writing for global brands and managing digital campaigns, she brings a data-driven yet creative approach to content creation. When she’s not writing or analyzing trends, Mariam enjoys exploring new cultures, reading, and documenting stories that celebrate African excellence.