Are they on your playlist?
There’s no summer in Nigeria. The calendar runs on rainy and dry seasons. Beach days here are something you make out for yourself, not what the year hands you. But the summer culture has crept into Nigerian shores, riding the same current that’s carried Afropop into playlists across the globe.
The music doesn’t wait for any season, it creates its own. Whether you’re having an actual summer or catching your tan under the Nigerian sun, these are ten Afropop songs that score this season and should be on your radar.
This is a DMW reunion, four years after Mayorkun walked out the door. “B4 B4” was originally Mayorkun’s own record, before he handed it to Davido for his sixth album, Oriade. FOLA is an additional feature and they sing about love, attraction and infatuation.
Wiz and Asake released this without warning in January and it’s stuck around since. Magicsticks builds a groove out of percussion and brass; Wizkid and Asake trade verses about being jogodo, pidgin for tipsy. It stretches into a whole mood of freedom and not caring. It’s one of the year’s most persistent songs.
These two OAU alumni connect on “Chanel”, a flex record dressed in Cartier and Nike. Blaqbonez opens with the wit he’s known for; Asake slides in with a rapper swag and a loose, hypnotic street-hop bounce. This is Blaqbonez’s biggest song right now and proof that his crossover into pop is paying off.
This OG version of this song dropped into Nigeria’s Afro House scene back in November 2025 and has been the life of raves ever since. Jamie Black named the track after Lagos slang for someone who’s the best at what they do—almost to a deranged level. This year, he put out a remix pack with other DJs, and this one with Azzi backs up the boast and sends the crowds into a frenzy.
After the success of catharsis, FOLA follows up with “fine ting”, talking his fine girl into staying. He switches between smooth crooning and rapid Yoruba-inflected runs without losing breath. From beauty to getting the girl to money, he sings of romance that feels like a unique experience.
Ayra Starr previewed this song live at her NPR Tiny Desk session before its release. She compares her presence to the weather event and dares you to disagree. The production is percussion-heavy and cinematic. Ayra has become a woman fully aware of the storm she causes when walking into a room. The icing on this sweet song is FOLA’s vocals serenading at the end.
Killertunes handles production on this Afro-fusion track, sung mostly in Yoruba, marking Solana’s entry point to a Nigerian audience that wants something different. “OKUNKUN” means darkness, but the song moves toward faith and resilience. It has become one of 2026’s most talked-about, least conventional releases.
Success humbles Asake here and he throws his hands in the air in gratitude. He got out of the mud and is having a global dominant run; what’s not to celebrate? The strings swell and a choir leans in behind him. It’s uplifting and high-spirited, in line with the joyful and warm energy of the summer season.
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As the title suggests, “Back Outside” is the ultimate re-emergence anthem. Producer Sarz and BNXN pop out together for a comeback. Sarz’s laidback production mixingAfropop with South American rhythm while BNXN stays mellow and reflective over it. You can hear the confidence of returning to the scene after lying low for a while.
“SLICK” earns its title. Victony and producer Ozedikus keep the tempo unhurried, while he switches between singing and a singy-rap style. It’s made for fashionistas, glam-up sessions, parties or nightouts with friends.
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