| "Asiwaju" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Ruger | ||||
| from the album Ru the World | ||||
| Released | 16 November 2022 | |||
| Genre | Afro pop | |||
| Length | 3:36 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriter(s) | Michael Adebayo Olayinka | |||
| Producer(s) | Kukbeatz | |||
| Ruger singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Asiwaju" on YouTube | ||||
"Asiwaju" is a song by Nigerian singer Ruger. It was released on 16 November 2022, through Jonzing World, alongside "Red Flags," as the lead single from his debut studio album Ru the World (2022). The song was produced by Kukbeatz.
In a review of Ru the World, Patrick Ezema of Afrocritik highlighted "Asiwaju" as one of Ruger’s moments of "grandiloquence" on Ru the World. The song, along with "Jonzing Boy," was noted as an attempt to balance the album's themes, but Ezema remarked that they felt "too few and were released too long ago to feel canonical to this album’s story." Despite this, Ru the World remained "probably the sweetest-sounding album released this year." [1]
Also in a review of Ru the World, Betty Godson of NotJustOk noted that Ruger confidently showcased his success on Ru the World, with "Tour" and "Asiwaju" emphasizing his rise to prominence and widespread demand. She observed that bragging about his talent was a central theme of the album. [2]
Alex, a member of the writing team for the Native, highlighted "Asiwaju" as a standout track on Ru the World, praising its beat, sound, and widespread appeal, particularly its resonance with supporters of President Tinubu. He described the album as a showcase of Ruger’s personality and musical talent, noting his "perfect grasp of Afrobeats and modern sounds" as well as the engaging collaborations that enrich the project. [3]
In an interview with Wonderland Magazine, Ruger described "Asiwaju" as a reflection of his current lifestyle, embodying confidence and self-assurance. He explained that the song conveys the message, "I’m saying I’m ahead of them and nothing can stop me." The lyrics reinforce this theme with bold declarations of dominance and resilience. [4]
| Organization | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Headies | 2023 | Afrobeats Single of the Year | Nominated | [5] |
| The Headies | 2023 | Headies’ Viewers’ Choice | Nominated | [5] |
Upon release, "Asiwaju" quickly gained traction and peaked at number one on Nigeria's Apple Music Top Songs chart, spending a record-breaking one month at the top. [6] The track, alongside "Red Flags," debuted on the Official Nigeria Top 100 at number 70 after just two days of tracking. [7] In its second week, "Asiwaju" rocketed from No. 70 to No. 7 on the Official Nigeria Top 100, tallying 2.10 million streams (ranking fifth on streaming) and 23.2 million in radio reach (ranking 19th on radio). This jump marked Ruger's fourth top-ten entry on the chart, joining "Bounce," "Dior," and "Girlfriend." [8]
By the week of 30 December 2022, to 5 January 2023, "Asiwaju" reached number one on the Official Nigeria Top 100, tallying 3.22 million streams and 69.6 million in radio reach. It held the position for four consecutive weeks, equaling the four-week reign of Gyakie's "Forever (Remix)" with Omah Lay as the longest-running number-one song released under Sony Music. During this time, the song also broke records for its performance on radio, with 78.9 million in radio reach during the week of January 13–19, 2023, surpassing Kizz Daniel's "Cough (Odo)." [9]
"Asiwaju" eventually spent seven weeks atop the Official Nigeria Top 100, becoming the longest-running number-one song since Fireboy DML and Asake's "Bandana." It also tied for the third longest number-one run in the chart’s history, behind Omah Lay’s "Godly" (11 weeks) and Joeboy’s "Sip (Alcohol)" (10 weeks). [10] After losing the number-one spot, "Asiwaju" remained on the charts for several additional weeks before exiting in early March 2023. [11]
| Chart (2022-23) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100) [12] | 1 |
| US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard) [13] | 16 |
| UK Afrobeats Singles (OCC) [14] | 2 |
| Chart (2023) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard) [15] | 27 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria (TCSN) [16] | 3× Platinum | 300,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) [17] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
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