Buga (song)

"Buga" is a song by Nigerian singer Kizz Daniel featuring Tekno. It was released on 4 May 2022 through Flyboy I.N.C and Empire Distribution as the second single from Daniel's fourth studio album Maverick (2023) and was produced by Reward Beatz, Blaisebeatz, and Yung Willis.^[2] The song reached No. 1 on Apple Music's Nigeria Top 100 chart three days after its release,^[3][4] and topped the TurnTable Top 100 for seven weeks and ultimately emerging as the year's leading song. With a record-breaking 57.9 million streams, it achieved the highest streaming numbers ever in a single calendar year in Nigeria. It later became the most Shazamed song in the world after claiming the No. 1 spot in 13 countries.^[5] In addition to topping the streaming charts, "Buga" secured top-five positions in both radio and TV impressions.^[6] It won Song of the Year at the Soundcity MVP Awards Festival in 2023 and received a nomination for Song of the Year, Afrobeats Single of the Year, and Headies Viewer's Choice at The Headies 2023.^[7][8] The song was declared as the No. 1 Nigerian song of 2022 by TurnTable magazine, and was ranked #43 on Billboard magazine's list of the 50 Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time.^[6][9]

Kizz Daniel announced the song's release on his social media platforms.^[10] Reward Beatz, the producer, said the production of "Buga" was simple and stress free. He explained that the beat was created from scratch in the studio with Kizz Daniel and later sent to him for recording. Reward Beatz added that the song led to more opportunities and changed how artists engaged with him professionally. He said that the success of "Buga" expanded his creative approach and brought wider recognition, although it was not his first major production, having previously worked on T-Classic's "La Cream" and Iyanya's "Like" featuring Davido and Kizz Daniel.^[11]

On the day of the song's release, Kizz Daniel started a viral dance challenge, which launched through his social media page, providing a ₦1,000,000 prize for the best "Buga" video content, with fans acting as the judges.^[12]

The song was recorded in the key of A♭ major with a tempo of 116 beats per minute.^[13] The lyrics of "Buga" focus on confidence and celebration. "Buga" is a Yoruba slang term that means to show off, take pride, or flaunt success. In the song, Kizz Daniel uses the phrase to encourage listeners to enjoy the results of their hard work, celebrate their wins, and keep a positive mindset while avoiding negativity.^[14]

In a review for Afrocritik, Emmanuel Daraloye called "Buga" a "feel-good, perky type of song" infused with Amapiano elements, highlighted by log drums and a "sublime" verse from Tekno that complements Daniel's performance. He suggested the song might be an "unofficial song of the summer," comparing it to Wizkid and Tems' impact the previous year, and added that the track's viral dance move has further fueled its popularity across social media platforms. He rated the song a 6.5/10.^[14] Gabriel Myers Hansen of Music in Africa said that Kizz Daniel was "very much a linchpin" in Afrobeats whose career had shown steady growth, describing "Buga" as "Afrobeats' leading song," praising its "unique aural draw" and "elegant plainness," noting its sustained momentum beyond TikTok trends, and concluding that the song’s appeal lay in "a singular groove and melody, immense charisma and songwriting that succeeds in cajoling listeners."^[1]

Former Liberian president George Weah,^[15] Nigerian Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila,^[16] former Nigerian Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi,^[17] and the 16th president of Nigeria Bola Tinubu,^[18] all shared videos of themselves dancing to the song.

The music video for "Buga," directed by TG Omori, was published to YouTube on 22 June 2022. It showcases a celebratory theme, featuring a carnival-like setting shot in Lagos and Abuja. The video, featuring a cameo from Oga Sabinus, includes vibrant choreography and festive visuals that align with the song's message of enjoyment and success. It amassed over 3.8 million views within just two days.^[19][20]

Upon its release, "Buga" quickly gained commercial success and set multiple records. By 16 May 2022, just two weeks after its debut, "Buga" recorded 11.4 million equivalent streams and 47.5 million radio impressions, breaking the record for the largest streaming week since TurnTable began tracking in July 2020. The song debuted at No. 1 on the TurnTable Top 50 chart, becoming Kizz Daniel’s third chart-topping single and Tekno’s first.^[21] By 25 May 2022, "Buga" had achieved an unprecedented milestone by simultaneously holding the records for the all-time biggest weekly streaming tally, the all-time biggest weekly radio tally, and the highest total chart activity recorded by any song in a week. That week, it tallied 12.3 million equivalent streams (up 7.8%) and 71.6 million radio impressions (up 50.7%). It also maintained the No. 1 position with nearly double the points of the No. 2 song, further solidifying its dominance on the TurnTable Top 50 chart.^[22]

By 1 June 2022, "Buga" continued its streak as the most streamed and most-heard song in Nigeria, spending a third consecutive week atop the streaming chart with 9.03 million equivalent streams and leading the radio chart with 59.3 million impressions for a second week. During this period, it held the record for the three largest chart point tallies ever recorded on TurnTable charts, dated 16 May, 23 May, and 30 May 2022, respectively.^[23] By 13 June 2022, "Buga" had equaled the five-week reigns of Skiibii's "Baddest Boy (Remix)" and Black Sherif's "Kwaku the Traveller" as the longest-running No. 1 songs in 2022. It also recorded its fifth consecutive week as Nigeria’s most streamed song and retained its lead on radio charts.^[24] By 20 June 2022, "Buga" set a new record for the most weeks at No. 1 in 2022, with six weeks atop the TurnTable Top 50. Despite the absence of an official music video during its chart run, the song maintained its dominance across streaming platforms and radio airplay. Its chart-topping performance underscored its popularity and established a strong presence on the Nigerian music scene.^[25]

On 19 May 2022, Shazam announced that "Buga" was the most Shazamed song in the world. The song also set a new streaming record by becoming the first song to reach one million streams within 24 hours on Boomplay Music.^[26]

In April 2024, Kizz Daniel and Tekno were involved in a public dispute regarding the royalties from "Buga." The controversy began after a blog claimed Tekno had stated in an interview that he had no legal agreement regarding his feature on "Buga" and received 50% of the song's revenue, amounting to almost ₦1,000,000. Tekno swiftly denied the claim, describing the interview as “fake” and suggesting that Kizz Daniel did not have such funds to distribute. Kizz Daniel responded via Twitter, accusing Tekno of disrespect and claiming that "Buga" had revived Tekno's music career. In retaliation, Tekno responded with a tweet questioning Daniel's motives and warning him not to play with him, insinuating that Daniel's actions were driven by insecurity. The exchange sparked a back-and-forth between the two artists on social media, drawing attention from fans and the media alike.^[27][28]

Credits adapted from Apple Music.^[36]

• Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe – vocals, songwriter
• Augustine Miles Kelechi - vocals, songwriter
• Reward Beatz - production
• Blaisebeatz - production
• Yung Willis - production

• List of best-selling singles by country