Fast rising singer, Godwin, has released African Queen, his long-awaited reinterpretation of the iconic song by Nigerian music legend, 2Baba.
First shared on social media last year, Godwin’s cover sparked strong audience response and sustained fan demand for a DSP release. The song arrived on Valentine’s Day as a fan-driven moment, rooted in emotion and cultural connection. The release also coincided with Pietra Brettkelly’s new documentary, Crocodile, which had its world premiere at Berlinale.
Over 13 years, the film documents the journey of the Nigerian filmmaking collective, The Critics, which Godwin cofounded from a group of boisterous pre-teens in the Nigerian province, who use all means at their disposal to create their own takes on Hollywood genre films, to an arts collective increasingly reflective on their practice and the social, political and economic conditions under which they create their art.
On the live performance front, Godwin has just wrapped a 16-date arena tour across Germany as the opening act for Xavier Naidoo, one of the country’s most successful pop-soul artistes – a run that sold over 150,000 tickets.
He has also announced five headline shows in Germany this May, with additional European dates to be revealed in the coming weeks.
Earlier this week, Godwin announced Renditions, an EP gathering of some of his most impactful TikTok covers, set for release on February 27.
Over the past few years, his reinterpretations of African classics have resonated widely on the platform, helping him build a community of 603K followers and generating 59M views and 5M likes.
Fans have consistently requested longer versions on streaming platforms. Among them, his take on African Queen has emerged as a standout.
Originally released by 2Baba, the song continues to resonate globally among a whole generation and beyond, it was ranked #1 on Billboard’s list of the 50 Greatest Afrobeats Songs of All Time last year. Its inclusion in the US film, Phat Girlz (2006), added to the global popularity of the song.
Godwin’s release of his version on February 13 aligned with Valentine’s Day, and invited “African Queens” from around the world to take part in the project, celebrating love, culture and heritage.
More than a conceptual tribute, Renditions is a personal project. The songs featured on the EP are tracks that shaped Godwin as an artist.
Revisiting defining works from Nigerian artistes such as D’banj, 2Baba and P-Square, the EP reflects an era of music that transcended borders and influenced generations beyond its original context. These songs did not simply mark individual careers, they became cultural reference points that laid the groundwork for today’s global Nigerian sound.
Through his interpretations, Godwin bridges early pioneers with contemporary figures like Wizkid or Omah Lay, honouring a legacy that continues to shape what Nigerian music represents today.