Asake Leads Apple Music's Best African Songs of 2026 with 'Forgiveness'

Grammy nominated Nigerian singer Ahmed Ololade, known worldwide as Asake, has claimed the top spot on Apple Music's Africa Now: Best of 2026 playlist with his track "Forgiveness." The announcement cements what has been a remarkable year for the "Mr. Money" crooner, who continues to dominate charts across the continent and beyond.

The streaming platform released its highly anticipated year end list on Friday, and Asake's presence is impossible to ignore. His collaboration with Wizkid, "Jogodo," sits comfortably at number three, giving the YBNL signee two appearances in the top three alone. If that wasn't enough, he also features on Blaqbonez's "Chanel," which landed at number nine.

Tems secured the second spot with "What You Need," while Victony's "Slick" took fourth place. Rounding out the top five was "Big Bum Bum" by Kidd Carder and Mavo.

In its commentary, Apple Music praised Asake's fourth studio album, M$NEY, and the remarkable staying power of his earlier projects. The platform described him as "a commercial powerhouse" whose catalogue depth tells the real story of his success.

"In 2026, one of the foremost testaments to the continent's far reaching musical ingenuity was the work of Asake, who cemented himself as a commercial powerhouse this year," the statement read. "Asake's catalogue depth is the real story though, with Mr. Money with the Vibe, Work of Art and Lungu Boy continuing strong showings even as the new album dominated."

The platform also highlighted fan favourites like "Active" featuring Travis Scott, "Fuji Vibe," and the Wizkid-assisted "MMS," noting that whether you're a new listener or a diehard fan, Asake delivers something worth hearing.

Other notable entries in the top ten included "Money Constant" by DJ Maphorisa, DJ Tunez, Wizkid and Mavo at number six, followed by "Nakupenda" featuring TxC, Davido, Scotts Maphuma and Shoday. NO11 and Ayjay Bobo's "How Far" took eighth place, while Davido, FOLA and Mayorkun closed out the top ten with "B4 B4."

The playlist features 50 songs with a runtime of two hours and 33 minutes, showcasing the best of African music from the past year. Other artists featured include Ayra Starr, Tyla, Omah Lay, Seyi Vibez, Rema, BNXN, Sarz, Tiwa Savage, Black Sherif, and KiDi, among others.

Asake's dominance on the list reflects a banner year for the Lagos-born star, whose unique fusion of Fuji, Afrobeats, and street-hop has resonated with audiences globally. From selling out arenas to topping streaming charts, the singer has solidified his place as one of Africa's most bankable musical exports.

With two songs in the top three and multiple other appearances throughout the playlist, Asake's 2026 run has been nothing short of extraordinary and if Apple Music's rankings are anything to go by, he's only just getting started.