Here’s a brief breakdown of five songs about love — the romantic kind, the unrequited kind, the fleeting kind, and the everlasting kind — by some of Nigeria’s finest artists.
1. Ringtone – Naeto C
By the time Naeto C dropped “Ringtone,” Nigerian pop music had replaced Hip-Hop as the soundtrack to the country’s nightlife. At the time, few artists were as equally comfortable in both schools as Naeto C. With vocals drenched in autotune, “Ringtone” encapsulates the era with the track’s title. For Nigerian millennials, it was a period as exciting as the music being made – clubs were packed till sunrise, curfews were non-existent and the music felt like the world's best-kept secret. On this track,” Naeto raps about splitting his show money in two and most notably, utilizes “ringtone” as a cheeky euphemism for sexual activity. Naeto’s slow jam spoke for hormonal teenagers who claimed to be grown but in actuality, were not grown enough to “say it with their chest.” Unlike his later hits, “Ringtone,” didn’t crossover internationally but its cultural impact remains solidified in collective memory.
2. So Beautiful – Aṣa
In musical conversations about love, romantic love often takes centre stage. However, songs dedicated to mothers are a quiet adversary. “So Beautiful” appears on Aṣa’s debut album and is the songstress’s standout offering to this canon of tributes. To the tune of a guitar, Aṣa adeptly marries proverbial Yoruba with English and the result is an enchanting litany of praise. As the song reaches its crescendo, Aṣa bursts into what can only be described as a sonic prayer. “Yèyé ni wúrà,” she cries. Throughout the emotional ballad, Asa compares her mother to an Oriṣa, and “So Beautiful” is an invitation to join her in ceremony.
*mother is gold
3. Olè – 2Baba
If 2Baba’s record-breaking “African Queen” is the epitome of a happy ending, then his 2004 ode to unrequited love depicts the alternate outcome of shooting your shot. On “Olè,” which translates to thief in Yoruba, 2Baba oscillates between disbelief, anger, and pity. “Now it’s only me that let you know I love you so / that is not the way that the story should go,” he laments. Over a drowsy mid-tempo track and his signature reggae-inspired adlibs, 2Face makes the song cry. Complete with a classic rap feature and a Teddy Pendergrass reference, “Olè” is simultaneously a nostalgia-laced anthem and a cautionary tale against youthful exuberance.
4. Repete – Blackmagic
With its arresting horns and laidback flow, Blackmagic’s “Repete” sounds like the evening boat ride after a kickback at Ilashe beach – Lagos sunsets, choppy waters and alcohol-induced naps in your lover’s arms. Half-song, half-melodic rap, Blackmagic expresses his desire to build a friendship with a potential partner and thanks her for serving as his muse. While the lyrics “1, 2 / the boy Blackmagic looking for you,” may not conjure up grandiose imagery of mountain-moving romance, “Repete” embodies the playful ease that can make even a stranger feel like home. Laden with flirty pickup lines and a nursery-rhyme-esque cadence, this effortless masterpiece is true to the song’s refrain “*Mo n ṣe jẹ́jẹ́ o.”
*I’m doing it gently
5. Olufunmi – Styl-Plus
In the early aughts, Westlife and other polished foreign acts dominated Nigerian airwaves. That was until Nigerians got their own carefully curated boyband in the form of Styl-Plus. The group’s breakout single “Olufunmi,” made stans out of those who enjoyed but ignorantly looked down on successful homegrown talent like Plantashun Boiz. From impeccable harmonies to a chorus pleading for a second chance, Styl-Plus delivered traditional R&B in a Nigerian context. “Olufunmi'' is a song that bookmarks life’s chapters – reminding you of what car you drove and who you had a crush on at the time. Style-Plus created an anthem that played in hairdressers, blared out of taxis and most importantly, made a generation of Nigerians proud to belt out a Yoruba girl’s name.