25. I SOMETIMES CONSIDER ZINOLEESKY'S GUILT

No one expected Asake to be at the ‘Man of the Year’ spot again in 2023. Or Davido giving us his best work yet after his tragic bereavement. Or Olamide gaining a Grammy nomination.

It is that time of the year again.

A time for auditing memories, looking out for what stood out.  I enjoy this process—maybe a little too much. Sparing no stone, I cram it all in, the shrapnel of every essence of the year in review.

At the beginning of 2023, I highlighted some possibilities. It was an election year. Ruger trounced Buju in the catfight in 2022 with dancehall ear candy, ‘Asiwaju’. Brymo was smoked for his ethnic bigotry. Odumodublvck, one hit deep into the game, was one to watch out for.

No one expected Asake to be at the ‘Man of the Year’ spot again in 2023. Or Davido giving us his best work yet after his tragic bereavement. Or Olamide gaining a Grammy nomination. Or Rema catching flak for his tribute to the Benin Kingdom sacking. Or Mohbad dying. Or Oladips faking his death.

2023 has been a midi year for Afrobeats overall. Match up selling out at least two stadiums in Europe with Afrobeats’ inability to host a show at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Match up Rema and Asake s…