Limpopo (song)

Last updated
"Limpopo"
KCEE - Limpopo.jpg
Single by KCee
from the album Take Over
Released19 February 2013
Recorded2011-12
Genre Afrobeats
Length4:13
Label Five Star Music
Songwriters
Producer Del B
KCee singles chronology
"Give it to Me"
(2012)
"Limpopo"
(2013)
"Okoso"
(2013)
Music video
"Limpopo" on YouTube

"Limpopo" is a song by Nigerian singer KCee. Considered as KCee's breakout single as a solo artist, it was produced by Del B and was released on 19 February 2013 as the second single from his debut solo studio album Take Over (2013). Debuting at number three, "Limpopo" peaked at number one on the MTV Base Official Naija Top 10 for the week dated 21 June to 28 June 2013, surpassing Davido's "Gobe". [1] [2] It remained on top for three weeks until it was displaced by Wande Coal's "The Kick". [3] The song was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards and for Hottest Single of the Year at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. [4] [5] It won Song of the Year at The Headies 2013. [6] In addition, Del B, the song’s producer, was nominated for Producer of the Year at The Headies 2013. [6]

Contents

Background

Following his split with musical partner Presh, KCee recorded "Limpopo" as his first solo track. It dropped on 19 February 2013 as his eighth single released as a solo artist. In the Netflix documentary Afrobeats: The Backstory (2022), he admitted that the song was created shortly after he assembled a new team that includes him, Del B, Dr Amir, and Harrysong, with whom he frequently collaborated on his debut studio album Take Over (2013). The group ended up as members of Five Star Music. KCee revealed that he initially planned to feature either American singers Chris Brown or Trey Songz on "Limpopo". [7] In an interview with Daily Post , KCee stated that the song was recorded spontaneously in the studio with friends, without any prior plan or structure, and that he and his team celebrated after recording it. In the interview, KCee said that the song became an instant hit within two weeks of its release. Despite Limpopo being the name of a province in South Africa, according to KCee, the song's name means "let's have fun." [8]

Liberia live performance

KCee performed "Limpopo" at the Lonestar Cell Beach Jam concert in Liberia, where his set received positive reviews from local media. According to a review by Tete Bropleh of the Liberian Observer , he opened his performance with "Pullover" before performing "Limpopo," which increased the show’s momentum and kept the audience "spellbound and hungry for more." Bropleh described his performance as one of the night's highlights, alongside Liberian artists DenG and Christoph the Change. [9]

Music video

The music video for "Limpopo" was released on 15 March 2013. It was shot in Majorca, Spain by Piguar Films with a cameo appearance from Harrysong. [10] [11] KCee began work on the video about five days before releasing the song. [12] The directors were originally supposed to shoot a video for his single "Totori" with Harrysong, but KCee convinced them to shoot "Limpopo" instead. [13] "Limpopo"'s music video was nominated for Most Gifted Dance Video at the 2013 Channel O Music Video Awards. [14] As of October 2025, the video has reached around 17 million views on YouTube. [15]

Accolades

YearAwards ceremonyAward description(s)ResultsRef
2014 African Muzik Magazine Awards Song of the YearWon [16]
Best Dance in a VideoNominated [17]
MTV Africa Music Awards Song of the YearNominated [4]
2013 Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted Dance VideoNominated [14]
The Headies Song of the Year Won [6]
Nigerian Music Video AwardsBest Pop Extra VideoNominated [18]
City People Entertainment Awards Most Popular Song of the YearWon [19]
Nigeria Entertainment Awards Hottest Single of the YearNominated [5]

Charts

Chart performance for "Limpopo"
Chart (2013)Peak
position
Nigeria (MTV Base Official Naija Top 10)1 [20]

References

  1. Abiodun Omigie (17 June 2013). "Davido holds on to number one spot on MTV Base official Naija top 10". Nigerian Entertainment Today . Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  2. Micheal Abimboye (26 June 2013). "Kcee's "Limpopo" bags number one spot on Mtv's Official Naija Top 10". Premium Times . Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  3. "Wande Coal's "The Kick" Topples Over K-Cee's "Limpopo" for Number One on the MTV Base Official Naija Top 10". BellaNaija. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  4. 1 2 "MTV Africa Music Awards nomination list". Vanguard . 6 June 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 Micheal Abimboye (31 May 2013). "Nigerian Entertainment Award announces 2013 nominees". Premium Times. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "Olamide, Phyno, Davido, Waje, Others Win Big At Headies". Channels TV. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  7. Taiwo Oshunloye (5 July 2022). "Kcee: I had planned on featuring Chris Brown or Trey Songz on 'Limpopo'". TheCable . Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  8. Ifreke Inyang (5 August 2013). ""I was surprised when I heard President Jonathan and Patience sang and danced to Limpopo" – Kcee". Daily Post . Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  9. Tete Bropleh (1 December 2016). "Concert Review: KCEE Out-performs Tekno at Lonestar Cell Beach Jam". The Liberian Observer . Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  10. Ovie Ofugara (15 March 2013). "VIDEO: KCee - Limpopo". Notjustok . Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  11. Onos Ovueraye (15 March 2013). "BN Video Premiere: K-Cee – Limpopo". BellaNaija . Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  12. Wana (30 May 2013). ""My father tied me up & beat me because of music" – KCee". 360nobs. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  13. Motolani Alake (24 January 2021). "KCee: The journey to 'Cultural Praise' [Pulse Interview]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  14. 1 2 Tyler Batimoore (3 September 2013). "Channel O Africa Music Video Awards 2013 Nominees List". tooXclusive. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  15. Kcee - Limpopo [Official Video]. OfficiallyKcee. 15 March 2013. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2025 via YouTube.
  16. "AFRIMMA Nominees 2014". AFRIMMA . 18 May 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  17. Jeniffer Obiuwevbi (9 June 2014). "See Nominees for the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) 2014". BellaNaija . Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  18. Tyler Batimoore (16 July 2013). "NIGERIA MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS (NMVA 2013) WINNERS LIST". tooXclusive . Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  19. Damilare Aiki (16 July 2013). "2013 City People Entertainment Awards: First Photos & Full List of Winners". BellaNaija . Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  20. Abimboye, Micheal (26 June 2013). "Kcee's "Limpopo" bags number one spot on Mtv's Official Naija Top 10". www.premiumtimesng.com. Premium Times.