• Source: 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. The song reached No. 1 on Apple Music's Nigeria Top 100 chart three days after its release, 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. In addition to topping the streaming charts, "Buga" secured top-five positions in both radio and TV impressions.




Background


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




Composition and lyrics


The song was recorded in the key of A♭ major with a tempo of 116 beats per minute. "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.




Reception


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.
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.




Impact


"Buga" became an instant hit on social media, with numerous notable personalities, including former Liberian president George Weah, Nigerian Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, former Nigerian Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and the 16th president of Nigeria Bola Tinubu, 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. 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.




Music video


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.




Controversy


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.




Accolades






Charts






= Weekly charts

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= Year-end charts

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Certifications






Personnel


Credits adapted from Apple Music.

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




Release history






References

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