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It’s a core memory for many Nigerian millennials and Gen Zs: dancing frantically at a party to a song with lyrics so filthy that every adult would clutch their pearls…if they actually paid attention. From heavy metaphors for intimacy to the glorification of get-rich-quick schemes, these 10 Nigerian songs were staples of our childhood that, in hindsight, we had no business listening to. 

1. “Kolomental” — Faze (2006)

Faze’s 2006 “Kolomental”, released as part of his Independent album, is an instant party-starter known for its dance that’s supposed to look like a clinically insane person hopping around. An insane thing when you think about how the song had children across the nation frantically doing this dance at every event, from birthday parties to church bazaars.

2. “4kasibe” — Zeez (2008)

DJ Zeez (now Zeez) released “4kasibe” in 2008, and it quickly became a street anthem that defined the late 2000s. The term itself was a slang cocktail that suggests “knowing what’s up”, being “up-to-date” or a “happening babe.” If kids sang this record when it came out that year, parents should rebuke it with a combo of dirty slap and “I reject it, in Jesus name.”

3. “Kondo” — Dagrin (2009)

“Kondo” is one of the most deceptive songs for a non-Yoruba speaker or a naive child. The late Dagrin uses masterful Yoruba wordplay to describe an explicit late-night sexual encounter, framed around the metaphor of kondo, his magic stick. All the times kids screamed the hook “Wa gba kondo!”, they were practically singing about a booty call. And this is why the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation had to step in to censor the song.

4. “Kerewa” — Zule Zoo (2005)

“Kerewa” by the duo Zule Zoo uses traditional Tiv music to tell a story about a man catching his neighbour in an act of infidelity. The lyrics were incredibly descriptive, leaving nothing to the imagination. And it unfortunately drove kids insane with excitement whenever it came on.

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5. “Do Me” — P-Square (2007)

P-Square’s 2007 hit “Do Me,” featuring Waje, is a Nigerian R&B-pop classic. It’s a suggestive song, from the heavy breathing in the intro to the lyrics “Do me, do me, do me,” it calls for physical intimacy in the heat of the moment.

6. “Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)” — Flavour (2010)

Flavour’s “Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)” is an intercontinental jam that blends highlife melodies with dancehall sensibilities and a cheeky lyrical focus on “ashawo” — street slang for “prostitute” — a good time. It’s a compelling groove. Over a decade since its release, it still makes waist “whine” and parties jump.

7. “Dadubule” — Skaliey Mental (2012)

Skaliey Mental’s “Dadubule” is raw. It’s an uncouth anthem that comes from the heart of Lagos “Zanga.” The term “Dadubule” refers to the specific ways of positioning or lying in bed for sex. Its lyricism encourages vulgarity and almost being sexually irresponsible, which is a jarring contrast to the innocence of childhood.

8. “Yahooze” — Olu Maintain (2007)

Released in 2007, “Yahooze” remains a cultural shift. It celebrates the spending culture; lavish cars, expensive drinks (Hennessy and Moët), and the “two-finger” dance, which is synonymous with the song. However, the title itself was a direct nod to “Yahoo-Yahoo” (cyber-fraud). Don’t feel too bad if you think you’ve been celebrating the lifestyle of internet scammers by singing and dancing along. Even Colin Powell, the former United States Secretary of State, unknowingly danced to it.

9. “Pass the Agbara (End Game” — Skuki (2017)

The duo Skuki released “Pass the Agbara” during the height of the mid-tempo Afrobeats wave. The word “Agbara” means “Power,” and the song is basically about skirt chasing. It details the process of spotting a girl in the club, buying drinks, and the eventual endgame of taking her home. The lyrics are slick and suggestive, and focus entirely on the nightlife hunt.

10. “Tesojue” — Reminisce (2015)

Released in 2014 and peaking in 2015 as the lead single for his Baba Hafusa album, Reminisce’s “Tesojue” was a massive street-pop hit produced by Jospo. the lyrics were heavily laden with raw, explicit metaphors for sexual stamina and specific intimate acts, delivered in Reminisce’s signature gritty Yoruba flow.

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