Wikipedia

Buga (song)

Buga is a song by Nigerian singer Kizz Daniel. Featuring vocals from fellow Nigerian singer 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]

"Buga"
Single by Kizz Daniel featuring Tekno
from the album Maverick
Released4 May 2022 (2022-05-04)
Genre
Length3:03
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Kizz Daniel singles chronology
"Lie"
(2021) 		"Buga"
(2022) 		"Cough (Odo)"
(2022)
Tekno singles chronology
"Jinja"
(2022) 		"Buga"
(2022) 		"Full Current (That's My Baby)"
(2022)
Music video
"Buga" on YouTube

Background

edit

Kizz Daniel revealed the song's release on his social media platforms.[7]

Reward Beatz, one of the producers of "Buga," described the creation of the song as a straightforward and enjoyable process. The beat was made collaboratively in the studio with Kizz Daniel and later sent to him for recording. Although Reward Beatz had produced previous hits, including T-Classic's "La Cream" and Iyanya's "Like" featuring Davido and Kizz Daniel himself, he noted that "Buga" significantly boosted his opportunities in the music industry and widened his creative process. Reward Beatz expressed gratitude for the increased recognition and support following the success of the song.[8]

Composition and lyrics

edit

The song was recorded in the key of A♭ major with a tempo of 116 beats per minute.[9] "Buga"'s lyrics appear to convey a sense of pride and celebration of one's achievements. The word "buga" itself is described as a popular Yoruba slang meaning "to show off," "to be proud of something," or "to flaunt one's success." In the context of the song, Kizz Daniel uses "Buga" to encourage listeners to take pride in their hard work, enjoy life fully, and embrace their accomplishments while staying positive and steering clear of negativity.[10]

Reception

edit

In Emmanuel Daraloye's review for Afrocritik, he praised "Buga" as a "feel-good, perky type of song" infused with Amapiano elements, highlighted by log drums and a “sublime” verse from Tekno, which complements Daniel's performance. Daraloye noted that "Buga," meaning "to show off" in Yoruba, celebrates success and hard work, with Kizz Daniel urging listeners to enjoy life while avoiding negativity. He suggested the song might be an unofficial anthem for the summer of 2022, comparable to Wizkid and Tems' impact the previous year, adding that the track's viral dance move has further fueled its popularity across social media platforms.[10]

Gabriel Myers Hansen of Music in Africa described "Buga" as a standout Afrobeats hit, noting its “elegant plainness” in composition and messaging, which encourages both hard work and celebration. Hansen highlighted the song's simple, singalong structure, comparing its repetitive verses to a “single extended chorus,” which resonates with listeners like an anthem. He also praised the vibrant music video directed by TG Omori, calling it a “carnival-themed” spectacle that mirrors the song's feel-good message and showcases African culture. Hansen commended Kizz Daniel's unique “algorithm” for hit-making, which combines groove, charisma, and inviting lyrics to great effect.[1]

Impact

edit

"Buga" became an instant hit on social media, with numerous notable personalities, including former Liberian president George Weah,[11] Nigerian Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila,[12] former Nigerian Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi,[13] and the 16th president of Nigeria Bola Tinubu,[14] sharing videos of themselves dancing to the song.

The song achieved significant recognition globally, becoming the most Shazamed song in the world as announced by Shazam on 19 May 2022. It also set a new streaming record by becoming the first song to reach one million streams within 24 hours on Boomplay Music.[15] On the day of the song's release, Kizz Daniel embarked on 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.[16]

Music video

edit

The music video for "Buga," directed by TG Omori, was published to YouTube on 22 June 2022, and showcases a celebratory theme, featuring a carnival-like setting shot in Lagos and Abuja. The video, featuring Kizz Daniel, Tekno, and skit maker 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.[17][18]

Controversy

edit

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.[19][20]

Accolades

edit
Awards and nominations for "Buga"
Organization Year Category Result Ref.
The Headies 2023 Song of the Year Nominated [21]
The Headies 2023 Afrobeats Single of the Year Nominated [21]
The Headies 2023 Headies' Viewers' Choice Nominated [21]

Charts

edit

Weekly charts

edit
Chart performance for "Buga"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)[22] 1
UK Afrobeats Singles (OCC)[23] 2

Year-end charts

edit
2022 year-end chart performance for "Buga"
Chart (2022) Position
TurnTable Charts[24] 9

Certifications

edit
Certifications for Buga
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Nigeria (TCSN)[25] 4× Platinum 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

edit

Credits adapted from Apple Music.[26]

Release history

edit
Release history and formats for Buga
Region Date Format Label
Various 4 March 2022

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Myers Hansen, Gabriel (27 June 2022). "Buga: Kizz Daniel triggers global fever". Music in Africa. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b Eze, Chinelo (5 May 2022). "Kizz Daniel And Tekno Drop New Collaboration 'Buga'". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  3. ^ Tenadu, Nana (6 May 2022). "Kizz Daniel And Tekno's 'Buga' Tops Apple Music's Top 100: Nigeria Chart". Unorthodox Reviews. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  4. ^ Afeez, Ademoye (6 May 2022). "Kizz Daniel & Tekno's 'Buga' Becomes No. 1 Song In Nigeria, SEE DETAILS". NotJustOk. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  5. ^ Tenadu, Nana (16 May 2022). "Kizz Daniel's 'Buga' is the Most Shazamed Song in The World". Unorthodox Reviews. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  6. ^ Oriowo, Ayomide (26 December 2022). "Kizz Daniel's "Buga (Lo Lo Lo)" with Tekno is the No. 1 Song of 2022 in Nigeria, Asake Dominates the Top Ten with Four Entries". TurnTable Top 100. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  7. ^ Sulaimon, Muhibat (5 May 2022). "DOWNLOAD: Kizz Daniel, Tekno combine for 'Buga'". TheCable. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Producing Kizz Daniel's Buga came easy, says Reward Beatz". The Nation. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Buga (Lo Lo Lo) - Kizz Daniel, Tekno BPM & Key". songdata.io. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  10. ^ a b Daraloye, Emmanuel (17 May 2022). "What Does "Buga" Portend for Kizz Daniel's Career?". Afrocritik. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Liberian leader George Weah gets the BUGA dance bug". P.M. News. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  12. ^ Adegboyega, Adeleye (19 August 2022). "VIDEO: Gbajabiamila dances to Kizz Daniel's Buga". Vanguard. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  13. ^ Usaini, Nebianet (21 July 2022). "Kizz Daniel's 'Buga' Is The Most Googled Song In Nigeria". Channels TV. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  14. ^ Adedamola, Quasim (6 December 2022). "Tinubu dances to Kizz Daniel's "Buga" song after Chattam House Conference". Daily Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  15. ^ Mujuru, Mufaro (22 May 2022). "Kizz Daniel and Tekno's 'Buga' becomes most Shazamed song in the world". Grungecake. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  16. ^ Courage, Onyema (4 May 2022). "Kizz Daniel and Tekno release new single 'Buga'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  17. ^ Idowu, Oluwamayowa (22 June 2022). "Kizz Daniel and Tekno Throw A Carnival in the Video for 'Buga'". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Kizz Daniel's "Buga" Video Makes Impressive Outing". The Guardian. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  19. ^ Bolawa, Pelumi (30 April 2024). "Kizz Daniel, Tekno trade insults on X over 'Buga'". TheCable. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  20. ^ Ubanagu, Makua (30 April 2024). "Kizz Daniel, Tekno in war of words over 'Buga'". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Grein, Paul (28 August 2023). "Burna Boy Leads in 2023 Headies Awards Nominations: Full List (Exclusive)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Official Nigeria Top 100". TurnTable.
  23. ^ "Official Afrobeats Chart". Official Charts Company.
  24. ^ "End of the Year Charts — TurnTable Top 100". TurnTable. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Nigeria certifications". TurnTable. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Buga (Lo Lo Lo) - Single - Album by Kizz Daniel & Tekno". Apple Music. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buga_(song)&oldid=1256941500"