75. My Favourite Songs of 2025 So Far

Of course, I have had to remove the old school stuff

The year 2025 has been an interesting one so far for Afrobeats. Without fail, every Friday morning, a cache of songs in excess of one hundred is released on streaming platforms. But very few of these records stick. The answer to the question as to why a lot of these songs do not earn repeated listens is simply a complex matter of quality, alchemy and courage. These tunes simply do not stand out. It isn't easy to stand out in a genre where music sounds too similar. Worse, the soul of Afrobeats has already been purchased by the music business. Its body will be stripped and auctioned for parts. I guess the party is over for those who cannot separate the music from its business.

Thankfully, Afrobeats is not a monolith. In all this madness, Kunmie and FOLA have emerged this year as distinct and promising voices. There is also a place for cautious optimism; the bottom half of every year trawls in more releases. Till then, here are some of my favourite songs of the year so far. I have relied on the songs on repeat across my favourite music streaming platforms. Of course, I have had to remove the old school stuff, set aside my preoccupation with the ancient Ghanaian guitar tune, ‘Yaa Amponsah.’

Joeboy, Streets Are Lonely

Seyi Vibez’ use of Kung Fu music scores in his tune, ‘Shaolin’, may be more successful than this understated song about toxic love at a crossroads. It is a rare moment of male vulnerability on wax, and there are plenty of such moments on Viva Lavida, Joeboy’s latest studio album.

Shaolin, Seyi Vibez

Shaolin Temple was one of those films you watched so much as a teenager, you could reenact the plot, stunts and special effects. Relying on the sophisticated visual vocabulary of music video director TG Omori, Seyi Vibez brings that Kung Fu music score to the irreverent Mara sound on a Larrylanes-produced beat.

Sweetie, Kokoroko

UK-based band Kokoroko have gifted us a summery Afrobeat tune as a single from their second album, Tuff Times Never Last. The phrase ‘Sweetie makes my heart beat bounce’ is repeated so many times that your sinoatrial node gets the message if you are attuned.

Domebi, Santrofi

Not to be mistaken for Rema’s ‘Dumebi’, they are worlds apart. If ‘Dumebi’ hard-launched the career of Nigerian popstar, ‘Domebi’ is a palmwine-guitar driven Ghanaian tune by the 8-piece band Santrofi, perhaps highlife’s best kept secret. Check out their latest album, Making Moves, if you are a highlife head.

Ama, Sh3lter feat. Bisa Kdei

Newcomer Sh3lter tapped Bisa Kdei for a contemporary highlife tune, ‘Ama’. Of course, I do not understand a word of the lyrics--but I allow myself to be led by the earthy melodies.

Salif Keita, KOKO London, June 2025

Cherie, Salif Keita

I first heard this tune sometime in March 2025, and I fell in love with the Malian vocal powerhouse afresh. The first time was as a child in Lagos. The song was ‘Africa’. The second time was on ‘Yamore’. You would think I was incapable of falling in love with the man again. I did. Watching him play live at Koko last month, hearing Cherie rendered live by his quartet. His latest album, So Kono, is one of his best in decades and I predict another Grammy nomination at least.

Eleduwa, Barry Jhay

Son of Fuji maestro, Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. Grandson of juju maestro, Chief IK Dairo OBE. Barry Jhay has worked incredibly hard to set himself apart in his chosen genre of Street Hop. With a unique voice and a vibrant, playful way of deploying street language, ‘Eleduwa’ is one of his more successful tunes. One would wish lines like “Ibi t'ọn ni ki gbegbe ma gbe lo fi ṣe apartey/Ibi t'ọn ni ki tẹtẹ ma tẹ lo lọ ṣe vaca” were more prevalent in his vocabulary.

Somebody Like You, Lojay

Lojay has already proven what a great vocalist and lyricist he is. His full-length project remains elusive, but he knows how to assuage our yearnings with microdoses. He tapped Sarz and gave us a proper love song. Not one of those funny, gritty, urbane, nocturnal I-am-in-love-with-a-stripper-sque songs.

Arike, Kunmie

The chord progression on this song already did all the work. Kunmie laid his smooth vocals somewhere between apologia and aggressive threat. The songwriting is a little wonky, but it has taken nothing from the mileage of the tune, the gem on his first EP. Looking forward to more projects with better songwriting. One more thing, Kunmie, please lose the carpenter’s pencil on your right ear.

Titi, Kizz Daniel, FOLA

Full disclosure: Vaddict, here. The star of this record is the understated FOLA, even if Vado’s clever pen serves wisdom to adulterers. FOLA has been on an insane feature run; his recent feature with BNXN, ‘Very Soon’, is just as good!

Laho, Shallipopi

Just when his detractors think it is all over, Shalli hits them once more. He is not your conventional singer/songwriter, but he knows how to wring a hit song out of his lived experience and Bini pidgin cadence, delivered with a 150 per cent charisma.

Unanfiaa, Iyanii

Smooth Swahili vocals on a spare love song accompanied by the piano. An East African voice to watch here.

Venus, Faceless, Serotonin

You will be surprised how easy it is to create an earworm with an unusual phrase like Shele no deny am oh.

My Darling, Chella and Zee Nxumalo

One cannot entirely do away with an Amapiano bop. Chella leans in here on what is en route nostalgia and delivers an irresistible summery love song.

Hey Jago, Poco Lee, Shoday and Rahman Jago

Every season, there is a popping street tune that gets youth out doing fancy leg work and throwing down feet, handkerchiefs and funny facial expressions.

Money, Teni

Another exceptional vocal performance by Teni. The songwriting does not touch the visceral power of ‘Uyo Meyo’, and why should it? Whilst the latter is earthy and indigenous, ‘Money’ faces American pop.

With You, Davido feat. Omah Lay

Omah Lay’s inspired vocal performance has single-handedly held up Davido’s fifth album, 5ive. Although I can't put my finger on how the song pays tribute to the charismatic Bright Chimezie, the imprint of highlife's legacy is easier to hear.

99, Olamide, Seyi Vibez, Asake, Young Jonn, Daecom

Outstanding single and record on Olamide’s self-titled 11th studio album, the song strips the oft-quoted phrase party like 99 of its retro feel, imbuing it with a smooth, modern feel. It is that one rare occasion where too many cooks do not spoil the broth.

Read The Signs, A-Q & Terry Apala

A-Q has been a favourite Nigerian rapper for a while now, and he just keeps getting better. His latest and final piece of his God’s Engineering trilogy is full of sound advice, musings and reflections. On ‘Read The Signs’, Terry Apala lays down a nice Apala hook and A-Q takes it away with fine word play, name-calling Nigerian top musicians and drawing industry and life nuggets from their life stories.