Look, we all have those days when the hustle feels heavy and the grind seems endless. Maybe your bank account is doing shakara, or your big break is playing hide and seek with you. That’s where these songs come in. Whether you’re stuck in Lagos traffic contemplating your life choices or grinding at 2 am on a project that better blow, these songs will remind you why you started in the first place. We’ve ranked the top 20 most motivational Afrobeats bangers released since 2020, because sometimes all you need is the right playlist to soundtrack your lock-in efforts.

20. Burna Boy – Higher (2024)

Higher is Burna doing what he does best: talking about growth like it’s a lifestyle, not a phase. The song is about refusing to stay comfortable, even when you’re already winning. It hits harder knowing Burna keeps reinventing himself instead of coasting. Real “don’t relax yet” music.

19. Asake – Sunshine (2023)

Asake turns optimism into a vibe here. Sunshine doesn’t deny that things can be rough, but it insists that good days are still loading. It’s the kind of song that lifts your mood without forcing fake positivity: it’s light, hopeful, and very necessary.

18. Davido – Anything (2025)

This is Davido in his confident bag. A confidence anthem straight from his 5ive album, he shuts down doubt and declares he can conquer anything thrown his way. It’s the kind of track that reminds you: critics talk, but determination wins if you keep pushing.

17. BNXN – Pray (2022)

Pray sits at the intersection of faith and hustle. BNXN acknowledges the grind but also reminds you that not everything is in your control. It feels honest, grounded, and very relatable, like advice from someone who’s been there.

16. Reminisce – Hustle (2022)

This is pure veteran energy. Reminisce is stating facts, not romanticising struggle. The song feels like a reminder that consistency beats hype, and that longevity only comes from doing the work over and over again.

15. Seyi Vibez – Man of the Year (2023)

This one is about loudly declared self-belief. Seyi Vibez isn’t waiting to be chosen, he crowns himself. It’s the kind of song you play when you’re trying to convince yourself that your season is close, even if the results aren’t obvious yet.

14. BNXN – Never Stopped (2023)

The title says it all, but the emotion seals it. BNXN uses this song to remind everyone, including himself, that persistence matters. It’s motivation for people who kept going when quitting felt easier.

13. Burna Boy – Want It All (2021)

This is ambition with chest. Burna makes it clear that success sometimes doesn’t cure hunger, it just sharpens it. The song is a reminder that wanting more can be an ambitious vision, not greed.

12. BNXN – Outside (2021)

Outside speaks to anyone who ever felt overlooked or underestimated. Calm, confident, and patient, it’s about trusting that your time will come, even if you’re starting from the margins.

11. Cheque – Zoom (2020)

Restless energy from start to finish. Zoom sounds like someone who’s tired of waiting and ready to sprint toward their goals. It captures that stage where ambition is loud and hesitation is gone.

10. Asake – Dupe (2022)

Gratitude as motivation. Asake balances hunger with appreciation, reminding you to acknowledge your progress while still aiming higher. It’s joyful, reflective, and quietly grounding.

9. Olamide ft. Bella Shmurda – Triumphant (2021)

This is victory music for people who struggled first. Both artists bring lived experience to the track, making it feel earned, not flashy. A song for celebrating wins that didn’t come easy.

8. Asake – Dull (2022)

From the jump, Dull is about refusing mediocrity. Asake leans into confidence, movement, and momentum, encouraging you to stay sharp and hungry without shrinking yourself or trying to blend in.

7. TML Vibez & Seyi Vibez – Where I’m From (2024)

A reflection on roots, struggle, and how far hustle can take you. Both artists speak on leaving home to feed home, starting from zero, and pushing for something bigger. It’s grounded motivation, built on lived experience.

6. Davido – Stand Strong (2022)

Heavy, emotional, and resilient. Released during a painful period, this song is about pushing forward despite grief, criticism, and pressure. It’s more about possessing steady strength than loud motivation.

5. Zlatan, FOLA – Get Better (2025)

A simple prayer turned anthem. Get Better captures that space where things aren’t sweet, but giving up isn’t an option either. It’s survival music for people still showing up and putting in work, hoping for small wins to stack up.

4. Asake – Nzaza (2022)

Asake tells his story plainly on this track: leaving home, hustling, and figuring it out the hard way. The message is simple and direct: effort is non-negotiable. It is motivation wrapped in lived experience.

3. T.I Blaze – Try (2022)

This one feels like street advice passed down with care. TI Blaze reminds listeners that honest work still matters, even when shortcuts look tempting. It’s slow-burn motivation, rooted in values.

2. Burna Boy – Level Up (2020)

More than a flex, this is a mindset reset. Burna talks about raising standards across the board. It is a soundtrack for those who refuse to stay stagnant, those who keep thinking bigger, and moving smarter. A true “new chapter” anthem.

1. Fido – Joy Is Coming (2024)

If there’s one song that captured the Nigerian spirit in 2025, it’s this one. Released during one of the most economically challenging periods in recent history, “Joy Is Coming” became more than just a song, it became a national prayer. The beauty of this track is its simplicity and sincerity.  It just reminds you that after every storm, joy will come. And honestly, sometimes that’s all the motivation you need.