Burna Boy later told Shallipopi on Instagram Live that he acted alone, insisting his crew never touched the DJ, while admitting he gave him 鈥渢wo slaps.鈥� In response, the Nigerian DJ Association announced a temporary ban on his music among its members pending review. Then came the part that soured everything further: a clip of Burna Boy, wrapped in a white towel, dancing to Tunez鈥檚 鈥淢oney Constant鈥� and mocking the fall as a joke.

This brings up an old question in music criticism: what do you do with great music made by a problematic person? None of the usual answers feels satisfying.

You can separate the art from the artists, which is a tidy lie many eventually stop believing. You can boycott, which feels righteous until you notice the algorithm doesn鈥檛 care, and your skips are little drops in an ocean the artist is already swimming in. You can stay on the fence, which works only as long as nobody brings it up at the function. None of them really solves the problem. 

Afrobeats stars have a way of exposing what the scene is built on: the unspoken agreement that talent is a kind of indemnity. A man who can make thousands of people at home and abroad scream a hook back to him in a language many of them don鈥檛 speak is, by the logic of the culture around him, too valuable to be fully held accountable for what he does with his hands, whether violently at Obi鈥檚 House or erratically on social media. 

That agreement can be seen in the bookings that keep coming, the brand deals that still get signed, the podcast and interview appearances where hosts laugh through the beef stories, and the stan accounts that keep receipts as banter fuel for the next got-you moment.

What interests me here is not whether Afrobeats has terrible people in it. Every genre does. Rock has entire canons of them. Hip-Hop鈥檚 relationship with its worst figures is a behemoth of its own. The more pressing question is whether Afrobeats, specifically, has the cultural infrastructure to do anything about them. In 2026, the honest answer is: not really.  Whatever passes for infrastructure is running on the wrong incentives.

Those incentives produce the messy content that dominates our timelines. A fight at Obi鈥檚 House becomes both a news cycle and a marker of being unfuckwithable. A becomes a trending topic on X before the scuffle gets sorted. An . . A . on a record label staff member. All of this now lives inside Afrobeats.听

Violence is slowly shifting from being a glitch in the coverage of Afrobeats to being a feature of it. The blogs, the stans, agenda-raisers and even the artists themselves now wield this ugliness efficiently to produce more ugliness.

The existing structure rewards bad behaviour. Even the algorithm eats it up. DSPs don鈥檛 distinguish between streams driven by genuine fanlove and ones driven by rubbernecking.

So when grown men in their thirties, generational talents with great music, choose violence and public disorder, it shouldn鈥檛 be dismissed as bad judgment. It鈥檚 simply a calculated move from artists who know what this culture will tolerate.

What makes the Afrobeats version of this problem worse than the usual pop-culture one is the intimacy of the music itself. Afrobeats isn鈥檛 really a genre to consume at arm鈥檚 length; it鈥檚 music for enjoyment, weddings, owambes, house parties, raves, and even bad days. And the truth is, the music follows us into our own lives, terrible artists or not.

When a Burna Boy song like 鈥淥nyeka (Baby)鈥� sits at the top of your romance playlist, or an OdumoduBlvck verse is what got you through final year, the question is no longer abstract. It becomes harder to separate the voice from the man behind it, whether he is the one accused of ganging up to beat a DJ or assaulting and harassing a fellow artist and his team. 鈥淚 just like the music鈥� stops working once the music is soundtracking how you cook, unwind, grieve and even fall in love. When you are that immersed in an art form, you don鈥檛 get to hold it at a distance. You are already inside it.

So talent becomes an armour that works in ways subtle enough to be denied. A show booker or promoter doesn鈥檛 say, 鈥淚鈥檓 giving platform to a man who allegedly shot a couple at a club.鈥� He says the numbers make sense. A label doesn鈥檛 say, 鈥淲e鈥檙e insulating him.鈥� It says it鈥檚 waiting for the facts, or says nothing at all. A fan doesn鈥檛 say, 鈥淚鈥檓 defending cruelty.鈥� They say you鈥檙e a hater, an FC supporter, or a Chocolate City plant, then keep scrolling. Individually and collectively, these moves build a wall around the artist that no one ever admits to helping construct. This is how industries everywhere protect their worst people. The difference in Afrobeats is that these walls aren鈥檛 just protecting the artists; they鈥檙e becoming the foundation of a rapidly expanding genre.

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And on closer look, this isn鈥檛 new. We saw it happen with Mohbad. The 27-year-old singer spent the last year of his life telling the internet, on camera, with blood on his shirt, that he was being hurt. But even while he was alive, his pain was processed as content. He died in September 2023, and the outrage was enormous and justified, then mostly gone within months. The case of violence against him, also dead and gone, wasn鈥檛 seen to the end. What remains on record, however, is what the culture did while he was still alive: it watched, consumed and moved on. 

Every viral fight and violent episode since then 鈥� such as the OdumoduBlvck vs. Blaqbonez and Chocolate City, Burna Boy in a towel dancing over a man he had just hit, whatever is brewing up next week 鈥� is the same culture running the same play on a slightly different body. The only difference is whether the body survives.

The most uncomfortable thing to admit, especially for someone like me who still plays songs by problematic artists, is that separation doesn鈥檛 work here, and boycotting is more posture than practice. What might work is smaller and less satisfying. It鈥檚 refusing the idea that talent is a get-out-of-jail-free card, and saying plainly that acts of violence do nothing but short-term entertainment and long-term destruction to Afrobeats and the culture around it. 

Real change, however small, starts with naming the guilty artists and holding them responsible, and treating the manager who got hit and spat on, the label staff and the DJ who were physically assaulted as protagonists of their own stories rather than side characters in endless beefs. No one should be absolved on a curve because they can sing or rap.

An industry that cannot protect a DJ at one of its popular flagship club nights, cannot stop a feud from ending in hospital admission, cannot caution artists who go rogue, has really big problems. Afrobeats has bad apples, as every industry does, but the issue is that the orchard has stopped checking.

The art of Afrobeats is real. So is the ugliness within it. And it鈥檚 okay to be bothered about it. It鈥檚 also, I must say, a fair ask to require the media and music journalists to speak out on these important issues. But Afrobeats is mature, and so are the majority of its stars. We can鈥檛 always be parents to grown-ups who refuse to act grown.

With that said, Afrobeats, in a healthy sense, will only go far when it accepts that it has bad players and reprimands them for being bad. We aren鈥檛 there yet and we might not get there. But the least we can do, while the beat is still on, is stop clapping to the wrong one.

ALSO READ: Why Are Nigerian Pop Albums So Forgettable These Days?

To draw up this list, I used a scoring framework across ten metrics: vocal ability, cultural impact, commercial success, consistency and longevity, live performance, songwriting and artistry, awards and recognition, international reach, peer and critical acclaim, and fan base and engagement. Every artist was scored according to this metric and the weighted total determined the final ranking.

10. Qing Madi

Qing Madi was born in 2006. Let that sink in. By 2022, her breakout single 鈥淪ee Finish鈥� had gone viral on TikTok and was topping Apple Music charts in Nigeria and Uganda. 鈥淥le鈥�, featuring BNXN, confirmed this wasn鈥檛 a lucky break. Apple Music inducted her into its 2024 Rising Class alongside Tyla, Spotify named her an EQUAL Africa Artist, and she won The Headies Award for Songwriter of the Year in 2025. At 18.

Her debut album, I Am the Blueprint, spans songs she wrote as early as 14. The deluxe edition featured a remix of 鈥淰ision鈥� with Chl枚e Bailey and collaborations with Kizz Daniel. Her longevity score is low for the obvious reason that she鈥檚 just getting started. But everything about her trajectory says this list will look very different in five years.

9. Chidinma

Chidinma Ekile walked into the Project Fame West Africa audition in 2010 as one of 8,000 hopefuls and walked out as the winner. 鈥淜edike,鈥� her first hit song, became her signature, and the nickname Miss Kedike stuck. It becomes more of a thing like, 鈥渢his babe can sing.鈥� With her angelic voice, she racked up hit after hit: 鈥淓mi Ni Baller,鈥� 鈥淔allen in Love,鈥� 鈥淥h Baby鈥� with Flavour and 鈥淛ankoliko鈥� with Sound Sultan.

In May 2021, she announced she was leaving secular music entirely to focus on gospel music and ministry. She signed with EeZee Concepts and released worship tracks like 鈥淛ehovah Overdo鈥� and 鈥淜o S鈥橭ba Bire鈥�, which have earned her a new audience without erasing what she built before. Whether Chidinma is singing about love or leading worship, her voice remains the same. She鈥檚 versatile and brave enough to use her voice on their own terms.

8. Seyi Shay

By 14, Seyi Shey was touring the world with the London Community Gospel Choir. She signed a deal with a label affiliated with George Martin (the man who produced The Beatles), joined the group From Above managed by Mathew Knowles, supported Beyonc茅 on her 鈥淚 Am鈥︹�� world tour, and wrote songs for Mel C of the Spice Girls. She did all these before most Nigerians even knew her name.

When she relocated to Nigeria in 2011, 鈥淚rawo鈥� earned her the Next Rated nomination at The Headies 2013. Her debut album, Seyi or Shay, features Wizkid, Flavour, and Femi Kuti. She has also released songs with gripping vocal moments such as 鈥淩ight Now,鈥� 鈥淵olo Yolo,鈥� and 鈥淎ir Brush鈥�, which are relatively popular. She later served as a judge on Nigerian Idol. She might be on a (probably deliberate) hiatus from the spotlight, but she isn鈥檛 forgotten, and her talent remains undeniable.

7. Omawumi

Omawumi walked out of Idols West Africa in 2007 as first runner-up, and from that moment, it was clear she wouldn鈥檛 be easily forgotten. 鈥淚n the Music鈥� shows off her vocal dexterity; 鈥淚f You Ask Me鈥� is one of the most quoted lines in Nigerian pop culture. 鈥淢egbele鈥� showcases the soulful, roots-oriented side of her artistry. Her voice effortlessly pulls from highlife, soul and Afrobeats.

Like Waje, Omawumi鈥檚 talent far exceeds her commercial metrics. She has won The Headies Award for Best R&B/Pop Album, acted in films like The Bling Lagosians, and her live performances consistently leave audiences genuinely moved. But Omawumi is a star because of her voice. She remains one of the most genuinely gifted vocalists Afrobeats has ever produced.

6. Niniola

Niniola Apata is the queen of the Afro-house crossover, and nobody else is even close. She came through Project Fame West Africa in 2013, and that live vocal training show. Niniola鈥檚 voice is commanding. 鈥淢补谤补诲辞苍补鈥�, produced by Sarz, is a dancefloor hit with a vocal performance that鈥檚 appealing and seductive. The track鈥檚 success led to a remix by DJ Snake, which boosted her international profile. Her albums This Is Me and Colours and Sounds showcase a serious range, from the uptempo madness of 鈥淏oda Sodiq鈥� to smoother, introspective moments like.

While most female Afrobeats artists operated in the R&B-pop lane, Niniola took a hard left into house music, creating a sound that belongs entirely to her.

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5. Waje

If we鈥檙e talking about vocal power that induces goosebumps, Waje is there. Her range is staggering, her control is surgical, and so is her ability to carry emotion through a note or two. If you鈥檙e in doubt, listen to 鈥淪o Inspired鈥� or 鈥淚 Wish鈥� and feel something. Her work on 鈥淩ight Here鈥� with 2Baba and solo tracks like 鈥淐oco Baby鈥� show her versatility. Waje is a vocalist鈥檚 vocalist.

Though Waje has been famously underserved by the commercial side of the industry, and she has spoken openly about considering quitting music, she remains respected and revered. She coached on The Voice Nigeria, mentoring the next generation, and remains one of the artists to call when there鈥檚 a need for a voice that can carry a chorus.

4. Simi

Simi鈥檚 voice is unmistakable. There鈥檚 a sweetness and clarity to her voice that鈥檚 difficult to replicate. She鈥檚 the kind of artist who gets you groovy with her melodies and also the kind you fully appreciate, especially when you sit down and actually listen. Her lyricism carries a specificity that sets her apart. The mastery of language and the relatability of an average Nigerian person鈥檚 romantic experience are impressive. 鈥淛oromi,鈥� 鈥淛AMB Question,鈥� and 鈥淪mile for Me鈥� are songs she has written about love and daily life with a tenderness that makes you feel like she鈥檚 talking directly to you. And it doesn鈥檛 stop here.

鈥淒uduke,鈥� the lullaby she wrote for her unborn daughter, became one of Nigeria鈥檚 most-streamed songs of that year, and it crossed over to audiences all over the world. Simi might not shout the loudest among her peers, but when she sings, everybody pays attention.

3. Ayra Starr

Ayra Starr didn鈥檛 creep into the conversation when she arrived at the Afrobeats scene in 2019; she kicked the door in. Her voice is husky, textured, and almost raspy, yet soft when the song calls for it. From good time and party to women empowerment to love and longing to coming-of-age, introspection and grief, she has songs with diverse themes that challenge her vocals in different tones. But the Sabi Girl sauce is always there. Songs like 鈥淎飞补测鈥�, 鈥淏loody Samaritan,鈥� 鈥淪ability,鈥� 鈥淥run鈥� and 鈥淗ot Body鈥� confirm she鈥檚 one hell of a singer.

Her hit single 鈥淩ush鈥� made her the youngest African female artist to surpass 100 million YouTube views. A Grammy nomination, collaborations with Kelly Rowland and Wizkid, and international tours. All of this, while still in the early chapters of her career, is impressive. Her longevity score is naturally lower, but everything else is stacking up at a pace that should terrify every other artist on this list. If she sustains this trajectory, the number one spot will be a possibility.

2. Asa

Asa鈥檚 catalogue is evidence that the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist doesn鈥檛 oversing or make music only for hits. She sits inside the song and lets every word do its work. 鈥淛ailer,鈥� on a deeper look, is a protest song, but disguised as a folk ballad, and it鈥檚 a national hit. From 鈥淏e My Man鈥� to 鈥淔ire on the Mountain鈥� to 鈥淪atan Be Gone鈥�, every song is a story.

She writes everything she sings, her albums are conceptually rich, and her live performances are legendary. She has won France鈥檚 Prix Constantin, performed on the biggest stages in Europe and Africa, and maintained a career spanning nearly two decades without controversy. When you think of Asa, she鈥檚 a voice and an icon of substance that always finds its audience.

1. Tiwa Savage

Tiwa Savage鈥檚 voice is warm, honeyed and flexible. She can rock Afrobeats, R&B, pop, dancehall and street-hop like the MOTHER that she is. She鈥檚 the Queen of Afrobeats, and it’s not only because she鈥檚 been around for a minute. Before she became a household name, she was writing songs, backing up Whitney Houston, and training at Berklee College of Music. From 鈥淜ele Kele Love鈥� to 鈥淎ll Over鈥� to 鈥淪omebody鈥檚 Son鈥� with Brandy, and even landing on Beyonc茅鈥檚 The Lion King: The Gift, Tiwa has shown a remarkable ability to evolve without ever losing the essence that makes her voice special.

Over a decade-plus of relevance in Afrobeats, she has headlined festivals, won Headies and MTV Africa Music Awards, and built a global fan base. In terms of the voice, the business, the longevity and cultural weight, nobody has done it longer or more consistently than her.

ALSO READ: The Most Important Breakout Nigerian Musicians of 2000 to 2025

Whether you鈥檙e in the mood for an ancient kingdom warrior stealing from the rich, a wedding day that turns into a full-blown kidnapping nightmare, or a billionaire who fakes her death to test her family鈥檚 loyalty, there鈥檚 something here for every kind of viewer. These are the best ten Nollywood movies on Netflix that deserve your attention this month.

10. (2021)

Running time: 1h 52m

Director: Ideh Chukwuma 鈥淥nesoul鈥� Innocent

Genre: Epic

If you鈥檝e ever fantasised about a Nollywood Robin Hood, but make it epic and a woman unhinged with a sword, then you have Igbinogun (Damilare Kuku). Trained by her father, Ogbu (Enyinna Nwigwe), she leads a ragtag gang of thieves on a mission to rob the rich blind and hand the proceeds to the poor. But things go sideways when she defeats the entire palace guard and challenges the Prince (Blossom Chukwujekwu), who is so shattered by the loss that he unalives himself.

Now the kingdom is in complete chaos, and Igbinogun, who really just wanted to redistribute wealth, has to step up and lead her entire village.

9. (2022)

Running time: 1h 35m

Director: Dare Olaitan

Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller

Busola (Immaculata Oko-Kasum) has the worst luck with men. Like, historically terrible. So when she finally meets Tunji Owo (Efa Iwara), a fine, attentive billionaire who sends flowers, gifts her jewellery, and takes her on dreamy dinner dates, she thinks God has finally logged into her account. But trouble is lurking at the corner.

Tunji’s wealthy family, led by his parents (Akin Lewis and Tina Mba), is hiding a generational secret darker than anything Busola could have imagined: a centuries-old pact that demands the sacrifice of an innocent young bride to the spirit of Sagbadewe every twenty-five years. The deeper Busola goes into this family, the more she realises her fairy-tale romance is actually a well-set trap.

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8. (2018)

Running time: 1h 40m

Director: Tope Oshin

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Bassey Otuekong (Banky Wellington) is a spoiled, Instagram-obsessed heir freshly back from abroad with zero interest in his father鈥檚 construction empire. His father, Chief Otuekong (Kanayo O. Kanayo), has had it up to here. When Bassey refuses an arranged marriage that would seal a business merger with Otunba Adetola (Akin Lewis), Daddy Dearest ships him off to Bauchi for NYSC as punishment.

But Bauchi isn鈥檛 the punishment Bassey expected. He makes a ride-or-die friend in Sadiq (Ibrahim Suleiman), who steals nearly every scene he鈥檚 in with infectious energy and comedic timing. He catches feelings for Mariam (Rahama Sadau), a local teacher who first rescues him from a cultural misunderstanding that nearly got ugly. He also discovers a passion for coaching local girls in sports.

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7. (2024)

Running time: 1h 39m

Director: Moses Inwang

Genre: Drama, Romance

Adaora (Nse Ikpe-Etim) is a successful real estate mogul and boss lady. The only problem? She鈥檚 the oldest of three sisters: Beatrice (Padita Agu) is married, Cheta (Nancy Isime) is having her introduction, and Adaora is still single, which means the family commentary is relentless. She meets Jaiye (James Gardiner), a young, fine, smooth-talking stylist.

Jaiye鈥檚 true colours emerge quickly. He鈥檚 controlling, manipulative and working an elaborate scheme with his partner-in-crime, Anna (Erica Nlewedim). He demands Adaora terminate her pregnancy, strips her of her assets, fakes his own death and sends her to prison. When Adaora finally gets out and crosses paths with Jaiye, living his best life with a new family, the revenge arc kicks in.

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6. (2023)

Running time: 1h 35m

Director: Shitty Taiwo

Genre: Romance, Thriller

Fanna (Rahama Sadau) is the pampered daughter of a mogul, married to Abdul (Ibrahim Suleiman), a man from humble beginnings who makes up for his lack of pedigree with an overwhelming love for his wife. Their life together looks picture-perfect. They plan a romantic anniversary getaway to keep the spark alive. But on their way to the trip, Abdul gets kidnapped, and suddenly Fanna’s fairytale crumbles into a nightmare that forces her to question everything she thought she knew.

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5. (2022)

Running time: 1h 51m

Director: Yaseen Auwal

Genre: Drama

Mati a Zazzau is the first Kannywood film to ever land on Netflix. That alone makes it historic, but the movie itself is a proper ride. Mati (Sadiq Sani Sadiq) is a cunning trickster who flees the village of Rimau after duping basically everyone he could find. He lands in the Kingdom of Zazzau, where he discovers that his late father, Alhaji Mudi Rimau, left behind a massive fortune buried somewhere.

Naturally, Mati wants that money. But he’s not the only one. The village head and several other interested parties also have their eyes on the treasure, and they’re willing to play just as dirty.

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4. (2024)

Running time: 1h 55m

Director: Akay Mason

Genre: Drama

Pastor Raymond Njoku (Uzor Arukwe) is the kind of preacher everyone loves. He鈥檚 spirit-filled sermons, gives practical marriage teachings, has a devoted wife in Damilola (Mercy Aigbe) and a congregation that hangs on his every word. Then he runs into Annie Coker (Uche Montana), a bold, seductive sex worker with a kleptomaniac streak, during a conference trip.

What starts as a chance encounter quickly turns into something much darker. Annie, sensing an opportunity, blackmails Raymond, threatening to expose him and destroy everything he’s built, from his ministry to his marriage and entire reputation. Then Annie turns up dead. Now, we have a full-blown whodunit.

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3. (2025)

Running time: 

Director: Daniel Etim-Effiong 

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Daniel Etim-Effiong鈥檚 directorial debut follows Gosi (played by Effiong himself), a man privately dealing with his wife Adama鈥檚 (Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman) recurring cancer scare, as he travels to Ekiti for his best friend Fola鈥檚 (Kunle Remi) wedding to Derin (Genoveva Umeh). The celebration is beautiful. It鈥檚 all nice and great.

Then everything shatters on the drive to the hotel when their convoy is ambushed by armed gunmen disguised as cattle herdsmen. Fola is killed. Gosi and Derin, along with other motorists, are dragged into the bush. The kidnappers demand fifty million naira. This movie is a mirror held up to Nigeria’s insecurity crisis.

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2. (2025)

Running time: 1h 46m

Director: Chee Keong Cheung

Genre: Action, Thriller

Zion Ladejo (Razaaq Adoti) is a dishonourably discharged Nigerian Special Ops soldier who returns to Lagos from the US after his sister鈥檚 tragic death. Haunted by his past and consumed by grief, Zion embarks on a violent one-man mission to find and destroy the criminal network responsible.

What follows is bone-crunching fights, chaotic keke chases through Lagos markets, and one wild scene where Zion stumbles out of an ICU in a backless hospital gown and fights his way through the city.

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1. (2025)

Running time: 2h 23m

Directors: Funke Akindele and Tunde Olaoye

Genre: Drama

Funke Akindele doesn鈥檛 miss at the box office. Behind the Scenes, which made over 2.7 billion naira to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time, is proof that she understands her audience to the T. This movie tells the story of Aderonke 鈥淩onky-feller鈥� Faniran (Scarlet Gomez), a wealthy and generous real estate mogul who pours into everyone around her without ever asking for anything in return.

Her older sister Adetutu (Funke Akindele) is entitled and scheming. Her younger brother Adewale (Tobi Bakre) is the spoiled lastborn who always has his hand out. The people she calls friends? Loyalty isn’t their strongest suit. When Ronke reaches her breaking point, she hatches an elaborate plan to fake her own death, to see who truly has her back when the money and favours stop flowing. The results are devastating.

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ALSO READ:听Female Nollywood Characters You Had a Crush on Growing Up

10. (2026)

Running time: 1h 24m

Director: Uduak-Obong Patrick

Genre: Romance

Adaora (Sarian Martin) is a Lagos event planner. Her latest gig is an exclusive Christmas Eve bash for a high-end business. It鈥檚 the big break she鈥檚 been working hard for, but the only thing standing between her and a career upgrade is Oladapo (Daniel Etim Effiong), an uptight tech entrepreneur with the keys to the rooftop venue she desperately needs.

Their initial encounter isn鈥檛 a great one. But as the late-night planning sessions stretch into the early hours, the friction begins to generate a different kind of heat. They begin to get close and open up to each other. Now, they have to make sure pride doesn鈥檛 ruin their work and if they want to take their feelings beyond work.

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9. (2025)

Running time: 1h 45m

Director: Uduak-Obong Patrick 

Genre: Romance

It was supposed to be the proposal of the year, but one missing gesture turned the moment into a breakup. Now, the messy breakup of Ramsey (Deyemi Okanlawon) and Rita (Ekama Etim-Inyang) is the trending topic. They鈥檙e both desperately trying to move on, but life clearly has other plans. Every attempt to hard-launch a new life just ends up pulling them back into each other’s orbits.

They have to decide if they鈥檙e going to keep playing to their trauma or heal before they lose their chance at a real connection for good.

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8. (2026)

Running time: 1h 38m

Director: Mo Fakorede

Genre: Romance

Akin (Eso Dike) is a rich businessman who believes every 鈥渘o鈥� is just a 鈥測es鈥� that hasn鈥檛 seen enough zeros on a cheque yet. Naturally, he stages a proposal designed to break the internet, but things go south when Teni (Adetola Jones) gives him a cold 鈥淣o鈥� in front of everyone. Akin鈥檚 massive ego takes a hit.

He slowly regains his confidence with the help of Ini (Imem King), his ride-or-die bestie who refuses to let him drown in his own tears. Ini鈥檚 constant ginger and support push Akin to learn to let go of the pride that got him into this mess in the first place.

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7. (2026)

Running time: 1h 28m

Director: Great Valentine Edochie

Genre: Romance

After two decades of being the ideal spouse and maintaining a picture-perfect home, Inara (Bolaji Ogunmola) is blindsided when her husband abruptly asks for a divorce. In an instant, she鈥檚 thrust back into single life, but things feel strange. After a while, she cautiously steps into modern romance.

Beneath the years of routine and responsibility lies a version of herself she had long forgotten. As she begins to open herself up to love again, she realises that heartbreak hasn鈥檛 closed doors.

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6. (2026)

Running time: 2h 4m

Director: Uduak-Obong Patrick 

Genre: Romance

Bella Bakare (Cynthia Clarke) is the IT girl in the real estate game. But all isn鈥檛 all shiny as it seems. She faces pressures from her strenuous job and also from her family, which sees nothing for her except marriage. Then there鈥檚 Dr. Omar Danjuma (Tayo Arimoro), a surgeon who鈥檚 also fighting for his life against traditions that his family says are compulsory.

He鈥檚 tired, she鈥檚 tired. Between all these things and dodging toxic exes who don’t know how to move on, they make the brave decision to live for themselves.

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5. (2026)

Running time: 2h 4m

Director: Tobi Makinde

Genre: Drama

After the sudden death of his father, Dayo (Maurice Sam) is thrown into a brutal battle to secure what rightfully belongs to him. Standing in his way are his calculating stepmother, Nneka (Uche Jumbo), and her son, Ike (Martins Ibikunle), both determined to claim the inheritance for themselves. Dayo is forced to push back at every turn just to hold on to his legacy.

Blood War flips a familiar narrative on its head. Instead of the usual tales of extended family laying claim to a deceased man鈥檚 wealth, the tension is rooted within the immediate household.

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4. (2025)

Running time: 2h 26m

Director: Great Valentine Edochie

Genre: Romance

Deadi (Bimbo Ademoye) and her husband (Uzor Arukwe) just moved from a modest life in Alaba to a high-brow Lagos estate to celebrate their second anniversary. But as they unpack, they realise that bigger houses come with bigger headaches. They鈥檝e traded the noise of Alaba for the posh, passive-aggressive judgment of rich neighbours and the sharp tongues of intrusive relatives who are all obsessed with one thing: why their marriage is still childless after two years.

Between the pressure to fit in and the weight of everyone else鈥檚 expectations, the cracks start to show. Deadi and her man have to figure out if they can survive the scrutiny of the Lagos elite and family pressure.

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3. (2026)

Running time: 2h 07m

Director: Uduak-Obong Patrick

Genre: Romance

One night, Naya (Sophie Chioma), a slightly drunk stranger, suddenly points at Chris (Saga Adeolu), calls him her boyfriend and faints in his arms. By morning, what should have been an awkward moment turns into something more deliberate. Naya agrees to step into the role of his girlfriend for a crucial family event, setting clear boundaries that it鈥檚 all an act. But once she enters his world, the lines start to blur. His family takes to her instantly, their chemistry is great, and the arrangement begins to feel real.

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2. (2026)

Running time: 1h 40m

Director: Jide Jblaze Oyegbile

Genre: Romance

In a quiet, dust-laden town in Western Nigeria in the late 1980s, two fifteen-year-old girls, Tiwa Bada (Bamike 鈥淏amBam鈥� Olanike) and Lase 鈥淟ala鈥� Lawal (Bolaji Ogunmola), hold tightly to each other as besties. Both are sharp, ambitious and weighed down by the expectations of their families.

They鈥檙e bonded by a shared vision to rise above poverty, earn scholarships, and carve out lives far removed from the limitations of their small-town reality. On the night before their final exams, Lala persuades Tiwa to break routine and attend a local party, promising it will be their one chance to feel free before adulthood takes hold. Though hesitant, Tiwa gives in. Midway through the night, Lala grows weary and decides to head home, urging Tiwa to remain behind and enjoy herself for both of them. It鈥檚 a small decision, but one that sets off a chain of events neither of them could have foreseen, altering the course of everything.

.

1. (2026)

Running time: 1h 53m

Director: Mo Fakorede

Genre: Romance

On the timeline, Ada (Sophia Alakija) and Folarin (Eso Dike) are 鈥漜ouple goals.鈥� They鈥檝e got a gorgeous crib and an adorable daughter. But behind the closed doors of their Lekki home, the energy is dangerously stagnant. Folarin is emotionally unavailable and constantly chasing the next big work promotion, while Ada is slowly watching the vibrant woman she used to be disappear into the shadows of school runs and house management.

When David (Paul Chibuzo Utomi), Ada’s ex, enters the picture, old feelings reawaken. As the tension at home reaches a breaking point and buried misunderstandings start to leak out, Ada and Folarin have to ask the one question they鈥檙e terrified to ask: Is there actually anything left to save in their marriage?

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ALSO READ: Who Is Nollywood鈥檚 Best Female Yearner?

This list highlights those special projects of Nigerian albums that aren鈥檛 microwave materials. From cohesive arrangement and storytelling to genre-defining runs of bangers, these ten albums sustain magic across every track.

10. ROOTS 鈥� The Cavemen.

Tracks: 16

Duration: 54m 31s

Release Year: 2020

This is the debut album from the brother-duo Kingsley and Benjamin Okorie which ignited a modern revival of Highlife music. They stripped away heavy electronic production in favour of live percussion, groovy basslines and simple Igbo lyrics, to create a nostalgic experience that feels fresh.

The album is a smooth ride through love, identity and cultural pride. From the upbeat tempo of 鈥淏olo Bolo鈥� to the introspective 鈥淏eautiful Rain,鈥� the album keeps a consistent and organic production. The success of Roots is in its simplicity and The Cavemen.鈥檚 devotion to carry on tradition.

Listen on: |

9. boy alone 鈥� Omah Lay

Tracks: 14

Duration: 37m

Release Year: 2022

After Omah Lay became our favourite resident artist for melancholic music, he delivered his debut studio album. It鈥檚 titled ‘boy alone,’ and, true to its name, it hauntingly yet beautifully characterises the colour purple and explores fame, depression, and desire through vulnerable songwriting.

The moody production and his clearly mixed vocals lead the listener through his internal struggles. The album gained widespread acclaim for its vulnerability, particularly on tracks like 鈥淪oso鈥� and 鈥渋鈥檓 a mess.鈥� Omah Lay did something with this album that sparked conversations about creatives鈥� mental health. boy alone remains one of the most emotionally relatable albums in modern Nigerian music history.

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8. Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps (LTG) 鈥� Fireboy DML

Tracks: 13

Duration: 40m

Release Year: 2019

Fireboy DML achieved a rare feat for his debut. He released an album with no guest features that sustained peak interest throughout. The genius of this album lies in its songwriting, production choice and vocal performance. He captures the different sides of human emotion suggested by the title, delivering radio-ready hits with the quality of classic R&B.

LTG solidified his place as a crafty singer-songwriter and storyteller. From the soulful yearning of 鈥淣eed You鈥� to the high-tempo party atmosphere of 鈥淪catter鈥�, the tracks鈥� arrangement makes it a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.

Listen on: |

7. African Giant 鈥� Burna Boy

Tracks: 19

Duration: 1h

Release Year: 2019

This Grammy-nominated body of work marked Burna Boy鈥檚 blowup into a global icon. African Giant balances huge hit songs like 鈥淥n The Low鈥� with biting social commentary found in 鈥淎nother Story鈥� and 鈥淐ollateral Damage.鈥� Musically, the album is dense and richly layered, and boasts of global collaborations that don鈥檛 feel forced.

This album, although inspired by his font issues with Lollapalooza in 2018, tells the story of African resilience and the complexities of the Nigerian experience. By the time the final track, 鈥淪piritual,鈥� fades out, the album has successfully made a grand statement about heritage and modern identity as a Nigerian.

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6. Chief Executive Omota (C.E.O) 鈥� Dagrin

Tracks: 13

Duration: 50m

Release Year: 2010

Chief Executive Omota (C.E.O) is the magnum opus of the late Dagrin and a cornerstone of indigenous Yoruba rap. Before this album, rapping in a native dialect was often sidelined, but Dagrin鈥檚 grit, charisma and lyrical dexterity forced it into the mainstream. The album鈥檚 lead single, 鈥淧on Pon Pon鈥�, became a national anthem that celebrates street credibility.

Generally, C.E.O is a gritty, autobiographical journey through the struggles of the Nigerian youth. From the aspirational 鈥淕hetto Dream鈥� to the club-ready 鈥淜ondo,鈥� Dagrin made music for the everyday Nigerian. His untimely death shortly after its release immortalised the project as the blueprint for an entire generation of street-pop and indigenous Hip-Hop artists.

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5. Made in Lagos 鈥� Wizkid

Tracks: 14

Duration: 51m

Release Year: 2020

Made In Lagos is remarkably cohesive. It celebrates Wizkid鈥檚 roots and his global evolution, and flows like a single continuous groove. The album became a global phenomenon, largely driven by the record-breaking success of 鈥淓ssence鈥� featuring Tems. However, MIL鈥檚 true strength is its lack of fillers; every track, from the introductory 鈥淩eckless鈥� to the closing “Grace,” contributes to a relaxed, rich atmosphere.

Listen on: |

READ NEXT: 10 Great 3-Album Runs by Nigerian Artists, Ranked

4. Mr. Money With The Vibes 鈥� Asake

Tracks: 12

Duration: 30m 11s

Release Year: 2022

Asake鈥檚 debut album is a product of fusion. It blends the sensibilities of Afropop, Fuji, Amapiano log drums with choral backups to create a new street-hop sound. The album鈥檚 production, handled entirely by Magicsticks, is incredibly tight, with tracks often bleeding into one another to maintain a frantic, infectious cohesion.

Despite its brevity, clocking in at just thirty minutes, MMWTV feels complete. It offers listeners the 鈥渉ustle and enjoy鈥� spirit of Lagos through tracks like 鈥淥rganise鈥� and 鈥淛oha.鈥� It also shattered streaming records upon release, becoming the most successful debut album in Nigerian music history.

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3. Mushin 2 Mo’Hits 鈥� Wande Coal

Tracks: 16

Duration: 1h 4m

Release Year: 2009

This album is frequently cited by contemporary artists as the holy grail of Nigerian pop music. It鈥檚 a bridge between the early 2000s era of Nigerian music and the modern Afrobeats sound. Produced by Don Jazzy during the Mo鈥橦its era, it showcases Wande Coal鈥檚 unparalleled vocal range and versatility. Wande Coal moved effortlessly between catchy bubblegum tracks like 鈥淏umper To Bumper鈥� and the timeless R&B ballad 鈥淥lolufe.鈥�

Till date, only a few have been able to successfully replicate the melodic perfection of this album. Every track still sounds fresh, and the album鈥檚 influence can still be heard in the vocal runs and cadences of today鈥檚 biggest stars.

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2. Face 2 Face 鈥� 2Baba

Tracks: 11

Duration: 39m

Release Year: 2004

Following his departure from the group Plantashun Boiz, 2Baba (then 2Face Idibia) released his first album and it proves he can stand alone. A classic track, 鈥淎frican Queen鈥�, came from the album and changed the perception of African pop music worldwide.

The song turned into a global crossover hit, but the album鈥檚 depth is in its mix of social commentary, reggae-inflected pop and heartfelt soul. It dismantled the barrier between local and international music and contributed to the foundation of the modern Nigerian music industry.

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1. Asa (Asha) 鈥� Asa

Tracks: 10

Duration: 43m 13s

Release Year: 2005

Asa鈥檚 self-titled debut album transcends the typical boundaries of Nigerian music. It fuses folk, jazz and soul with Yoruba and English lyrics. Asa addresses themes of justice, love and spirituality with a maturity that remains unmatched.

From the defiant 鈥淛ailer鈥� to the heartbreak story 鈥淏ibanke,” every song is a meticulously crafted story. Asa is as relevant today as it was nearly two decades ago. Classic.

Listen on: |

ALSO READ: The Most Important Breakout Nigerian Musicians of 2000 to 2025

Love is rarely simple, in real life and Nollywood. It鈥檚 missed chances, bad timing, quiet sacrifices, and that one look that says everything words cannot carry. The industry has built entire emotional economies on yearning, and some actors don鈥檛 just play lovers, they ache like it鈥檚 muscle memory.

From the OGs to the new school, making us fold with a single smoulder, here are ten of Nollywood鈥檚 best female yearners.

10.

When Rita Dominic is yearning in a movie, she doesn鈥檛 hold back. She dives headfirst into emotion and drags the audience with her. When she plays a character in love, she makes you feel every ounce of her desperation and devotion. Her performance is always 100% heart. She has a way of crying that makes you want to cry with her. With just a tilt of her head, she can convey 鈥淚 will wait for you forever.鈥�

Best Yearning Roles: Spirit of Love, Love Story, Only Love.

9.

Uche Montana is the face of the 鈥渟oft life鈥� romance. Her yearning is gentle and effective. She looks like a literal doll, which makes her moments of heartbreak and longing feel even more poignant. Her acting skill is in her softness. She doesn鈥檛 have to be loud to show she鈥檚 down bad. She just uses those expressive eyes to let you know she鈥檚 currently imagining a 50-year future with the guy standing across from her.

Best Yearning Roles: Before I Met You, A Perfect Romance, After A Night in July.

8.

Mercy Johnson Okojie is the woman who yearns loudly, laughs through the pain, and then goes home to cry about it. Her characters feel like your best friend, which makes her yearning sometimes feel personal. Her strength lies in emotional contrast. She can make you laugh and then quietly undo you in the next scene. Her yearning often hides behind humour. That duality makes her performances rich. You don鈥檛 always see the longing coming, but you feel it when it lands.

Best Yearning Roles: Last Kiss, Under the Sky, Look Into My Eyes.

7.

Sharon is the 鈥淚T Girl鈥� who just wants to be loved. She mostly acts like a classy babe, but is surprisingly vulnerable. She plays the 鈥渦nlucky in love鈥� beauty so well because she lets the audience see the cracks in her perfect exterior. She uses her charm to mask her yearning, making the moments when she finally lets her guard down feel like a huge payoff. She鈥檚 the master of the 鈥渓ong look over the shoulder鈥� as she walks away.

Best Yearning Roles: Skinny Girl In Transit, The Perfect Arrangement, Still Falling.

6.

When Bolaji Ogunmola yearns in films, it鈥檚 with a strength that says, “I want you, and I鈥檓 going to get you.” She brings a grounded, realistic performance to her romantic roles. Her skill lies in projecting deep emotion without saying a word. She can hold a gaze for an uncomfortably long time, with the 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to be mad at you but I鈥檓 actually obsessed鈥� look 鈥� making the romantic tension peak.

Best Yearning Roles: Bloom After, The Kiss That Changed Me, With Love, Hazel.

READ NEXT: Who Is Nollywood鈥檚 Best Male Yearner?

5.

Bimbo Ademoye is the funny girl with a big heart. Her yearning is often mixed with humour, which makes the emotional moments hit ten times harder. She鈥檚 one of the most versatile actresses of her generation. When she stops joking and starts yearning, the atmosphere changes instantly. She has this way of looking at her love interests as if they are the only source of oxygen in the room. Her skill is in her restraint. She lets the emotion bubble just under the surface, making the moments when she finally breaks down feel earned.

Best Yearning Roles: Big Love, The Homecoming, Miles Away From Home.

4.

Ini Edo鈥檚 yearning is classic Nollywood drama at its finest. She鈥檚 never too afraid to go big. Her characters usually have a lot of pride, so when she finally allows herself to yearn for someone, it鈥檚 like a shift. She鈥檚 a fierce yearner who has range and makes sure to see the love chase to the end. From tenderness to heartbreak, she gives her characters depth.

Best Yearning Roles: World Apart, Still In Love, Love and Likeness.

3.

Genoveva Umeh is new-gen addition to Nollywood love stories, but with a lot more edge and depth. She brings soul to her yearner-characters. When she yearns, she does with emotional awareness. Her romantic acting rarely overstates feelings. Instead she lets them lingerlike something she鈥檚 still figuring out.

Best Yearning Roles: Breath of Life, Siraam.

2.

Adesua is the posh yearner. She has perfected the art of dignified yearning; never seems like she鈥檚 begging for love, but her eyes say everything her lips won鈥檛. Her romantic roles come with the grace that makes her longing feel high-class. 

Best Yearning Roles: Couple of Days, The Wedding Party, Falling.

1.

Uzoamaka Power makes you feel the weight of her character鈥檚 history in every look. When she yearns, it鈥檚 not just for a person; it鈥檚 for a feeling of belonging. You can tell what her character feels, even when she says nothing. Her voice, eyes and timing all work together. She builds fully realised emotional arcs.

Best Yearning Roles: My Body, God鈥檚 Temple, Udo, 脤蹿茅.

ALSO NEXT: The Most Perfectly Acted Nollywood Scenes of the 2020s

This list tracks those moments from 2000 to 2025, mapping the stars who broke out. We measured these artists by their cultural currency, commercial impact, innovation, longevity and relevance. Some arrived with street anthems, others with bangers that were everywhere, but all of them left a permanent mark on Nigerian music.

Breakout year: 2000

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

In 2000, Sound Sultan turned arithmetic into a brilliant national critique. 鈥淢athematics鈥� (AKA 鈥淛agbajantis鈥�) examines the economic, political and social equations that most politicians couldn’t even understand, let alone fix. This is conscious music that isn鈥檛 a boring lecture. Sound Sultan gained prominence, founded his own label, Naija Ninja, released nine albums, made hits, mentored a generation of creatives, and simultaneously became a pillar of the Nigerian basketball community. Even after his death in 2021, his legacy as a role model and a blueprint for clean yet biting social commentary remains the gold standard.

Eedris Abdulkareem

Breakout year: 2001

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

When Eedris Abdulkareem left The Remedies, he did so with a point to prove. 2001鈥檚 鈥淢r Lecturer鈥� took over the airwaves and was a satirical song about sexual harassment and academic extortion in Nigerian universities. Since that aggressive entrance, Eedris has evolved from the industry’s resident 鈥渢roublemaker鈥� to a veteran.

His success and contributions are marked by a fearless transition into social commentary with 鈥淛aga Jaga鈥� and his 2004 stand for the dignity of local artists 鈥� a move that paved the way for the respect today鈥檚 superstars enjoy. Eedris Abdulkareem is the OG who taught the industry how to fight for its worth.

Breakout year: 2002

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

In 2002, Styl-Plus reset the standard for Nigerian R&B music. They released 鈥淥lufunmi鈥�, an emotional wrecking ball that flattened the competition and was everywhere like a club banger. In relationships, parties, events, more than two decades later, this song heats the dancefloor when it drops. In the Nigerian contemporary scene, Styl-Plus has become a legend of the craft, influencing some of the best vocalists out right now, such as Wande Coal, Chike, and Fireboy DML.

P-Square

Breakout year: 2003

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

Before the family drama, Peter and Paul were busy teaching an entire generation how to breakdance and sing. They brought a level of spectacle and music-video quality the industry hadn鈥檛 seen before (and hasn鈥檛 seen since tbh) with  鈥淪enorita鈥�, their breakout hit. Armed with Michael Jackson鈥檚 choreography and smooth spin-offs of R&B classics, they announced their era of superstar duo.

Even though the group has broken up and the twins now have solo careers as and , they remain African music legends.

Breakout year: 2004

Breakout song: 鈥淣fana Ibaga鈥�

鈥淣fana Ibaga鈥� is 2Baba鈥檚 breakout song. This was 2004, when he still went by 2Face and had just freshly joined Kennis Music after gaining a good amount of fame from his boy band days with Plantshun Boiz. The same year, he put out 鈥淎frican Queen鈥�, the track that got him international attention. 2Baba has become the 鈥淔ather of Afropop.鈥� With dozens of awards, including the first MTV Europe Best African Act, he moved from pop idol to statesman.

Breakout year: 2005

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

Timaya rowed in from the creeks with a story that demanded a witness. In 鈥淒em Mama鈥�, he turns a national tragedy into a street anthem. He gives an account of the Odi massacre, with a gravelly, dancehall-inspired tune. Since that classic debut, his career has been a ride of reinvention and longevity. From the record-breaking 鈥淏um Bum鈥� remix with Sean Paul to the viral 鈥淚 Can鈥檛 Kill Myself,鈥� his longevity is rare in an industry that hardly favours veterans. He stands as a multi-generational icon who mentored giants like Burna Boy, Patoranking and Skales.

Breakout year: 2006

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

While the rest of the industry was busy cranking up the volume in 2006, Asa broke out to the mainstream with a guitar,soulful piano chords, and melodies that stopped the nation in its tracks. 鈥淓ye Adaba鈥� in Yoruba translates to 鈥淒ove.鈥� Throughout the song, Asa uses the dove as a central metaphor for a new, pure beginning. It鈥檚 essentially a morning prayer or a meditation, a moment of gratitude for witnessing a new day.

Asa conquered the world on her own terms, becoming a permanent fixture on Parisian stages and the international festival circuit. From the soulfulness of her debut to the smooth, experimental music of her V album, she has maintained a career that prioritises craft. An icon!

Breakout year: 2007

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

In 2007, 9ice had already released his debut album, titled Certificate, which houses his breakout hit, 鈥淟ittle Money.鈥� 9ice came as indigenous as one can be and made singing in Yoruba the coolest thing a young person could do that year. 鈥淟ittle Money鈥�, a song about sharing with friends after success, became a cultural reset that mixes traditional idioms with street-hop.

From the trenches to the highbrow areas, he took his roots everywhere. After his breakout, 9ice scooped up a MOBO Award and multiple Headies, briefly dipping into politics before returning to his craft. His legacy is the indigenous sound which influenced an entire generation of singers.

Breakout year: 2008

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

Before M.I, Nigerian rap was often seen as too deep for the clubs or too foreign for the streets. Then 鈥淐rowd Mentality鈥� dropped, and the game changed overnight. M.I snuck elite lyricism into the hearts of people, then he solidified his place with 鈥淪afe.鈥� 

After a legendary run at Chocolate City, where he was a signee, then label president and mentor to a generation of stars, he transitioned into a mogul and an OG who still knows how to shut down a cypher. From the Talk About It era to his most recent avant-garde projects, such as Yxng Dnzxl and The Guy, his growth has been a point of reference in evolution.

Dagrin

Breakout year: 2009

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

Dagrin鈥檚 era was short but impactful. He took indigenous rap from a nich茅 hobby and turned it into the heartbeat of the streets. 鈥淧on Pon Pon鈥�, produced by Sossick, is a visceral documentary of the Lagos hustle. Dagrin died a legend, but he lived long enough to put indigenous rap on the map. His posthumous impact is his greatest achievement. He birthed an entire subsector of the music industry that now dominates the airwaves. He remains the blueprint for street credibility.

Breakout year: 2010

Breakout song: 鈥�“

鈥淗olla At Your Boy鈥� introduced Wizkid as a teenager. The song is a perfect teen-pop jam that rolled off the lips of every young Nigerian at the time. With his cool coming-of-age fashion of snapbacks, skinny jeans, backpacks, G-Shock wristwatches and a confident attitude, he changed the trajectory of Nigerian pop music forever.

Wizkid became the blueprint for every new cat that followed. He became a leading voice of Nigerian youth culture, and everything 鈥� from international features to sold-out stadium shows 鈥� has followed ever since.

READ NEXT: 10 Great 3-Album Runs by Nigerian Artists, Ranked

Breakout year: 2011

Breakout song: 鈥溾�� feat. Naeto C

Davido came in with an energy that was impossible to ignore. In his breakout song 鈥淏ack When鈥�, which features Naeto C, one of the hottest rappers at the time, Davido makes bold statements of his arrival. In the usual fashion of grass-to-grace stories, he reminds us of a time when he didn’t have the money in the bank, when he didn’t have a ride and didn’t have the finest women on his speed dial 鈥� but all that鈥檚 all in the past. He鈥檚 a baller now. Which was all a lie by the way given who his father is but that鈥檚 another story for another day.

The breakout hit expanded his territory, leading to a bigger hit, 鈥淒ami Duro.鈥� Since then, Davido has stayed consistent and maintained a work ethic that silenced everybody鈥檚 鈥漴ich kid鈥� stereotype. With global hits like 鈥淔all鈥�, a World Cup performance, and a couple of Grammy nominations in the bag, he has risen to become one of the most successful Nigerian pop stars.

Breakout year: 2012

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

Burna Boy was the guy with a hushed and melodic flow that sounded like a blend of Fela and Sizzla. 鈥淟ike to Party鈥� was the anthem of 2012, a laid-back and distinctly different from the high-tempo music of that period. His rise to African Giant status has been impressive. After a few years of industry friction, he rebranded and went on a historic run, winning a Grammy for Twice as Tall and becoming the first African artist to sell out multiple stadiums worldwide. He鈥檚 now a global artist and has joined the greats.

Breakout year: 2013

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

In 2013, Sean Tizzle鈥檚 infectious hook of 鈥淪ho Lee鈥� held the streets, radio, clubs and parties in a chokehold. After the success of this song, he went on to release his debut album, The Journey, which produced hits like 鈥淧erfect Gentleman鈥� and 鈥淟oke Loke,鈥� cementing his status as a hitmaker.

Though his chart dominance has cooled, Sean Tizzle鈥檚 impact remains in his classic debut album. He remains a cult favourite, with fans constantly revisiting The Journey as one of the best-produced albums of the decade.

Breakout year: 2014

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

It has always been music for Yemi Alade. A close look at her journey reveals that she won the Peak Talent Show in 2009. That win exposed her talent to Effyzzie Music, the record label she鈥檚 been with since her breakout in 2014. That was the same year she looked for and found 鈥淛ohnny鈥� along with a career that has now spanned the entire continent. 鈥淛ohnny鈥� is a comedic, relatable story that broke language barriers and propelled her to be the biggest female export to the rest of Africa.

Her growth has been defined by a pan-African brand and dominance. With over a billion views on YouTube and multiple 鈥淏est Female鈥� awards across the continent, she has become a UN Goodwill Ambassador and a global touring force.

Breakout year: 2015

Breakout song: 鈥溾��

Before Kizz Daniel鈥檚 second album, 鈥淣o Bad Song鈥�, he had a 鈥渘o bad song鈥� policy and actually kept to it. 鈥淲oju鈥� introduced Kizz Daniel as a reliable hitmaker when he was signed to G-Worldwide Entertainment and formerly went by Kiss Daniel. Since the success of the song, he has mastered global hits and become the king of viral challenges, from 鈥淏uga鈥� to 鈥淐ough鈥� and 鈥淭we Twe.鈥� From toddlers to grandmas, he makes music everyone can dance to.

Kizz Daniel is arguably the most consistent hitmaker of the last decade with an unmatched ear for hooks.

Breakout year: 2016

Breakout song: 鈥淪kin Tight鈥� feat. Efya

Mr Eazi brought Banku Music and a straw hat in 2016, and suddenly, we were all dancing at a slower tempo. 鈥淪kin Tight鈥� is a minimalist sound that became the loudest that year. Its success came with fame and more hit songs that worked as the platform to launch emPawa Africa, a company that funds the next generation of African stars. Today, Mr Eazi is more of a tech and music mogul than just a singer.

Breakout year: 2017

Breakout song: 鈥淢补谤补诲辞苍补鈥�

In my opinion, the pop scene was forever changed when Niniola released 鈥淢aradona.鈥� It鈥檚 a hit and a manifesto of sexual liberation, delivered in her native Yoruba 鈥� an uncommon move for women in the industry at the time. She carved out a unique niche by keeping dance floors packed with raw, sensually charged lyrics. Though her debut album, This is Me, teases a wider range of sounds, Niniola clearly knows her audience. By doubling down on the Afrohouse vibe, she has secured her spot as a pioneer for the sound in Nigeria.

Breakout year: 2018

Breakout song: 鈥淔补谤驳颈苍鈥�

Teni came into the game like a breath of fresh air: no heels, no flamboyant style, just pure talent. And her ascent in the music industry is an applaudable model in balancing that with personality. It鈥檚 easy to focus on her comedic flair, but beneath the playful personality and lyrics lies a brilliant vocalist whose performances on 鈥淔补谤驳颈苍鈥� are nothing short of stellar.

She has since grown into a household name with successful international tours and two full-length albums. Following the androgynous steps of Weird MC, Teni broke the mold for what a female pop star should look like in Nigeria, paving the way for authenticity over aesthetics.

Breakout year: 2019

Breakout song: 鈥凄耻尘别产颈鈥�

A boy from Benin arrived with a 鈥凄耻尘别产颈鈥� and a bunch of Indian influences, and the internet didn’t know what hit it. The song was the viral moment that introduced Rema as the first Gen Z superstar to go experimental and global. Rema鈥檚 growth culminated in 鈥淐alm Down鈥�, which is the biggest African song of all time on the Billboard charts. From billion-stream milestones to winning the first Best Afrobeats VMA, he has successfully moved from a new cat to global leader.

Breakout year: 2020

Breakout song: 鈥凄补尘苍鈥�

While the world was under lockdown, Omah Lay broke out and haunted our collective isolation. The Port-Harcourt native arrived with the Get Layd EP which has 鈥凄补尘苍鈥�, the melodic and moody pandemic jam. Since that breakthrough, Omah has evolved from a lockdown sweetheart into the top voice of vulnerable Afropop.

His growth was solidified by the honesty of his debut album, Boy Alone, and the global wave of 鈥淪oso.鈥� Omah Lay has turned personal pain into a universal currency and continues to prove that emotional transparency is its own kind of power.

Breakout year: 2021

Breakout song: 鈥淎飞补测鈥�

Mavin Records found us Ayra Starr, a (then) teenage superstar with world-class potential. She arrived and immediately told us she wasn’t here to play. She is a fashion icon with the vocals to match. 鈥淎飞补测鈥� is a breakup anthem that serves as a form of liberation. Ayra has since dominated the charts with 鈥淩ush鈥� and 鈥淪ability,鈥� becoming one of the most celebrated Nigerian female artists internationally. She has toured the world and collaborated with artists such as Chris Brown and Coco Jones. There鈥檚 no doubt that her 鈥楽abi Girl鈥� brand is a premium global commodity.

Breakout year: 2022

Breakout song: 鈥淥mo Ope鈥� feat. Olamide

Asake had his first big moment with 鈥淢r Money鈥� in 2020. It faded away and he didn鈥檛 have another until two years later, when he released 鈥淥mo Ope鈥� featuring Olamide, his former label boss. The song turned the industry upside down and fuses Afropop, Fuji, Amapiano and choral vocals into a national hit. Asake鈥檚 growth saw him sell out the O2 Arena in record time and release back-to-back classic albums. It鈥檚 2026, and he has become the bridge between the local street sound and global audiences.

Breakout year: 2023

Breakout song: 鈥淓lon Musk鈥�

Shallipopi launched 鈥淓lon Musk鈥� from the heart of Benin and arrived with a brand of street-hop that forced the entire country to learn Pluto slang just to keep up with the conversation. Three years after his breakout hit, he has established that his 鈥淧lutomania鈥� orbit is permanent. He successfully transitioned from a viral spark to a label boss (launched Plutomania Records) and an artist with a nose for lambas.

With a string of chart-topping projects like 鈥淥bapluto鈥� and 鈥淎SAP鈥�, and a global touring schedule that has seen him shut down stages from London to Lagos, he has moved beyond being a 鈥渧ibe guy鈥� to become an architect of the new street-hop culture.

Breakout year: 2024

Breakout song: 鈥淎lone鈥� with Bhadboi OML

FOLA arrived with a sound that can only be described as听soul meeting street. His style specialises in late-night yearning. 鈥淎lone鈥� is his breakout hit, and it鈥檚 the intimate feeling it captures that turned him into the artist listeners now go to for romantic yearnings. Since 鈥淎lone鈥� and its remix with BNXN, FOLA has successfully evolved from a TikTok sensation to a mainstay of the Afropop-R&B fusion. His growth has been marked by a widely-acclaimed debut album, catharsis, and a series of high-profile collaborations and cosigns (Wizkid, Kizz Daniel, Bella Shmurda, Funke Akindele, etc.).

Breakout year: 2025

Breakout song: 鈥淓scaladizzy鈥� feat. WAVE$TAR

Mavo is the current face of Nigerian music reset. He stormed into the industry and forced us to learn new slang. 鈥淓scaladizzy鈥�, his viral smash hit, defined 2025 with its irresistible street lamba. The shelf life of the hit has been extended by a part two featuring artists such as Zlatan Ibile, Shallipopi, and Ayra Starr. In less than a year since his breakout moment, Mavo has collaborated with heavy hitters like Wizkid, DJ Maphorisa, DJ Tunes, CKay, etc. He鈥檚 currently one of the most-streamed artists of the first quarter of 2026.

ALSO READ: 10 Nigerian Songs We Had No Business Listening To As Kids

These labels served as the incubators of the Nigerian music industry. From the pioneering groundwork of Kennis Music in the late 90s to the global conglomerate dominance of Mavin Records today, here is a look at the 10 most important Nigerian record labels and the stars they have given us.

10. Davido Music Worldwide (DMW)

Established: 2016

Founder: David 鈥淒avido鈥� Adeleke

DMW was founded shortly after Davido after his departure from his family鈥檚 HKN Music. The record label quickly became the dominant crew of the late 2010s. When it isn鈥檛 cooking music, it鈥檚 serving lifestyle. They popularised the 鈥�30BG鈥� (30 Billion Gang) catchphrase, which has since become a staple slang in Nigerian pop culture. Mayorkun鈥檚 fast rise from a cover singer to the 鈥淢ayor of Lagos鈥� remains one of the label鈥檚 biggest crowning achievements.

Stars it gave us: Mayorkun, Dremo, Peruzzi.

9. Capital Hill Music / The Goretti Company

Established: Circa 2010

Founders: Clarence Peters (Capital Hill) alongside iLLBliss (The Goretti Company)

This powerhouse label was a joint venture between ace music video director Clarence Peters鈥� Capital Hill and rapper iLLBliss鈥檚 management firm, The Goretti Company. They struck gold by pairing musical talent with great visual storytelling. They gave us Chidinma (Project Fame Season 3 winner) and provided the launchpad for Phyno, who鈥檚 now an elder statesman of Igbo rap and Nigerian Hip-Hop.

Capitol Hill unarguably elevated the visual aesthetics of Nigerian music. The presence of Clarence Peters in-house always gave their artists dope, TV-ready music videos.

Stars it gave us: iLLBliss, Chidinma, Phyno.

8. Storm Records

Established: 1991 (Revamped in 2004)

Founders: Obi Asika

Founded in 1991 by Obi Asika, Storm Records began less like a traditional label and more like a movement, rooted in DJ culture, radio, and event promotion before morphing into a fully structured music company. Its earliest defining act, Junior & Pretty, helped lay the groundwork for what would later be recognised as Afrobeats, long before the term even existed. By the late 鈥�90s, Storm had evolved into a proper label (later Storm 360) and became one of the most influential forces of the 2000s. It housed a wildly diverse roster including Sasha P, Ikechukwu, General Pype, Naeto C, and Darey Art Alade.

Stars it gave us: Sasha P, Darey Art Alade, Ikechukwu.

7. Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E)

Established: 2002 (Relocated to Lagos in 2008)

Founders: Banky W and Tunde Demuren

Banky W returned from the US to become the king of Lagos parties and modern R&B. He built an empire alongside Tunde Demuren. E.M.E gave us the Empire Mates State of Mind compilation album, and stellar artist-songwriters like Shaydee, Skales and Niyola. However, their greatest success story is signing Wizkid and releasing his debut album, Superstar (2011). His success contributed to Afrobeats鈥� breakout to the global industry.

Stars it gave us: Wizkid, Skales, DJ Xclusive.

6. Coded Tunes

Established: Early 2000s

Founder: Olamide 鈥淚D Cabasa鈥� Ogunade

Coded Tunes made music initially out of a studio in Akoka, Lagos, with the legendary producer ID Cabasa at its helm. The record label became a creative sanctuary for the streets. Coded Tunes was less of a corporate label and more of an incubator. It birthed 9ice鈥檚 early albums and the monumental Gongo Aso. It also introduced Olamide to the world with the hit 鈥淓ni Duro.鈥� Coded Tunes is largely responsible for commercialising Yoruba indigenous rap and pop.

Stars it gave us: 9ice, Olamide, Seriki.

READ NEXT: The First Record Labels to House Afrobeats

 5. Mo’Hits Records

Established: 2004 (Defunct in 2012)

Founders: Michael Collins 鈥淒on Jazzy鈥� Ajereh and Oladapo 鈥淒’Banj鈥� Oyebanjo

With Don Jazzy鈥檚 fantastic, heavy-bass production, D鈥橞anj’s electric charisma, and a roster of artists like D鈥橮rince, Mo鈥橦its WAS the industry for about five years. With Wande Coal, Dr SID, and Kayswitch, they released back-to-back hits such as 鈥淧ere鈥�, 鈥淲hy Me鈥�, and 鈥淥ver the Moon.鈥� Their compilation album Curriculum Vitae (2007) and Wande Coal’s classic Mushin 2 Mo’Hits (2009) are considered sacred in Afrobeats.

Mo鈥橦its secured the first major international crossover for modern Afrobeats when D鈥橞anj signed with Kanye West鈥檚 G.O.O.D. Music and released the global smash 鈥淥liver Twist.鈥� Even though the label had a sudden and highly publicised breakup in 2012, it鈥檚 still greatly revered.

Stars it gave us: Wande Coal, D’Prince, Dr SID.

4. YBNL Nation

Established: 2012

Founder: Olamide Adedeji

What started as Olamide鈥檚 independent imprint to quickly release his own music morphed into a star-making factory. YBNL, also known as Yahoo Boy No Laptop, became the voice of the street, capturing its pulse and making it into nationwide hits. From Lil Kesh鈥檚 鈥淪hoki鈥� craze to Fireboy DML鈥檚 Billboard-charting 鈥淧eru鈥� (featuring Ed Sheeran) and Asake鈥檚 global run, YBNL鈥檚 trajectory remains one of the greatest the industry has seen.

Stars it gave us: Lil Kesh, Adekunle Gold, Fireboy DML, Asake.

3. Chocolate City Music

Established: 2005

Founders: Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugo and Yahaya Maikori

Chocolate City Music changed the face of African Hip-Hop. When M.I Abaga released the albums, Talk About It and MI 2: The Movie, rap鈥檚 commercial value went up in Nigeria. Ice Prince鈥檚 鈥淥leku鈥� became one of the most remixed African songs in history. Years later, they proved it again with Blaqbonez, and their pop sensibilities with their former in-house producer, CKay, who released 鈥淟ove Nwantiti,鈥� a worldwide hit.

Stars it gave us: M.I Abaga, Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince, CKay, Blaqbonez.

2. Kennis Music

Established: 1998

Founders: Kenny 鈥淜eke鈥� Ogungbe and Dayo 鈥淒1鈥� Adeneye

Before the internet, streaming platforms and TikTok discoveries, there was Kennis Music. They picked up the pieces of the late 90s music scene and launched the modern era. Their masterstroke was signing The Remedies (which consisted of Eedris Abdulkareem, Eddy Montana and Tony Tetuila), and then 2Face Idibia after the Plantashun Boiz split and releasing Face 2 Face, his 2004 debut album that has 鈥淎frican Queen.鈥�

Kennis Music contributed to the infrastructure for marketing Nigerian music. They owned media companies and used their popular TV and radio shows, such as Prime Time Jamz, as a brilliant marketing vehicle to broadcast their artists into millions of homes every week. Legendary!

Stars it gave us: 2Baba (FKA 2Face Idibia), Eedris Abdulkareem, Tony Tetuila.

1. Mavin Records

Established: 2012

Founder: Michael Collins 鈥淒on Jazzy鈥� Ajereh

Built from the ashes of Mo鈥橦its, Mavin Records became the gold standard for music business in Nigeria. From Tiwa Savage鈥檚 reign as the Queen of Afrobeats to the viral success of Korede Bello鈥檚 鈥淕odwin鈥� and Rema鈥檚 record-breaking, billion-streaming smash 鈥淐alm Down鈥�, Mavin Records is Nigeria鈥檚 most impactful modern record label.

Mavin brought international investment (Kupanda Holdings) into the Nigerian market and established a long-term global artist development programme. This business led to their recent majority acquisition by Universal Music Group. The music label also operates Mavin Academy, where artists are kept out of the public eye and trained vigorously in vocal delivery, media relations and stagecraft for over a year before the world ever hears their first singles. Artists like Rema and Ayra Starr are alumni of the academy.

Stars it gave us: Johnny Drille, Rema, Ayra Starr.

ALSO READ: The Most Important Breakout Musician of Every Year (2000 鈥� 2015)

Love is rarely simple, in real life and Nollywood. It鈥檚 missed chances, bad timing, quiet sacrifices, and that one look that says everything words cannot carry. The industry has built entire emotional economies on yearning, and some actors don鈥檛 just play lovers, they ache like it鈥檚 muscle memory.

From the OGs to the new school, making us fold with a single smoulder, here are ten of Nollywood鈥檚 best male yearners.

10.

Nonso Diobi was a founding father of Nollywood鈥檚 鈥渟oft boy鈥� club before it even had a name. In early Nollywood, he mastered the role of a restless lover, the man who wants to love deeply but keeps fumbling the timing. His yearning sometimes finds him pacing a room at midnight, thinking of how to win a heart or replaying every mistake. Sometimes he looks like he鈥檚 physically hurting if his lover doesn’t pick up his call.

His performances usually have urgency to them, like he鈥檚 always one decision away from losing the love of his life. Nonso Diobi鈥檚 charm is his puppy dog eyes that make you want to rub his head, cook for him and tell him everything will be okay.

Best Yearning Roles: Palace Slave, Beyond Desire, Emotional Risk (Parts 1 & 2).

9.

If we鈥檙e talking about an intense man, just not a yearner, in Nollywood, Jim Iyke is the one. He鈥檚 the only one who can transition from 鈥淚 don鈥檛 give a single fuck鈥� to 鈥淧lease, baby, don鈥檛 leave me鈥� in 0.5 seconds 鈥� he鈥檚 popular for being the bad boy who folds for love. But no matter how down-and-out Jim Iyke is for love, he鈥檒l always be caught fresh, yearning in expensive leather jackets and coolest sunglasses.

When he wants a woman, he鈥檚 declaring war on anyone else who dares to look at her. It鈥檚 the kind of passion that makes one forget he probably just spoke rudely to the woman in the previous scene. 

Best Yearning Roles: Love My Way, Games Men Play, Beyonce and Rihanna.

8.

From a cute boyfriend to an intentional fianc茅 to a man who understands love but still gets it wrong, Daniel Etim Effiong has played a yearner in different dynamics. His yearning is measured and almost polite. His acting skills are mostly in little expressions and body language, like gazing. He looks into your eyes so much that you start wondering if he wants to 鈥渟teal鈥� you away or slurp you up. He makes you believe he has been thinking about you since he was born and will continue to do so until the sun burns out.

Best Yearning Roles: Still Falling, Plan B, A Weekend to Forget.

7.

Whether Timini is acting the playboy who finally catches feelings or the dedicated lover, he uses his pretty boy charm as a tool of mass pining. He likes to approach with bad-boy swagger, makes flattering compliments, and usually leans in just a bit too close so his love interest can see the desperation in his eyes. It鈥檚 always giving 鈥淚鈥檓 toxic but I love you the most,鈥� and honestly, Nollywood viewers have been eating up for years.

Best Yearning Roles: Reel Love, Dinner at My Place, Big Love.

6.

Michael Dappa鈥檚 yearning in movies feels grounded and real, like that one guy in your DMs who actually means every 鈥淕ood morning, beautiful鈥� he sends. He doesn鈥檛 need a lot of dialogue to show he鈥檚 yearning; he just stays in the moment until the tension rises. He鈥檚 the new go-to for anyone who wants to see a Nollywood man who falls in love deeply.

Best Yearning Roles: Short and Sweet, The Perfect Lie, Made to Measure.

5.

Tony Umez yearns with a touch of suffering. He鈥檚 the one who would walk through fire, juju and his mother鈥檚 disapproval just to get a smile from his woman after he calls her 鈥淒ORLING!鈥�. His acting style is super melodramatic and we love him for it.

Best Yearning Roles: Love and Affection, Test of Love, Tight Corner.

READ NEXT: 10 Nollywood Romcoms, Ranked by Actor Chemistry

4.

If Tony Umez was the king of suffering, Emeka Ike was the king of the 鈥淟over Boy next door.鈥� He always played the guy who was too good for the world, yearning after a girl whose father probably wanted to marry her off to a rich man. Emeka鈥檚 yearning is wholesome. He has this specific way of smiling through the pain of rejection that makes you want to enter the screen and fight for him. He defined the romance genre for an entire generation of Nollywood lovers.

Best Yearning Roles: A Million Tears, Golden Love, Marry Who You Love.

3.

I won鈥檛 be wrong to call RMD the silver fox of yearning in Nollywood. His longing is like aged wine, expensive. He brings a level of maturity to his yearning that makes younger actors look like they鈥檙e just playing tag. When RMD yearns, it鈥檚 about the 鈥渙ne that got away.鈥� He uses his presence to fill the room and makes the silence between him and his leading lady feel loud. He is the Nollywood blueprint for the 鈥淢an Who Has Everything But Her.鈥�

Best Yearning Roles: Stage of the Heart, Christmas In Lagos, Fine Wine.

2.

Ramsey Noauh is an undisputed architect of Nollywood romance. His yearning is legendary for its versatility. He can do the 鈥渞ich boy loving one a poor girl鈥� just as well as the 鈥渂roke guy yearning for affection.” He uses his eyes better than almost anyone in the business. There鈥檚 a specific 鈥淩amsey Look鈥� that signals he is about to risk his entire inheritance for a kiss.

He understands longing, when to hold back and when to let it spill. His performances feel intimate, like you鈥檙e watching someone fall in love in real time.

Best Yearning Roles: Super Love, Dangerous Twins, Real Love.

1.

Desmond Elliot built a career on romantic tension. He was the king of yearning. He always felt like the guy you could take home to your parents, even while he was running after someone else鈥檚 wife in a movie. His acting is effortless, usually involving a lot of leaning against doors and looking thoughtful. He has mastered being the friend-zone yearner. He could spend an entire movie looking at the lead actress with so much love while she ignored him, and you鈥檇 be screaming at the TV for her to just look at him once.

Best Yearning Roles: Lovers Creek, True Romance, Reloaded.

ALSO NEXT: The Most Perfectly Acted Nollywood Scenes of the 2020s

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