2025 was a year of contrasts for Nigerian music. Albums often struggled to meet the moment, but singles carried the culture forward, offering sharp snapshots of creativity, ambition, and experimentation. Artists revisited familiar genres—Afrobeats, Fuji, Amapiano—while bending them into new shapes, often blurring regional and stylistic boundaries in the process.
From chart-dominating hits to songs that defined conversations online and offline, these records captured how Nigerian music sounded, moved, and felt in 2025. Here are the ten songs that mattered the most.
10. Olamide, Asake, Seyi Vibez, Young Jonn & Daecolm – 99
Only Olamide could assemble a lineup this stacked and make it feel effortless. “99” thrives on heavy log drums and Afro-house leanings, engineered for late nights and packed dance floors. Its reach stretched far beyond Nigeria—landing on Barack Obama’s year-end playlist and cementing its place as one of the year’s most visible cultural exports.
9. Asake – Why Love
Few songs this year had the staying power of “Why Love.” Built on mid-tempo Amapiano log drums, the record balanced introspection with accessibility. Asake reflected on heartbreak, fame, and personal growth without sacrificing melody, and its extended chart run proved just how deeply it resonated.
8. Blaqbonez – ACL
“ACL” functioned as both a diss record and a personal manifesto. Blaqbonez turned his long-running feud with Odumodublvck into sharp, self-aware lyricism, transforming internet drama into a broader cultural moment. Witty bars, layered wordplay, and a sticky hook made the track as entertaining as it was pointed.
7. DJ Maphorisa, DJ Tunez, Wizkid & Mavo – Money Constant
“Money Constant” exemplified the power of South African–Nigerian collaboration. Wizkid’s opening vocals set a calm, confident tone, while Mavo delivered a career-defining feature. Anchored by a hypnotic groove, the song felt engineered for repetition—smooth, understated, and impossible to ignore.
6. Adekunle Gold – Many People
With “Many People,” Adekunle Gold pushed the Fuji revival further into the mainstream. Blending traditional Fuji elements with contemporary Afrobeats, the song functioned as both celebration and reinvention. Surprise appearances from Fuji legends Adewale Ayuba and Yinka Ayefele elevated it into a full-blown party anthem, reinforced by visuals that honored the genre’s roots.
5. Dave ft. Tems – Raindance
“Raindance” felt inevitable. Against the backdrop of rumored romance, Dave and Tems delivered a song that sounded written in the stars. Dave’s introspection paired seamlessly with Tems’ soft yet commanding presence, resulting in a modern classic that lingered long after its final note.
4. Rema – Baby (Is It a Crime)
Rema opened 2025 with intent. Sampling Sade Adu’s 1985 classic, “Baby (Is It a Crime)” fused vintage soul with Afrobeats polish. Sampling such a beloved record is risky, but Rema balanced flirtation and vulnerability effortlessly—once again proving his gift for turning nostalgia into something current.
3. FOLA – You
On “You,” FOLA fully stepped into his role as the Loverboy of the new decade. Produced by Kel P, the song’s smooth, melodic backdrop created space for vulnerable songwriting centered on devotion and emotional closeness. His delivery felt intimate and sincere, making the record quietly compelling.
2. Davido & Omah Lay – With You
What began amid public misunderstanding evolved into one of the year’s defining collaborations. “With You” showcased Davido and Omah Lay’s natural chemistry, turning a simple love melody into a cultural moment. A Grammy nomination and its status as Spotify’s most-streamed Nigerian song of 2025 underscored its massive impact.
1. Ayra Starr – Hot Body
“Hot Body” captured Ayra Starr firmly in her most grown era yet. Radiating confidence and ease, she delivered a song that celebrated self-possession without alienating its audience. That infectious production sealed it—more than just a hit, the track became a statement, defining the sound and spirit of Nigerian pop in 2025.
