The MTV Base shows the debate on their Top 20 Best Naija songs list

Below is the press release..

Music channel MTV Base
ignited a fierce social media
debate about the best of
Nigerian music following a
programme which aired on
Nigeria’s Independence Day
called “ The Best Naija Songs
Ever on MTV Base”.
The list of artistes and songs
featured in the programme
was determined by viewers
of MTV Base, who voted via
the MTV
Base website www.mtvbase.
com to choose their musical
favourites starting from the
channel’s launch on 22
February, 2005 till the present
day.  The “Top 20” voted
for by MTV
Base viewers comprised:

1. 2Face: African Queen
2. 9ice: Gongo Aso
3. D’Banj: Oliver Twist
4. P Square Feat. Waje : Do Me
5. Wizkid: Holla At Your Boy
6. Davido: Dami Duro
7. Ice Prince: Oleku
8. D’Banj: Why Me
9. M.I.: Safe
10.       Olu Maintain: Yahooze
11.       Naeto C: Kini Big Deal
12.       Davido: Skelewu
13.       Banky W: Lagos Party
14.       Wizkid: Pakorumo
15.       Asa: Jailer
16.       P Square: Chop My Money
17. Wande Coal: Bumper To
Bumper
18.       Dr Sid: Surulere
19.       Flavour: Nwa Baby (Remix)
20.       KCee: Limpopo
Bonus Track: Iyanya: Kukere
Other artists/tracks that received
an honourable mention included:
Styl Plus: Olufunmi; Shank: Julie;
DJ Jimmy Jatt: Stylee; Ikechukwu
feat. Don Jazzy & D’banj: Wind Am
Well; D’Banj: Fall in Love.
Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President
& Managing Director, Viacom
International Media Networks
(VIMN) Africa , welcomes the
heated debate sparked by the
programme “We are thrilled to see
the passion with which people are
engaging in the discussion about the
Best Naija Tracks. There has been
concern in some quarters that the
list didn’t include some of Nigeria’s
most seminal artists and songs - it
seems as if some people may have
misinterpreted the campaign. This
list of tracks, as voted by the public,
was never intended to reflect the
Best Naija Tracks of all time ; the
creation of this campaign is part of
the build up to our 10th birthday
and it was supposed to highlight
artistes that have been played on
our channel since the launch of MTV
Base in 2005, hence the title “The
Best Naija Tracks Ever on MTV
Base". We understand that the
positioning could have been
misleading on some of our
platforms and we regret any
confusion caused.”

“ As a brand, we acknowledge and
respect the fact that Nigeria has a
long music history beyond the last
10 years and our work since
launching MTV Base is to help
develop and showcase the best of
Nigerian and African music to a
global audience. The "Best Naija
Tracks Ever on MTV Base”
campaign is really about celebrating
the new generation of talent who
have benefitted from the legends
who paved the way for their
successes today.”

Continued Okosi, “ The important
thing is that everyone has their own
views about what makes a great
song or a great artist, and we’re
keen to hear their thoughts. We are
continuing the debate and
encouraging music fans to further
engage with the campaign via our
digital media platforms. We will
also be filming a special MTV
Base Nigerian music roundtable in
Lagos on this topic, featuring
artistes, DJs and music industry
experts. The roundtable will air
on MTV Base in November 2014 as
part of the channel’s build up to our
10th birthday
celebrations. Simultaneously, MTV
Base is challenging music fans to
create their own lists of Best Naija
Tracks, and to post them on MTV
Base social media assets, or to get
involved in the conversation by
using the
hashtag #BaseBestNaijaTracks .
Those engaging in the campaign
stand the chance to have their
comments featured in the roundtable
discussion on MTV Base."