Tomide Marv, Author at Zikoko!

Remember the scene in I,Robot (2004) where Will Smith’s character looks the robot, Sonny, in the face and confidently says that robots are just an imitation of life and therefore can’t write a symphony?

Well, that’s technically no longer true. Meet Urban Chords, the AI music collective pirating Nigerian hit songs by turning them into soulful choir anthems.

Their album, Choir Refix, was released in October 2025 and went largely under the radar. Many missed it, but now, a month later, it’s going viral, charting on the Nigerian Official Top 100 Albums list and racking up hundreds of thousands of streams.

Its streaming success and popularity have made listeners curious about what Urban Chords is, who’s behind its production and releases, and what the music law says about piracy and use of AI in music. In this breakdown, I answer those pressing questions and more.

What exactly is Urban Chords?

A quick Google search about Urban Chords will reveal it as a gospel music collective. Its Instagram bio brands it as “voices that praise different.”

On Boomplay, it describes itself as “a dynamic gospel collective bending soulful choir harmonies with contemporary sounds like drill, afro, R&B.”

Who’s behind Urban Chords?

Although Olamide Emmanuel Ajayi has been credited with being the mind behind the AI prompts, piracy and production, the names and faces behind the Urban Chords collective remain unconfirmed.

However, a closer examination of Choir Refix’s metadata on streaming sites reveals that the album was released under Lyripedia and Inner Circle Entertainment Limited. Lyripedia on Instagram says it’s home to Urban Chords and Emanvee (an artist-producer, self-dubbed vocal designer and likely the aforementioned Emmanuel Ajayi behind the AI prompts). Inner Circle Entertainment Limited is a new Nigerian music startup that has platformed artists like Fido, Mavo and Dxtiny.

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What’s Choir Refix?

Choir Refix is an AI-generated album featuring pirated versions of eight Nigerian hit songs, performed in a choir style. It features the following tracks:

Sarz’s “Getting Paid” with Asake, Wizkid and Skillibeng
Asake’s “Lonely At the Top”
Asake’s “BADMAN GANGSTA” featuring Tiakola
Olamide’s “99” featuring Asake, Seyi Vibez, Young Jonn and Daecolm
Libianca’s “People”
Omah Lay’s “i’m a mess.”
“Celebrate Me Now”, by a budding artist called Emanvee too — likely a R&B, choral-packed cover of Patoranking’s “Celebrate Me.”

There’s also a distinctive track titled “Afro Mix” which mixes several songs like Wizkid and Tem’s “Essence” with Burna Boy’s “Last Last”, Ayra Starr’s “Rush”, Davido’s “UNAVAILABLE” featuring Musa Keys, Joeboy’s “Sip (Alcohol)”, Fireboy DML’s “Peru”, etc.

According to Turntable Charts, the album is at number 43 on the Official Top 100 Albums chart, with 834,000 on-demand streams. Its cover of Omah Lay’s “i’m a mess” is the most-streamed on the album, surpassing 2 million streams on Spotify and over 500 thousand streams on Apple Music.

If you’re wondering what it sounds like, this album interprets the songs in an emotional, worship style. It sounds like a real choir, orchestrating under anointing. But the truth is, there’s no real choir in it. It’s a solo AI operator.

What’s Choir Refix trying to do?

At the moment, it’s still unclear if the goal of this project is spiritual, artistic or purely tech-driven innovation. But Urban Chords’ biography on Boomplay says, “From heartfelt to street-inspired worship, it [Urban Chords] delivers music that uplifts the spirit and bridges the gap between church and culture.”

The public says…

The reactions from Nigerians have ranged from impressed to disgusted.

But Urban Chords isn’t done

The collective has a new gospel-themed album titled Grace Till December (AI-generated versions, of course), slated for release on December 24, a day before this year’s Christmas Day. The album will include an AI cover version of Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor’s gospel hit track, “No Turning Back.”

The legal implications

The trending success of Choir Refix and Urban Chords’ piracy has quickly exposed gaping holes in the nation’s legal framework. According to Lola Oyedele, an entertainment, intellectual property and data protection lawyer and DJ, the legal risks are substantial.

Here, Lola untangles some important legal questions around the use of AI in Nigerian music:

Is it legal to AI-cover or recreate other artists’ songs?

Lola Oyedele: Under Nigerian law, particularly the Copyright Act 2022 , it’s not legal to reproduce, adapt, or create derivative versions of another artist’s work without their consent.

AI-generated covers or recreations that mimic the voice, style, or lyrics of an artist fall under derivative works or adaptations, which are protected forms of expression under copyright law.

So, if an AI model recreates an existing artist’s performance or samples their song without authorisation, it would generally amount to copyright infringement unless it qualifies under a very narrow “fair dealing” exception (like research or education, which clearly wouldn’t apply fair dealing” exception (like research or education, which clearly wouldn’t apply here). Because the owners have put them on streaming platforms which shows they might be earning royalties on the pmpany that instructed, programmed, or released the AI-generated work.

Are there processes of rights clearance for reproductions like these?

Lola Oyedele: Yes, there are. Before releasing a song that includes another artist’s material whether sampled, remixed, or reinterpreted, the creator or producer must secure two main permissions:

Master Use License from whoever owns the original sound recording (usually the label or rights holder, if any.
Composition License (Mechanical Rights) from the songwriters, composers or music publishers.

If the AI system trained on or reused portions of the original recordings, the rights to both the composition and recording must be cleared. If it simply “mimics” the artist’s voice or style, we move into a grey area around personality rights or right of publicity, which Nigerian law doesn’t yet define clearly, but could still be challenged as unauthorised commercial exploitation of someone’s likeness.

I heard the “i’m a mess” cover from the album and the lyrics are the same as Omah Lay’s original recording. Although the melodies are not the same, there’s still a lot of portions of original songs used.

What happens if the featured artists or their label take issues?

Lola Oyedele: They would have strong grounds to act. Artists or their labels could pursue legal remedies for:

Copyright infringement (unauthorized reproduction or sampling).
Passing off or misrepresentation (suggesting a false collaboration or endorsement).
Economic damages (lost revenue, reputational harm, or unfair commercial use).

The third is very important because that’s what is being done here the most — commercial use. If the album for example is monetised, streamed or sold, the affected artists or rights holders could seek an injunction to remove the content and demand compensation or royalties.

How do ownership and royalties work when it comes to AI-generated content?

Lola Oyedele: This is where things get murky. Nigerian copyright law currently recognises only human authors. So, for now, any AI-generated music does not have independent copyright protection.

Ownership would rest with:

The individual or company that created or deployed the AI system, and any human who contributed meaningfully to the creative process (e.g., by editing, arranging, or directing the AI output).

As for royalties, if AI-generated songs use copyrighted material, royalties remain due to the original rights holders of the sampled works. If it’s entirely AI-generated without human authorship or sampled content, it may technically lack copyright in Nigeria, meaning it could fall into the public domain, but this has not yet been tested in the Nigerian High Court, which is the court with jurisdiction for copyright issues.

Would this situation open up a new debate in the Nigerian music law?

Lola Oyedele: Absolutely and it already is. The rise of AI-generated music exposes gaps in Nigerian copyright regulation, especially around authorship of non-human works, voice and likeness rights for artists, use of copyrighted material in training AI datasets.

Nigeria’s Copyright Act 2022 was progressive in some areas, but it did not anticipate the AI revolution in music. This case could prompt legal scholars and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to explore AI-specific guidelines, similar to what’s emerging in the EU , UK and the U.S.

We’re entering a moment where technology is outpacing legislation. As I have once stated in one of my Substack articles, AI will force Nigeria and the wider African creative sector to rethink what authorship, originality, and ownership mean in the digital age. AI can enrich African music, but it must do so within a framework that respects creators’ rights. If we don’t define those rules ourselves, we risk seeing African music used as raw material in systems that profit elsewhere while our artists lose control.

N.B: Inner Circle Entertainment Limited didn’t respond to our multiple requests for a comment.

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The Recording Academy just released the full nomination list for the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards this evening, and the competition is tight.

This year’s nominations are a powerful testament to music’s incredible global reach and genre-bending innovation, featuring a list of powerhouse names and interesting new voices, first-timers and Grammy darlings. Even our very own like Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr and Wizkid have secured well-deserved spots on this list.

The road to Grammys leads to February 1, 2026. But while we look forward, these are the artists, music and creative projects nominated at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.

Album of the Year

SWAG – Justin Bieber

MAYHEM – Lady Gaga

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny

Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter

Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse, Pusha T & Malice

GNX – Kendrick Lamar

MUTT – Leon Thomas

CHROMAKOPIA – Tyler, The Creator

Record of the Year

“DtMF” – Bad Bunny

“Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter

“Anxiety” – Doechii

“WILDFLOWER” – Billie Eilish

“Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga

“luther” – Kendrick Lamar with SZA

“The Subway” – Chappell Roan

“APT.” – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars

Song of the Year

“Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga

“Anxiety” – Doechii

“APT.” – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars

“DtMF” – Bad Bunny

“Golden” (From KPop Demon Hunters) – EJAE & Mark Sonnenblick

“luther” – Kendrick Lamar with SZA

“Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter

“WILDFLOWER” – Billie Eilish

Best New Artist

Olivia Dean

KATSEYE

The Marias

Addison Rae

sombr

Leon Thomas

Alex Warren

Lola Young

Best Global Music Performance

“EoO” – Bad Bunny

“Cantando en el Camino” – Ciro Hurtado

“JERUSALEMA” – Angélique Kidjo

“Inmigrante Y Que?” – Yeisy Rojas

“Shrini’s Dream (Live),” Shakti

“Daybreak” – Anoushka Shankar featuring Alam Khan & Sarathy Korwar

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Best African Music Performance

“Love” – Burna Boy

“With You” – Davido featuring Omah Lay

“Hope & Love” – Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin

“Gimme Dat” – Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid

“PUSH 2 START” – Tyla

Best Global Music Album

Sounds Of Kumbha – Siddhant Bhatia

No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy

Eclairer le monde – Light the World – Youssou N’Dour

Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live) – Shakti

Chapter III: We Return To Light – Anoushka Shankar featuring Alam Khan & Sarathy Korwar

Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo – Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Dan Auerbach

Cirkut

Dijon

Blake Mills

Sounwave

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Amy Allen

Edgar Barrera

Jessie Jo Dillon

Tobias Jesso Jr.

Laura Veltz

Best Pop Solo Performance

“DAISIES” – Justin Bieber

“Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter

“Disease” – Lady Gaga

“The Subway” – Chappell Roan

“Messy” – Lola Young

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Defying Gravity” – Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande

“Golden, from KPop Demon Hunters – HUNTR/X

“Gabriela” – KATSEYE

“APT.” – ROSÉ, Bruno Mars

“30 For 30” SZA with Kendrick Lamar

Best Pop Vocal Album

SWAG – Justin Bieber

Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter

Something Beautiful – Miley Cyrus

Mayhem – Lady Gaga

I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) – Teddy Swims

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

“No Cap” – Disclosure & Anderson .Paak

“Victory Lap” – Fred again.., Skepta, & PlaqueBoyMax

“SPACE INVADER” – KAYTRANADA

“VOLTAGE” – Skrillex

“End Of Summer” – Tame Impala

Best Dance Pop Recording

“Bluest Flame” – Selena Gomez & benny blanco

“Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga

“Midnight Sun” – Zara Larsson

“Just Keep Watching” (From F1® The Movie) – Tate McRae

“Illegal” – PinkPantheress

Best Dance/Electronic Album

EUSEXUA – FKA twigs

Ten Days – Fred again..

Fancy That – PinkPantheress

Inhale / Exhale – RÜFÜS DU SOL

F*** U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3 – Skrillex

Best Remixed Recording

“Abracadabra (Gesaffelstein Remix)” – Gesaffelstein

“Don’t Forget About Us” – KAYTRANADA

“A Dreams A Dream – Ron Trent Remix” – Ron Trent

“Galvanize” – Chris Lake

“Golden – David Guetta REM/X” – David Guetta

Best Rock Performance

“U Should Not Be Doing That” – Amyl and The Sniffers

“The Emptiness Machine” – Linkin Park

“NEVER ENOUGH” – Turnstile

“Mirtazapine” – Hayley Williams

“Changes (Live From Villa Park) Back To The Beginning” – YUNGBLUD featuring Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman, II

Best Metal Performance

“Night Terror” – Dream Theater

‘Lachryma” – Ghost

“Emergence” – Sleep Token

“Soft Spine” – Spiritbox

“BIRDS” – Turnstile

Best Rock Song

“U Should Not Be Doing That” – Amyl and The Sniffers

“The Emptiness Machine” – Linkin Park

“NEVER ENOUGH” – Turnstile

“Mirtazapine” – Hayley Williams

“Changes (Live From Villa Park) Back To The Beginning” – YUNGBLUD featuring Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman, II

Best Rock Album

private music – Deftones

I quit – HAIM

From Zero – Linkin Park

NEVER ENOUGH – Turnstile

Idols – YUNGBLUD

Best Alternative Music Performance

“Everything Is Peaceful Love” – Bon Iver

“Alone” – The Cure

“SEEIN’ STARS” – Turnstile

“Mangetout” – Wet Leg

“Parachute” – Hayley Williams

Best Alternative Music Album

SABLE, fABLE – Bon Iver

Songs Of A Lost World – The Cure

DON’T TAP THE GLASS – Tyler, The Creator

moisturizer – Wet Leg

Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party – Hayley Williams

Best R&B Performance

“YUKON” – Justin Bieber

“It Depends” – Chris Brown featuring Bryson Tiller

“Folded” – Kehlani

“MUTT (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk)” – Leon Thomas

“Heart Of A Woman” – Summer Walker

Best Traditional R&B Performance

“Here We Are” – Durand Bernarr

“UPTOWN” – Lalah Hathaway

“LOVE YOU TOO” – Ledisi

“Crybaby” – SZA

“VIBES DON’T LIE,” Leon Thomas

Best R&B Song

“Folded” – Kehlani

“Heart Of A Woman” – Summer Walker

“It Depends” – Chris Brown featuring Bryson Tiller

“Overqualified” – Durand Bernarr

“YES IT IS” – Leon Thomas

Best Progressive R&B Album

BLOOM – Durand Bernarr

Adjust Brightness – Bilal

LOVE ON DIGITAL – Destin Conrad

Access All Areas – FLO

Come As You Are – Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon

Best R&B Album

BELOVED – GIVĒON

Why Not More? – Coco Jones

The Crown – Ledisi

Escape Room – Teyana Taylor

MUTT – Leon Thomas

Best Rap Performance

“Outside” – Cardi B

“Chains & Whips” – Clipse, Pusha T & Malice featuring Kendrick Lamar &

Pharrell Williams

“Anxiety” – Doechii

“tv off” – Kendrick Lamar featuring Lefty Gunplay

“Darling, I” – Tyler, The Creator featuring Teezo Touchdown

Best Melodic Rap Performance

“Proud Of Me” – Fridayy featuring Meek Mill

“Wholeheartedly” – JID featuring Ty Dolla $ign & 6Lack

“luther” – Kendrick Lamar With SZA

“WeMaj” – Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon featuring Rapsody

“SOMEBODY LOVES ME” – PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake

Best Rap Song

“Anxiety” – Doechii

“The Birds Don’t Sing” – Clipse, Pusha T & Malice featuring John Legend & Voices Of Fire

“Sticky” – Tyler, The Creator featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne

“TGIF” – GloRilla

“tv off” – Kendrick Lamar featuring Lefty Gunplay

Best Rap Album

Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse, Pusha T & Malice

GLORIOUS – GloRilla

God Does Like Ugly – JID

GNX – Kendrick Lamar

CHROMAKOPIA – Tyler, The Creator

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

A Hurricane in Heels: healed people don’t act like that (partially recorded live @City Winery & other places) – Queen Sheba

Black Shaman, Marc Marcel

Pages – Omari Hardwick & Anthony Hamilton

Saul Williams meets Carlos Niño & Friends At Treepeople – Saul Williams, Carlos Niño & Friends

Words For Days Vol. 1 – Mad Skillz

Best Country Solo Performance

“Nose On The Grindstone” – Tyler Childers

“Good News” – Shaboozey

“Bad As I Used To Be” (from F1® The Movie) – Chris Stapleton

“I Never Lie” – Zach Top

“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert And Chris Stapleton

“Trailblazer” – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson

“Love Me Like You Used To Do” – Margo Price & Tyler Childers

“Amen” – Shaboozey & Jelly Roll

“Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame” – George Strait, Chris Stapleton

Best Country Song

“Bitin’ List” – Tyler Childers

“Good News” – Shaboozey

“I Never Lie” – Zach Top

“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson

“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert And Chris Stapleton

Best Contemporary Country Album

Patterns – Kelsea Ballerini

Snipe Hunter – Tyler Childers

Evangeline Vs. The Machine – Eric Church

Beautifully Broken, Jelly Roll

Postcards From Texas – Miranda Lambert

Best Traditional Country Album

Dollar A Day – Charley Crockett

American Romance – Lukas Nelson

Oh What A Beautiful World – Willie Nelson

Hard Headed Woman – Margo Price

Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top

Best American Roots Performance

“LONELY AVENUE” – Jon Batiste featuring Randy Newman

“Ancient Light” – I’m With Her

“Crimson And Clay” – Jason Isbell

“Richmond On The James” – Alison Krauss & Union Station

“Beautiful Strangers” – Mavis Staples

Best Americana Performance

“Boom” – Sierra Hull

“Poison In My Well” – Maggie Rose & Grace Potter

“Godspeed” – Mavis Staples

“That’s Gonna Leave A Mark” – Molly Tuttle

“Horses” – Jesse Welles

Best American Roots Song

“Ancient Light” – I’m With Her

“BIG MONEY” – Jon Batiste

“Foxes In The Snow” – Jason Isbell

“Middle” – Jesse Welles

“Spitfire” – Sierra Hull

Best Americana Album

BIG MONEY – Jon Batiste

Bloom – Larkin Poe

Last Leaf On The Tree – Willie Nelson

So Long Little Miss Sunshine – Molly Tuttle

Middle, Jesse Welles

Best Bluegrass Album

Carter & Cleveland – Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter

A Tip Toe High Wire – Sierra Hull

Arcadia – Alison Krauss & Union Station

Outrun – The Steeldrivers

Highway Prayers – Billy Strings

Best Traditional Blues Album

Ain’t Done With The Blues – Buddy Guy

Room On The Porch – Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’

One Hour Mama: The Blues Of Victoria Spivey – Maria Muldaur

Look Out Highway – Charlie Musselwhite

Young Fashioned Ways – Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Bobby Rush

Best Contemporary Blues Album

Breakthrough – Joe Bonamassa

Paper Doll – Samantha Fish

A Tribute To LJK – Eric Gales

Preacher Kids – Robert Randolph

Family – Southern Avenue

Best Folk Album

What Did The Blackbird Say To The Crow – Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson

Crown Of Roses – Patty Griffin

Wild And Clear And Blue, I’m With Her

Foxes In The Snow – Jason Isbell

Under The Powerlines (April 24 – September 24) – Jesse Welles

Best Regional Roots Music Album

Live At Vaughan’s – Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet

For Fat Man – Preservation Brass & Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Church Of New Orleans – Kyle Roussel

Second Line Sunday – Trombone Shorty and New Breed Brass Band

A Tribute To The King Of Zydeco – (Various Artists)

Best Latin Pop Album

Cosa Nuestra – Rauw Alejandro

BOGOTÁ (DELUXE) – Andrés Cepeda

Tropicoqueta – KAROL G

Cancionera – Natalia Lafourcade

¿Y ahora qué? – Alejandro Sanz

Best Música Urbana Album

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny

Mixteip – J Balvin

FERXXO VOL X: Sagrado – Feid

NAIKI – Nicki Nicole

EUB DELUXE, Trueno

SINFÓNICO (En Vivo) – Yandel

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

Genes Rebeldes – Aterciopelados

ASTROPICAL – Bomba Estéreo, Rawayana, ASTROPICAL

PAPOTA – CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso

ALGORHYTHM – Los Wizzards

Novela, Fito Paez

Best Música Mexicana Album (including Tejano)

MALA MÍA – Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera

Y Lo Que Viene – Grupo Frontera

Sin Rodeos – Paola Jara

Palabra De To’s (Seca) – Carín León

Bobby Pulido & Friends Una Tuya Y Una Mía – Por La Puerta Grande (En Vivo) – Bobby Pulido

Best Tropical Latin Album

Fotografías – Rubén Blades, Roberto Delgado & Orquesta

Raíces – Gloria Estefan

Clásicos 1.0 – Grupo Niche

Bingo – Alain Pérez

Debut y Segunda Tanda, Vol. 2 – Gilberto Santa Rosa

Best Reggae Album

Treasure Self Love – Lila Iké

Heart & Soul – Vybz Kartel

BLXXD & FYAH – Keznamdi

From Within – Mortimer

No Place Like Home – Jesse Royal

Best New Age, Ambient Or Chant Album

Kuruvinda – Kirsten Agresta-Copely

According To The Moon – Cheryl B. Engelhardt – GEM, Dallas String Quartet

Into The Forest – Jahnavi Harrison

Nomadica – Carla Patullo featuring The Scorchio Quartet & Tonality

The Colors In My Mind – Chris Redding

Best Album Cover

CHROMAKOPIA – Tyler, The Creator

The Crux – Djo

Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny

Glory – Perfume Genius

moisturizer – Wet Leg

Best Recording Package

And The Adjacent Possible – OK Go

Balloonerism – Mac Miller

Danse Macabre: De Luxe – Duran Duran

Loud Is As, Tsunami

Sequoia – Various Artists

The Spins (Picture Disc Vinyl) – Mac Miller

Tracks II: The Lost Albums – Bruce Springsteen

Best Album Notes

Adios, Farewell, Goodbye, Good Luck, So Long: On Stage 1964-1974 – Buck Owens and His Buckaroos

After The Last Sky – Anouar Brahem, Anja Lechner, Django Bates, Dave Holland

Árabe, Amanda Ekery

The First Family: Live At Winchester Cathedral 1967 – Sly & The Family Stone

A Ghost Is Born (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) – Wilco

Miles ‘55: The Prestige Recordings – Miles Davis

Best Historical Album

Joni Mitchell Archives – Volume 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980) – Joni

Mitchell

The Making Of Five Leaves Left – Nick Drake

Roots Rocking Zimbabwe: The Modern Sound Of Harare’ Townships 1975-1980 (Analog Africa No.41) – Various Artists

Super Disco Pirata: De Tepito Para El Mundo 1965-1980 (Analog Africa No. 39) – Various Artists

You Can’t Hip A Square: The Doc Pomus Songwriting Demos – Doc Pomus

Best Jazz Performance

“Noble Rise” – Lakecia Benjamin featuring Immanuel Wilkins &

Mark Whitfield

“Windows: Live” – Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade

“Peace Of Mind / Dreams Come True” – Samara Joy

“Four” – Michael Mayo

“All Stars Lead To You – Live” – Nicole Zuraitis, Dan Pugach, Tom Scott, Idan Morim, Keyon Harrold & Rachel Eckroth

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Elemental – Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap

We Insist 2025! – Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell

Portrait – Samara Joy

Fly – Michael Mayo

Live at Vic’s Las Vegas – Nicole Zuraitis, Dan Pugach, Tom Scott, Idan Morim, Keyon Harrold & Rachel Eckroth

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Trilogy 3 (Live) – Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade

Southern Nights – Sullivan Fortner featuring Peter Washington & Marcus Gilmore

Belonging – Branford Marsalis Quartet

Spirit Fall, John Patitucci featuring Chris Potter & Brian Blade

Fasten Up – Yellowjackets

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Orchestrator Emulator – The 8-Bit Big Band

Without Further Ado, Vol 1 – Christian McBride Big Band

Lumen – Danilo Pérez & Bohuslän Big Band

Basie Rocks! – Deborah Silver & The Count Basie Orchestra

Lights on a Satellite – Sun Ra Arkestra

Some Days Are Better: The Lost Scores – Kenny Wheeler Legacy featuring The Royal Academy of Music Jazz Orchestra & Frost Jazz Orchestra

Best Latin Jazz Album

La Fleur de Cayenne – Paquito D’Rivera & Madrid-New York Connection Band

The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano & Chico – Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra featuring Pedrito Martinez, Daymé Arocena, Jon Faddis, Donald Harrison & Melvis Santa

Mundoagua – Celebrating Carla Bley – Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

A Tribute to Benny Moré and Nat King Cole – Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Yainer Horta & Joey Calveiro

Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at The Village Vanguard – Miguel Zenón Quartet

Best Alternative Jazz Album

honey from a winter stone – Ambrose Akinmusire

Keys To The City Volume One – Robert Glasper

Ride into the Sun – Brad Mehldau

LIVE-ACTION – Nate Smith

Blues Blood – Immanuel Wilkins

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Wintersongs – Laila Biali

The Gift Of Love – Jennifer Hudson

Who Believes In Angels? – Elton John & Brandi Carlile

Harlequin – Lady Gaga

A Matter Of Time – Laufey

The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume 2 – Barbra Streisand

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

Brightside – ARKAI

Ones & Twos – Gerald Clayton

BEATrio – Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez

Just Us – Bob James & Dave Koz

Shayan – Charu Suri

Best Musical Theater Album

Buena Vista Social Club

Death Becomes Her

Gypsy

Just In Time

Maybe Happy Ending

Best Gospel Performance/Song

“Do It Again” – Kirk Franklin

“Church” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard, John Legend

“Still (Live)” – Jonathan McReynolds & Jamal Roberts

“Amen” – Pastor Mike Jr

“Come Jesus Come” – Cece Winans featuring Shirley Caesar

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

“I Know A Name” – Elevation Worship, Chris Brown, Brandon Lake

“YOUR WAY’S BETTER” – Forrest Frank

“Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake With Jelly Roll

“Headphones” – Lecrae, Killer Mike, T.I.

“Amazing” – Darrel Walls, PJ Morton

Best Gospel Album

Sunny Days – Yolanda Adams

Tasha – Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Live Breathe Fight – Tamela Mann

Only On The Road (Live) – Tye Tribbett

Heart Of Mine – Darrel Walls, PJ Morton

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

CHILD OF GOD II – Forrest Frank

Coritos Vol. 1 – Israel & New Breed

King Of Hearts – Brandon Lake

Reconstruction – Lecrae

Let The Church Sing – Tauren Wells

Best Roots Gospel Album

I Will Not Be Moved (Live) – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Then Came The Morning – Gaither Vocal Band

Praise & Worship: More Than A Hollow Hallelujah – The Isaacs

Good Answers, Karen Peck & New River

Back To My Roots – Candi Staton

Best Children’s Music Album

Ageless: 100 Years Young – Joanie Leeds & Joya

Buddy’s Magic Tree House – Mega Ran

Harmony – FYÜTCH & Aura V

Herstory – Flor Bromley

The Music Of Tori And The Muses – Tori Amos

Best Comedy Album

Drop Dead Years – Bill Burr

PostMortem – Sarah Silverman

Single Lady – Ali Wong

What Had Happened Was… – Jamie Foxx

Your Friend – Nate Bargatze, Nate Bargatze

Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording

Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story – Kathy Garver

Into The Uncut Grass – Trevor Noah

Lovely One: A Memoir – Ketanji Brown Jackson

Meditations: The Reflections Of His Holiness The Dalai Lama – Dalai Lama

You Know It’s True: The Real Story Of Milli Vanilli – Fab Morvan

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

A Complete Unknown

F1® The Album

KPop Demon Hunters

Sinners

Wicked

Best Score Soundtrack Album for Visual Media

How To Train Your Dragon

Severance: Season 2

Sinners

Wicked

The Wild Robot

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Secrets of the Spires

Helldivers 2

Indiana Jones And The Great Circle

Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card & A Pirate’s Fortune

Sword of the Sea

Best Song Written for Visual Media

“As Alive As You Need Me To Be” from TRON: Ares

“Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters

“I Lied to You” from Sinners

“Never Too Late” from Elton John: Never Too Late

“Pale, Pale Moon,” from Sinners

“Sinners,” from Sinners

Best Music Video

“Young Lion” – Sade

“Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter

“So Be It” – Clipse

“Anxiety” – Doechii

“Love” – OK Go

Best Music Film

Devo – Devo

Live At The Royal Albert Hall – RAYE

Relentless – Diane Warren

Music By John Williams – John Williams

Piece By Piece – Pharrell Williams

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

All Things Light – Cam

Arcadia – Alison Krauss & Union Station

For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) – Japanese Breakfast

That Wasn’t A Dream – Pino Palladino, Blake Mills

Best Engineered Album, Classical

Cerrone: Don’t Look Down

Eastman: Symphony No. 2; Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2

Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth Of The Mtsensk District

Standard Stoppages

Yule

Producer of the Year, Classical

Blanton Alspaugh

Sergei Kvitko

Morten Lindberg

Dmitriy Lipay

Elaine Martone

Best Immersive Audio Album

All American F***boy – Duckwrth

Immersed – Justin Grayson

An Immersive Tribute To Astor Piazzolla (Live) – Various Artists

Tearjerkers – Tearjerkers

Yule – Trio Mediæval

Best Instrumental Composition

“First Snow” – Remy Le Boeuf

“Live Life This Day: Movement I” – Miho Hazama

“Lord, That’s A Long Way” – Sierra Hull

“Opening” – Zain Effendi

“Train To Emerald City” – John Powell & Stephen Schwartz

“Why You Here / Before The Sun Went Down” – Ludwig Göransson

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

“Be Okay” – Cynthia Erivo

‘’A Child Is Born” – Remy Le Boeuf

“Fight On” – Andy Clausen, Addison Maye-Saxon, Riley Mulherkar

& Chloe Rowlands

“Super Mario Praise Break” – Bryan Carter, Charlie Rosen & Matthew Whitaker

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

“Big Fish” – Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick, Nate

Smith & Amanda Taylor

“How Did She Look?” – Nelson Riddle

“Keep An Eye On Summer” – Jacob Collier

“Something In The Water (Acoustic-Ish)” – Clyde Lawrence, Gracie Lawrence & Linus Lawrence

“What A Wonderful World” – Cody Fry

Best Orchestral Performance

Coleridge-Taylor: Toussaint L’Ouverture; Ballade Op. 4; Suites From ‘24 Negro Melodies’ – National Philharmonic

Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie – Boston Symphony Orchestra

Ravel: Boléro – M. 81, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra Of Venezuela

Still & Bonds, The Philadelphia Orchestra

Stravinsky: Symphony In Three Movements – San Francisco Symphony

Best Opera Recording

Heggie: Intelligence – Houston Grand Opera; Gene Scheer

An American Soldier – Huang Ruo

American Composers Orchestra; David Henry Hwang

Kouyoumdjian: Adoration – Silvana Quartet; The Choir Of Trinity Wall Street

O’Halloran: Trade & Mary Motorhead – Irish National Opera Orchestra; Mark O’Halloran

Tesori: Grounded – The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus; George Brant

Best Choral Performance

Advena – Liturgies For A Broken World – Simon Barrad, Emily Yocum Black & Michael Hawes; Conspirare

Childs: In The Arms Of The Beloved – Billy Childs, Dan Chmlellnskl, Christian Euman, Larry Koonse, Lyris Quartet, Anne Akiko Meyers, Carol Robbins & Luciana Souza; Los Angeles Master Chorale

Lang: Poor Hymnal – Steven Bradshaw, Michael Hawes, Lauren Kelly, Rebecca Siler & Elisa Sutherland; The Crossing

Ortiz: Yanga – Los Angeles Philharmonic & Tambuco Percussion Ensemble; Los Angeles Master Chorale

Requiem Of Light – Brian Giebler & Sangeeta Kaur; The Clarion Choir

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

Dennehy: Land Of Winter – Alan Pierson & Alarm Will Sound

La Mer – French Piano Trios – Neave Trio

Lullabies For The Brokenhearted – Lili Haydn & Paul Cantelon

Slavic Sessions – Mak Grgić & Mateusz Kowalski

Standard Stoppages – Third Coast Percussion

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Coleridge-Taylor: 3 Selections From ‘24 Negro Melodies’ – Curtis Stewart

Hope Orchestrated – Mary Dawood Catlin

Inheritances – Adam Tendler

Price: Piano Concerto In One Movement In D Minor – Han Chen

Shostakovich: The Cello Concertos – Yo-Yo Ma

Shostakovich: The Piano Concertos; Solo Works – Yuja Wang

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

Alike, My Mother’s Dream – Allison Charney

Black Pierrot

Sidney Outlaw

In This Short Life – Devony Smith

Kurtág: Kafka Fragments – Susan Narucki

Schubert Beatles, Theo Hoffman

Telemann: Ino – Opera Arias For Soprano – Amanda Forsythe

Best Classical Compendium

Cerrone: Don’t Look Down

The Dunbar/Moore Sessions, Vol. II

Ortiz: Yanga

Seven Seasons

Tombeaux

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

Cerrone: Don’t Look Down – Christopher Cerrone

Dennehy: Land Of Winter – Donnacha Dennehy

León: Raíces (Origins) – Tania León

Okpebholo: Songs In Flight – Shawn E. Okpebholo

Ortiz: Dzonot – Gabriela Ortiz

ALSO READ: Everyone’s Raving Now — and That’s (Not) Fine

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Every October, the Recording Academy’s submission window sparks a frenzy among artists worldwide, including those from Nigeria. With nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards set to be announced on November 7, anticipation is high across the Afrobeats scene.

Since the Academy introduced the ‘Best African Music Performance’ category in 2023, more Nigerian artists have found themselves in Grammy conversations.

For many, submitting to the Grammys isn’t just a bid for validation; it’s a marker of evolution. It signals ambition, confidence, and a belief that speaks beyond Billboard charts, Afrobeats playlists and TikTok trends.

Below, I highlight the Nigerian artists I believe are most likely to be nominated for the 2026 Grammy Awards, based on past Grammy data and the strength of their submissions.

Ayra Starr

She submitted:

“Gimme Dat” featuring Wizkid for ‘Best African Music Performance’
“Gimme” Dat” featuring Wizkid for ‘Best Music Video’
“Hot Body” for ‘Record of the Year’
“Hot Body” for ‘Song of the Year’

Likely to be nominated:

“Gimme” Dat” featuring Wizkid for ‘Best African Music Performance’

Why?

Ayra Starr is already a Grammy nominee for “Rush,” and Wizkid’s five nominations and one win make him a proven Academy favourite. Their chemistry on “Gimme Dat” is undeniable, and the category tends to reward high-profile collaborations with global reach. This is one of the most secure Nigerian bets of the year.

Asake

He submitted:

“WHY LOVE” for ‘Best African Music Performance’

Likely to be nominated:

“WHY LOVE” for Best ‘African Music Performance’

Why?

Following back-to-back ‘Best African Music Performance’ nominations for “Amapiano” in 2024 and “MMS” in 2025, it’s safe to say that the Grammys love them some Asake. I expect that recognition to continue with the solid “WHY LOVE.”

Subscribe to Zikoko Pop newsletter, The Feed, for the most important pop culture news

Burna Boy

He submitted:

No Sign Of Weakness for ‘Album of the Year’
No Sign Of Weakness for ‘Best Global Album’
“Love” for ‘Best African Music Performance’
“4 Kampe II” with Joé Dwèt Filé for ‘Best Global Music Performance’

Likely to be nominated:

No Sign Of Weakness for ‘Best Global Album’
“Love” for ‘Best African Music Performance’
“Wgft” with Gunna for ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’

Why?

Burna’s a Grammy darling with 11 nominations and one win. He’s been nominated every year he’s submitted, and is one of the rare Nigerian acts to be nominated outside of the ‘African’ or ‘Global’ categories, earning a nod for ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ for “Sittin’ On Top of the World” with 21 Savage. Expect him to be the most nominated Nigerian this year.

Davido

He submitted:

5IVE for ‘Best Global Album’
5IVE for ‘Best Artwork’
5IVE for ‘Best Album of the Year’
“With You” for ‘Best African Music Performance’
“With You” for ‘Song of the Year’
“With You” for ‘Record of the Year’
“With You” for ‘Best Music Video’

Likely to be nominated:

5IVE for Best ‘Global Album’
“With you” for ‘Best African Music Performance’

Why?

Davido’s 5IVE is one of his most acclaimed albums yet, and the viral success of “With You” — boosted heavily by Omah Lay — makes it difficult for voters to ignore. As one of the inaugural nominees of the ‘Best African Music Performance’ category, Davido already has name recognition with Grammy voters. Expect multiple nominations here.

Olamide

He submitted:

“Billionaires Club” featuring Wizkid and Darkoo for ‘Best African Music Performance’

Likely to be nominated:

“Billionaires Club” featuring Wizkid and Darkoo for ‘Best African Music Performance’

Why?

After earning his first Grammy nomination with Asake for “Amapiano,” Olamide returns with another heavy collaboration. Wizkid’s presence already boosts a submission, and “Billionaires Club” is already beloved for its sleek production and cross-market appeal. It fits perfectly into the Academy’s taste profile for this category.

Omah Lay

He submitted:

“With You” with Davido for ‘Best African Music Performance’

Likely to be nominated:

“With You” with Davido for ‘Best African Music Performance’

Why?

Omah Lay is the heart of “With You,” one of 2025’s biggest Afrobeats records. His melodic control and emotional delivery elevate the track, and the Grammys often reward breakout performances within collaborations. If this song lands — and it should — Omah Lay will deservedly join the growing list of Grammy-nominated Nigerians.

Rema

He submitted:

“Baby (Is It A Crime)” for ‘Best African Music Performance’

Likely to be nominated:

“Baby (Is It A Crime)” for ‘Best African Music Performance’

Why?

After getting his first Grammy nomination for HEIS in 2025, Rema tenders “Baby (Is It A Crime)”, as his Grammy 2026 submission. The song samples four-time Grammy winner Sade Adu’s “Is It A Crime” and remains one of the best and most versatile releases in Afrobeats this year. It would be a shocker if this didn’t make the cut.

Wizkid

He submitted:

Morayo for ‘Album of the Year’
Morayo for ‘Best Global Album’
“Piece of My Heart” featuring Brent Faiyaz for ‘Record of the Year’
“Piece of My Heart” featuring Brent Faiyaz for ‘Song of the Year’
“Piece of My Heart” featuring Brent Faiyaz for ‘Best African Music Performance’
“Kese (Dance)” for ‘Best Music Video’

Likely to be nominated:

Morayo for ‘Best Global Album’
Ayra Starr’s “Gimme Dat” for ‘Best African Music Performance’

Why?

With five nominations and one win, Wizkid is another certified Grammy darling. I expect him to show up in ‘Best Global Album’ for the celebrated Morayo, but I think his strongest chance for a nomination in the ‘Best African Music Performance’ category will be for his work on Ayra’s Starr’s “Gimme Dat,” instead of his own single, “Piece of My Heart.”

ALSO READ: 10 Nigerian Music Projects That Deserved More Love in 2025

Everyone talks about love online, but what’s it really like offline? We’re collecting anonymous stories for Zikoko’s biggest relationship survey yet. Share your truth here.

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In case you’ve forgotten, Nollywood is still running hot for free on YouTube.

From family stories to romances and faith-based dramas, YouTube Nollywood has something for everyone. And for November, I’ve done the tedious work of scouring YouTube’s vast library to find the best Nigerian movies currently streaming.

Here are the 10 Best Nollywood movies to watch for free on YouTube this month. Enjoy.

10. Ifunaya’s Heart (2025)

Running time: 1h 59m

Director: Okey Ifeanyi

Genre: Romance

While driving through a serene rural town, Dester (Timini Egbuson) spots a Ifunaya (Sarian Martin) dancing under a tree, and in that moment, he decides he has found the love of his life.

He immediately starts trying to win her heart but first has to fight the resistance from his friends who think he’s gone insane and also untangle himself from his super toxic current relationship.

Watch Ifunaya’s Heart on YouTube.

9. The Third Party (2025)

Running time: 1h 31m

Director: Mo Fakorede

Genre: Romance

A CEO named Tope (Chike Daniels) lives a very principled life. But that all changes when Celine, a writer, comes along and throws a little chaos into his controlled life.

Their relationship first starts as a casual interaction before growing into something serious. But just as their connection strengthens, elements from their past return to wreck things. Tope has to choose between retreating to the rivers and lakes he’s used to (his safe world) or go chasing waterfalls (risking it all) with Celine.

Watch The Third Party on YouTube.

Subscribe to Zikoko Pop newsletter, The Feed, for the most important pop culture news

8. Trapped Flames (2025)

Running time: 1h 55m

Director: Great Valentine Edochie

Genre: Romance

Vanessa (Chioma Akpotha) is a lawyer experiencing betrayal due to her husband’s, Ifeanyi’s, infidelity. She stays in the Egyptian river named Denial and refuses to accept that her partner is seeing a woman from his past.

She keeps the situation under wraps to hide her shame, until the truth is exposed, threatening the life and image she’d worked so hard to protect.

Watch Trapped Flames on YouTube.

7. Pink or Blue (2024)

Running time: 1h 47m

Director: Morgan Ukaegbu

Genre: Romance

Karis (Deza The Great) believes marriage is a scam because women are untrustworthy. Wishing to be a father but not wanting to deal with the stress of a romantic relationship, Karis settles on the less emotional solution of surrogacy. He hires Nuela (Scarlet Gomez), who agrees to the arrangement purely out of financial necessity.

A miscarriage destabilises their arrangement, plunging them both into a messy emotional crisis they didn’t budget for.

Watch Pink or Blue on YouTube.

6. Under Siege (2025)

Running time: 2h 7m

Director: Damilola Mike-Bamiloye

Genre: Musical

Kolade (Greatman Takit) stands at a crossroads between faith and fame. Born into a devout Christian family, his father, Rev. Emmanuel (Mike Bamiloye), envisions him continuing the family’s ministry. But Kolade’s heart beats to the pulse of secular music and the allure of stardom.

His defiance sets off a chain of spiritual turmoil that drags him into a dangerous world of temptation, cult influence, and moral reckoning. This movie shows the tension between divine calling and personal ambition.

Watch Under Siege on YouTube.

5. Perfect Heart (2025)

Running time: 1h 50m

Director: Tissy Nnachie

Genre: Drama, Romance

Alexia (Prisma James) is a 27-year-old lady navigating the brutal Lagos dating scene. She desires a genuine relationship but is repeatedly thwarted by men pursuing sex. Her frustration reaches a boiling point, but starts to cool when Tobenna (Timini Egbuson) enters.

Their meeting promises something substantial, but the mirage collapses swiftly when she realises she’s just another woman on his hit list. Alexia, no longer wanting to be a victim,initiates a strategic counter-attack to make Tobenna pay for the pain he’s caused her.

Watch Perfect Heart on YouTube.

4. Anchor (2025)

Running time: 1h 14m

Director: Mike Ilemobola

Genre: Romance

For Felix (Joshua Banjo) and Glory (Aanu Kolade), their relationship wasn’t just love. It was a divine assignment, sealed by a prophecy promising a bright future.

As their supposedly predestined relationship materialises, an unforeseen darkness comes into the mix, threatening to violently derail their spiritual itinerary. This results in a series of trials that test not just not their relationship, but their faith.

Watch Anchor on YouTube.

3. The Other Woman (2025)

Running time: 1h 45m

Director: Akay Mason

Genre: Drama

This movie follows the story of the Greggs and the complexities of their marriage. Frank (William Benson), the husband, has fallen out of love and wants to be with a younger woman called Amanda (Uche Montana).

Queen (Shaffy Bello), the wife, becomes suspicious and tries to befriend her husband’s mistress to know the threat to her marriage. What unfolds is unexpected relationship turbulence, proving that even after twenty-five years, a marriage is only as stable as its weakest link.

Watch The Other Woman on YouTube.

2. In the Name of Love (2025)

Running time: 1h 33m

Director: Isioma Osaji

Genre: Romance

Sparks fly when two strangers, Michelle (Osas Ighodaro) and Andrew (Eso Dike), meet and fall in love, both lying about their backgrounds.

However, the foundation of their relationship crumbles when their real identities are revealed. They’re both from powerful families determined to marry off their children to preserve the family legacy. The couple is forced to choose either family and legacy or risk everything for their love.

Watch In the Name of Love on YouTube.

1. Love In Every Word 2 (2025)

Running time: 3h 1m

Director: Omoni Oboli

Genre: Romcom

As the love of Chioma (Olawunmi-Adenibuyan “Bam Bam”) and Obiora (Uzor Arukwe) blossoms into the forever they’ve always dreamed of, they find themselves at the edge of a new chapter. However, their marital journey is challenged when secrets they had buried resurface, putting great strain on their relationship.

They’re forced to confront a question: can the strength of their love truly mend their pasts and write the everlasting love they desire?

Watch Love In Every Word 2 on YouTube.

ALSO READ: I Watched “Love In Every Word 2” So You Don’t Have To

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While the global spotlight often shines exclusively on Nigerian Afropop hits, 2025 has been quietly rich with exceptional projects that thrive outside the mainstream orbit. This is not the sound of the radio; it’s the sound of alternative genres, intricate lyricism, and experimental production.

This list curates the essential non-Afropop albums and EPs, spanning hip-hop, R&B, alternative, and fusion genres that might have slipped under your radar. Discover 10 of the best, most underrated Nigerian music projects of 2025 that deserved more love than they got from fans.

10. Greatly Exaggerated — Damon Grass

It’s been over a decade since rapper Damon Grass emerged as the winner of Don Jazzy’s Enigma Rap competition. Afterwards, he temporarily hung up the mic to focus on school, a day job and financial stability. Now in 2025, he returns to the game with his official debut album, Greatly Exaggerated.

Damon finds himself rhyming and swinging between smug braggadocio, baller lifestyle, limelight ambitions and street orientations. He announces himself as one of the rising Nigerian rappers to look out for.

Apple Music | Spotify

9. God’s Engineering 3 (The Beginning) — A-Q

A-Q brings his trilogy to a close with God’s Engineering 3 (The Beginning), an album defined by its sharp lyrical precision and unwavering personal conviction. Across eleven focused tracks, GE3 serves as a profound examination of the rapper’s journey.

He delves into his past, paying homage to his roots on Ramlat Timson Street in Surulere, Lagos, while simultaneously launching a pointed critique against the superficiality of today’s rap scene. With this album, A-Q commands absolute attention.

Apple Music | Spotify

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8. Sweet Songs 4 You — Lasmid and TML Vibez

Singers Lasmid and TML Vibez collaborate on a project defined by raw emotions and seamless melodies. Their artistic connection is palpable, and this shines through in their styles and verses.

Sweet Songs 4 You champions emotional honesty and transparent lyricism, paired with minimalist yet soulful production. The project uses space and silence as key elements, allowing them to perfectly underscore the deep sense of longing, ache of hope, and vulnerability poured into every single note.

Apple Music | Spotify

7. This One Is Personal — Tiwa Savage

On her candid latest album, Tiwa Savage exchanges the funfair of pop music and spectacle of fame for clarity. She examines her innermost emotions, unpacking the complications of affection and the inherent power that comes from choosing self.

The production leans closely towards atmospheric R&B sounds, allowing moments of unvarnished strength and brutal honesty. This One Is Personal delivers on its title, giving us Tiwa at her most intimate and musically evolved.

Apple Music | Spotify

6. Healers Chapel — Wizard Chan

Healers Chapel is a well-crafted sonic sanctuary made for a world grappling with pain and uncertainty. Across 14 tracks, Wizard Chan seamlessly weaves his Ijaw cultural roots and heritage, with threads of reggae, hip-hop and Afro-fusion in ways that feel ethereal.

This album is a detailed map of the emotional terrain of faith and hope. It offers reflection as much as quiet solace and commentary on societal issues. It’s a layered, shared and deeply human experience, where finding peace means recognising the power of your community and your past. With Healers Chapel, Chan invites listeners into a journey of healing.

Apple Music | Spotify

5. Detox — Sewà

If you’re looking for music that blends R&B, folk and fusions of other soulful sounds, Sewà’s music should be on your radar. Her debut album, Detox, explores introspection, longing, love, heartbreak, patience, ambition, and resilience in a deeply personal way that remains relatable to the general human experience.

Her lyricism employs English, Pidgin English and Yoruba. It’s in this witty command of language and her soulful delivery, that Sewà cements her place as a globally relatable artist who’s rooted in her heritage. Detox is more than a debut album, it’s emotional cleansing.

Apple Music | Spotify

4. I Wish I Had More Time — Braye

Braye’s brilliant EP, I Wish I Had More Time, is a statement on the fragile state between intimacy and ambition. He addresses this ubiquitous struggle with compelling honesty and graceful musicality.

This EP offers a deep dive into internal conflict, carefully navigating themes of self-doubt, profound yearning, and the silent tug-of-war between romantic connection and life’s larger purpose.

Apple Music | Spotify

3. SPIRAL — Tim Lyre

SPIRAL, Tim Lyre’s double-sided album, mirrors life’s cyclical nature. It’s a 16-track project that moves fluidly from deep introspection to renewal, transitioning smoothly between moments of melancholy and uplift. Lyre dissects core human experiences like personal development, relationships, loss and professional drive.

Whether he’s adrift, examining financial freedom or having thoughtful closure, he makes his album feel simultaneously vast and intensely private. SPIRAL is genre-fluid, emotionally relatable and brilliantly curated to stir the soul.

Apple Music | Spotify

2. Goodgirl — Goodgirl LA

On her bold self-titled EP, singer-songwriter Goodgirl LA flips the script on what it means to be a “good girl.” With sultry vocals and unapologetic lyrics, she invites Nigerian women into a world where desire, power and authenticity reign.

She also embodies sexual liberation with confidence, showcasing her ambition and resilience. This six-track EP isn’t just a statement; it’s a celebration of women who want more, feel more, and claim more. Goodgirl is sexy, fearless, and it’s Goodgirl LA at her most confident and honest.

Apple Music | Spotify

1. Paradise Now — Obongjayar

Paradise Now finds Obongjayar traversing an musical territory marked by nervous energy, immediate necessity, and dense, complex production. It’s a rich canvas for dissecting everything from personal friction to systemic failures.

His singular voice carries the album, guiding listeners through the diverse sections of his boundary-pushing alt-R&B, Afro-dance, punk, disco, and indie rock. From longing to self-assertion, optimism to resistance, Obongjayar makes strong statements that put his album among the year’s best releases.

Apple Music | Spotify

ALSO READ: The 20 Best Nigerian Lyricists, Ranked By Fans

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Nigerian-born artist, Mr Eazi, is back with Maison Rouge, a 7-track EP he recorded while living in a guesthouse of the same name in Cotonou, Benin. And according to him, the music takes him back to the Banku Music that started it all.

In 2015, Mr Eazi made a rallying call that signalled the start of his music movement: “Make we bankulize!” While living and receiving a tertiary education in Ghana, he had been greatly influenced by Ghanaian bounces, highlife and pidgin, as well as Nigerian chord progressions and patterns. So he fused them into a rhythm, resulting in a ballad-like yet groovy sound that captures the warmth and communal essence of West African life and experience.

In his rallying single “Bankulize”, Mr Eazi isn’t just singing about food and romance, he’s singing about daily experiences and feelings. Banku, after all, is a complete meal that’s delicious, pocket-friendly and generally loved across social lines. It’s the kind of dish that satisfies both the student stretching a tight budget and the couple seated for a weekend food date. By invoking Banku, Eazi builds a shared language of simplicity and enjoyment that cuts through borders, regions, class, and status.

Subscribe to Zikoko Pop newsletter, The Feed, for the most important pop culture news

Music boosts the cultural and social aspects of a dining experience. However, it must have been a remarkable thought in the 16th century that the fermented and cooked maize meal created along the South-Eastern coast of Ghana would not only be passed down as tradition, but also influence contemporary West African pop music in the 21st century.

Five hundred years after its introduction, Banku — a single-serving dumpling that’s eaten with okro or groundnut soup and now sold on Nigerian streets — has been transformed into music. This transformation didn’t happen in isolation. Cultural exchange and migration carried both the dish and its name across borders.

To “bankulize” is to have a good time without excess and find comfort in what’s familiar yet deeply satisfying. It’s Eazi’s way of turning everyday influences, memories, flavours, and rhythms into a music subgenre and a metaphor for cool, content living.

His approach to this relationship-themed EP is personal, much like writing in a diary. He sings in his unique laid-back delivery style, fitting perfectly into the album’s mood and release statement: “Just me, my thoughts and melodies.”

If you fawned over the clips and photos of his talked-about wedding to Temi Ajibade (nee Otedola), or/had expectations of a wedding-themed music, you’re in for something else. The first track, “Violence”, is Eazi singing about how what was thought to be simple love has become the survival of the fittest. It’s a sombre deduction of the situation he finds himself in, where his relationship is headed. “Wait For Your Love” is about unrequited love. His patience has run out, and he’s moving on.

“Casanova” deeply leans into highlife sound. Under light percussion and minimal vocal backups, Mr Eazi hits each strum of the guitar, extending his good-loving arms to his partner. “Make E No Tey” plays next, and for the time in this EP, a track feels like his personal experience rather than a first-person narrative. Here, he’s an impatient man consumed by love that feels like destiny; all he can think of is when he’ll hold his lover again and finally begin their forever.

ALSO READ: 5IVE: Another Chapter in Davido’s Psalms

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Nollywood is renowned globally for its dramatic storytelling. Still, nothing elevates a film quite like a brilliant, jaw-dropping plot twist that leads viewers confidently down one path before suddenly ripping the rug out from under their feet.

From family secrets and boardroom betrayals to supernatural reversals and hidden identities, these movies have major spoilers and plots designed to make you gasp, rewind, and question everything that shows on your screen.

To avoid ruining it for you in case you still want to be surprised, we’ve tagged the plot twist so you can avoid it.

10. Men In Love (2010)

Running time: 1h 15m

Director: Moses Ebere

Genre: Drama

The marriage of Charles (John Dumelo) and Whitney (Tonto Dikeh) is under strain due to Charles’ persistent serial cheating. They attempt a vacation to save their relationship, but Charles’ distraction by other women continues. Complicating matters further, Charles’ old friend, Alex (Muna Obiekwe), arrives and begins making aggressive romantic advances toward him, unexpectedly inserting a subplot involving Alex’s homosexuality.

Plot Twist: Here, the plot of an already bad movie veers into the absurd and ignorant territory of early 2000s filmmaking in Nollywood. After building up the drama around Alex’s same-sex attraction, the shocking twist follows: Alex is not, in fact, gay. Instead, Nollywood explains away his attraction as a “demonic curse” — a literal spell cast by a village witch — ridiculously establishing queerness as an infectious problem rather than a genuine identity.

Watch Men In Love on YouTube.

9. Captured (2025)

Running time: 1h 50m

Director: Jide ‘Blaze’ Oyegbile

Genre: Thriller, Drama

This is a drama about a missing child and the emotional turmoil of a broken family trying to find her. The search for the kidnapped child intensifies, focusing on who could possibly be holding her captive and why. The tension builds around a desperate, unknown threat trying to extort the family.

Plot Twist: The whole mystery is turned upside down when it’s revealed that the kidnapping was staged by the child herself. She orchestrated the entire disappearance and ransom demand to get back at her dad for treating her mom badly and to secure enough money to get her and them out of the country.

Watch Captured on YouTube.

Subscribe to Zikoko Pop newsletter, The Feed, for the most important pop culture news

8. Devil Is A Liar (2025)

Running time: 1h 39m

Director: Moses Inwang

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Adaora Phillips (Nse Ikpe-Etim) is a successful, career-driven woman who’s being harassed by society for being unmarried. She finally meets Jaiye, a younger man who seems too perfect to be true. They marry, but the perfection shatters when Jaiye begins to psychologically torment her, slowly isolating her and stripping her of her career and self-worth.

Plot Twist: The entire narrative of Adaora as a victim who must claw her way back from ruin after Jaiye bankrupts her serves as a setup. The shocking reveal is that Adaora engineered the entire relationship, the marriage, and the subsequent “financial ruin” as a long game for revenge against Jaiye for something he did to her years ago. She faked her own breakdown and calculated every single step to bring him down.

Watch Devil Is A Liar on Netflix.

7. The Set Up (2019)

Running time: 1h 44m

Director: Niyi Akinmolayan

Genre: Crime, Thriller

Chike (Adesua Etomi-Wellington), a former drug trafficker, is rescued from the law and hired by Madam Enitan (Tina Mba) to work with Edem (Jim Iyke) to execute an elaborate, high-stakes con. They are going to defraud a seemingly naive heiress, Motunrayo (Dakore Egbuson-Akande) of her massive fortune.

Plot Twist: Chike thinks she’s the one running the game, expertly navigating fake identities, double-crosses, and dangerous associates. We soon realize that Chike is merely a pawn in Madam Enitan’s game, a tool she plans to hand over to law enforcement for her past involvement in the drug world. When Chike discovers her betrayal, she turns the tables on her madam.

Watch The Set Up on Netflix.

6. Red Circle (2025)

Running time: 1h 59m

Director: Akay Ilozobhie

Genre: Crime Thriller

Fikayo Holloway (Folu Storm), a journalist from an elite Lagos family, goes rogue to investigate a highly dangerous, organised crime ring known as the “Red Circle.” Driven by her journalistic integrity and a desire to expose the darkness hidden beneath Lagos’s wealth, she closes in on the syndicate’s shadowy operations, facing threats that hit uncomfortably close to her wealthy home.

Plot Twist: The betrayal is exposed in the final act as the matriarch of the Holloway family is revealed to be the leader of the Red Circle crime syndicate she is investigating.

Red Circle isn’t currently streaming anywhere.

5. The Black Book (2023)

Running time: 2h 7m

Director: Editi Effiong

Genre: Crime, Action Thriller

Paul Edima (Richard Mofe-Damijo), a devout church deacon, is forced to return to his dark past as an assassin when corrupt police officers, working for the nefarious General Issa (Alex Usifo), unjustly murder his innocent son. Edima embarks on a brutal, John Wick-style quest for revenge, assisted by Victoria Kalu (Ade Laoye), a journalist.

Plot Twist: Shockingly, Edima was General Issa’s former top assassin, and one of the last jobs he carried out before leaving his dark life was killing the mother of Victoria Kalu, the investigative journalist helping him expose Issa. Edima’s path to justice for his son is inextricably linked to seeking atonement for the sin of murdering Victoria’s mother years ago. His revenge mission is a twisted form of penance.

Watch The Black Book on Netflix.

4. The Figurine (2009)

Running time: 2h 2m

Director: Kunle Afolayan

Genre: Thriller

Two friends, Sola (Kunle Afolayan) and Femi (Ramsey Nouah), find a mystical wooden figurine of the goddess Araromire in an abandoned shrine during their NYSC camp. According to the legend, the figurine grants seven years of unbelievable good luck, followed immediately by seven years of devastating bad luck.

Sola takes the figurine, and both friends achieve wild success. Seven years later, the bad luck starts, and Femi begins to struggle, convinced the goddess is exacting her price.

Plot Twist: However, the crushing twist is that Femi had been orchestrating the bad luck all along. Driven mad by his unrequited love for Mona (Omoni Oboli), Sola’s wife, Femi meticulously orchestrated all the “bad luck” events and even murdered people to make Sola appear cursed and unworthy of Mona.

Watch The Figurine on YouTube.

3. A Weekend to Forget (2023)

Running time: 1h 38m

Director: Damola Ademola

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

A group of seven friends gather for a fancy weekend getaway. One of them ends up dead in the swimming pool, and their motives start coming to the fore: from old grudges, to unfaithful spouses, to just being rich and miserable. The detective on the case begins the gruelling process of exposing who among them is the murderer.

Plot Twist: After countless hours of finger-pointing and dredging up old secrets, the intense whodunit finally delivers a shocking climax. The victim, Ndali (Erica Nlewedim), was not killed by any of the main suspects. Instead, the killer is revealed to be Bem (Neo Akpofure), the quiet, harmless-seeming boyfriend of one of the friends, who was barely an active part of the core group.

Watch A Weekend to Forget on Prime Video.

2. October 1 (2014)

Running time: 2h 29m

Director: Kunle Afolayan

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

It’s 1960, and Nigeria is about to gain Independence. A serial killer is murdering young, virgin women in the sleepy town of Akote. Inspector Danladi Waziri (Sadiq Baba) is tasked with solving the case quietly and identifying the culprit before October 1st arrives. When the inspector gets to the root of the mysterious killings, he realises that the killer is the town’s beloved crown prince Aderopo, who just returned from the U.K.

Aderopo’s murders are revealed to be an act of revenge stemming from years of sexual abuse he suffered alongside his friend, Agbekoya (Kunle Afolayan), at the hands of the seemingly benevolent and the white colonial priest Reverend Dowling.

Plot Twist: The colonial government orders Waziri to cover up the truth to avoid scandalising Independence Day.

Watch October 1 on YouTube.

1. A Green Fever (2023)

Running time: 1h 51m

Director: Taiwo Egunjobi

Genre: Neo-Noir, Thriller

Kunmi Braithwaite (Temilolu Fosudo), an architect, is travelling with his daughter when she suddenly falls ill with a rare, life-threatening green fever. In desperation, he seeks shelter at a secluded mansion owned by the secretive Colonel Bashiru (William Benson) and his girlfriend, Mathilda (Ruby Precious Okezie).

Plot Twist: As we get deeper into the story, the plot twist slowly unravels. The story of the sick daughter is a lie. The green fever is also a lie. Kunmi is just an architect hired to steal classified documents from the Colonel.

Watch A Green Fever on Prime Video.

ALSO READ: 10 Feel-Good Nollywood Movies to Watch When You Need A Mood Boost

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At 14, Wizkid had already started his musical journey: formed a music group, released a 7-track music project under his previous stage name Lil Prinz, and received guidance from legendary music producer, OJB Jeezrel.

Now history seems to be repeating itself. His firstborn child, Boluwatife Balogun, also 14, is following in his father’s footsteps and stepping into the booth as Champz.

The arrival of Champz

On October 20, 2025, a video of Bolu, dressed in black, recording rap lines that reference 50 Cent’s “Many Men (Wish Death)” and Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ album — and perhaps inspired by it — first surfaced online. It received mixed reactions ranging from “thumbs-ups” to “don’t try this again” to “it can be better.”

Wizkid's son, Bolu recording in the studio 👀🎙️

Music soon? pic.twitter.com/tjMSsP9lhv
— 𝗔𝗟𝗕𝗨𝗠 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗦 📀 (@AlbumTalksHQ) October 20, 2025

Subscribe to Zikoko Pop newsletter, The Feed, for the most important pop culture news

Six days later, another clip he shared on Instagram of him making music at the Blackboxx Studio in Lagos went viral. It shows him in the studio with his mom Shola Ogudu, who says, “Let’s give them proper lyrics, innit.” The post, captioned “Champion’s Arrival” — with credits to videographer @dikastudios and music producer @iamhosana — suggests his debut track may be closer than expected.

Wizkid’s son, Tife Balogun, previews new music out soon.

Hows it Sounding ?? pic.twitter.com/j5MYxDy7KN
— HYPETRIBE (@hypetribeng) October 26, 2025

What kind of music does Champz make?

It’s apparent growing up in the U.K has played a major role not just in his enunciation, but his style of music. In his second video, he hops on an afroswing production, rapping about getting money and having enemies, reminiscent of Black-British rappers J Hus and Kojo Funds.

What people are saying

Some internet users have expressed that Bolu, AKA Champz, has a better advantage over an average Nigerian singer due to his privileges as Wizkid’s son.

ALSO READ: How “Holla At Your Boy” Started Wizkid’s Superstar Journey

Everyone talks about love online, but what’s it really like offline? We’re collecting anonymous stories for Zikoko’s biggest relationship survey yet. Share your truth here.

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At one time, they were the faces on our screens and the names trending across Nigerian pop culture. Then, they packed up and japa’d, chasing new lives in faraway countries.

From movie stars who have given up acting to wear medical scrubs to musicians who have dropped the mic and traded Nigeria for abroad, these Nigerian celebrities have reinvented themselves and charted new courses.

Here are 10 Nigerian celebrities who japa’d and what they do now abroad.

1. 2Shotz

Real name: William Orioha

Famous for: Raps

Relocated to: U.S.A

New occupation: Photographer and Filmmaker

2Shotz was one of the OG rappers from South-Eastern Nigeria, known for hits like “Oyoyo,” “Make Them Talk” featuring 9ice, and “I Am William” with M.I. Abaga. But at the height of his fame, personal struggles, including an assault allegation from his ex-wife and a battle with depression, pushed him to step back and rediscover himself.

In 2016, he traded the mic for the camera, diving into photography and filmmaking. Now based in the US, 2Shotz has found a new sense of purpose behind the lens.

2. Boy Alinco

Real name: Bayo Bankole

Famous for: Papa Ajasco

Relocated to: U.S.A

New occupation: Events and Artist Promoter

Bayo “Boy Alinco” Bankole became a household name for his unforgettable role as the flashy, eccentric playboy in Papa Ajasco & Company, the hit sitcom created by Wale Adenuga. His swaggering walk, tight trousers, and oversized glasses made Boy Alinco one of the most iconic comedy characters of the 2000s.

In 2015, he relocated to the United States in search of better opportunities. But the move wasn’t all smooth sailing — in an interview with Teju Babyface, he opened up about the early struggles of his new life abroad, including a difficult first marriage and the challenges of starting over from scratch.

These days, Boy Alinco has rebuilt his life. He runs a transportation business, works in artist and event promotion, and occasionally takes on MC gigs.

3. Frank Donga

Real name: Kunle Idowu

Famous for: Comedy

Relocated to: Canada

New occupation: Multimedia Comms Specialist and Agriculture Expert

Frank Donga is a Nigerian actor and comedian best known for his deadpan humour in Ndani TV’s The Interview, where he played an awkward job seeker — a role that earned him a nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy at the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.

In 2024, he relocated to Saskatchewan, Canada, where he now works as a Multimedia Communications Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture. It’s a fitting full-circle moment for the comedian, blending his creative skills with his academic background in agriculture.

4. Funsho Adeolu

Relocated to: U.S.A

Famous for: Acting

New occupation: Events MC and brand influencer

Funsho Adeolu (Ondo State–born) is a veteran Nollywood actor, writer, producer, and founder of Fynest Media. Over the years, he’s starred in some of Nollywood’s most memorable Yoruba films, including Ile Alariwo and Idoti Oju.

After decades of entertaining Nigerians on screen, Funsho quietly relocated to the United States with his family, where he’s reinvented himself within the entertainment space. These days, he’s best known as “The Dancing MC” — a nickname he earned from the viral videos of him joyfully dancing at events.

5. General Pype

Real name: Olayiwola Ibrahim Majekodunmi

Famous for: Singing

Relocated to: U.S.A

New occupation: Set Designer

General Pype was one of the standout voices infusing Reggae into Nigerian music in the late 2000s. In 2018, Pype paused his music career, choosing to step away from the spotlight to focus on family and explore life beyond the studio.

He moved to the U.S to start afresh, studying set design at the Georgia Film Academy. He has since remained dedicated to this new pivot and contributed his design skills to major productions like Black Panther (2018) and Samaritan (2022).

6. Helen Paul

Relocated to: U.S.A

Famous for: Comedy

New occupation: Professor and Head of Department

Helen Paul shot to fame in the late 2000s as Tatafo, the mischievous child-voiced character whose high-pitched tone and clever jokes made her a household name across Nigeria’s comedy scene. Her infectious energy and witty skits earned her spots on radio, TV, and film, cementing her as one of Nigeria’s most versatile entertainers.

In 2019, after earning a PhD in Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos, she relocated to the United States with her family. The move marked a new chapter for Paul — one that saw her evolve from comedian to academic. She now serves as the Head of the Department of Arts, Music, and Entertainment at Heart Bible International University, where she’s affectionately called Dr Tatafo.

7. Terror D’Archangel

Real name: McMorris Ndubueze

Famous for: Acting

Relocated to: U.S.A

New occupation: Medical Doctor

McMorris “Maurice” Ndubueze was one of Nollywood’s go-to “bad boys” in the early 2000s. He made his mark with memorable roles in films like Final Hour and Married Women on Campus, where his tough-guy persona became a fan favourite.

But these days, Maurice has traded film sets for hospital halls. He relocated to the United States and is now a medical doctor, marking one of Nollywood’s most inspiring career pivots.

8. Okunnu

Real name: Wale Akorede

Famous for: Acting

Relocated to: Canada

New job: Content Creator

If you’re familiar with the OG Yoruba comic actors, then you definitely know Okunnu — the hilarious, over-the-top funnyman who brought chaotic energy and slapstick brilliance to countless Yoruba films.

Two years after publicly lamenting the state of things in Nigeria back in 2023, it seems the country finally pushed him to make a move. Okunnu has now relocated to Canada, where he’s living a quieter life but still finding ways to make people laugh. These days, he creates lighthearted, dress-up comedy skits with his kids — a wholesome extension of the comic energy we all loved him for.

9. Pepenazi

Real name: Opeyemi Gbenga Kayode

Famous for: Singing

Relocated to: U.K

New occupation: Gospel Minister

Between 2018 and 2019, Pepenazi had hit songs like “One For the Road” and “Illegal”, blasting out of club speakers.

In 2022, after a brief disappearance from social media and music space, he returned as a preacher and immigrant in the U.K.

10. Regina Askia-Williams

Relocated to: U.S.A

Famous for: Acting

New occupation: Health Care Practitioner

Regina Askia-Williams is a former Nollywood actress who relocated to the United States from Nigeria in the early 2000s. Having transitioned out of the film industry, she has built a successful second career in healthcare, becoming a family nurse and health practitioner based in New York.

Askia-Williams has also established her own medical practice in the U.S., where she provides medical services and is involved in community outreach efforts.

ALSO READ: 10 Nigerian Musicians Who Used To Be Famous and What They Do Now

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There are few things that lift the spirit quite like a good feel-good movie. Whether you’re going through the motions or everything currently showing just feels dull and similar, a solid Nollywood pick can turn your mood around.

Still, with endless options, finding the right film can feel like work, and that’s where we come in. We’ve combed through the archives of Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube to bring you the best Nollywood comfort watches for those moments when life feels a little too heavy.

Here are 10 feel-good Nollywood movies to watch when you’re stressed.

10. Unforeseen Love (2025)

Running time: 2h 2m

Director: Austine Onyema

Genre: Romance

Henry (Ogechukwu Victory Michael) and Ben (Martins Ogbebor) are two broke friends desperate to escape their struggling lives. Their plan? Scam Nancy (Mercy Isoyip), the wealthy woman in their estate. Henry pretends to be a charming, self-made chef. But the plan stops feeling like one somewhere between the lies and late-night dinners.

Despite Ben’s warnings to “stick to the script,” Henry falls for Nancy for real. Soon, he’s living her life of luxury and pretending it’s his own — until guilt, jealousy, and betrayal set the whole thing on fire. Unforeseen Love is messy, emotional, and surprisingly tender — the kind of film that reminds you how unpredictable love (and karma) can be.

Watch Unforeseen Love on YouTube.

9. Casa De Novia (2023)

Running time: 1h 49m

Director: Uyoyou Adia

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy

When Yoyo (Anee Icha), lands a surprisingly affordable apartment, it feels like her commuting woes are finally over, until she discovers she’s sharing the place with a ghost. Efosa (Eso Dike), the restless heir to the Igbinovia empire, still haunts the mansion after his mysterious death.

What begins as fear quickly turns into an unexpected friendship, as Yoyo and Efosa team up to uncover the truth behind his murder. Casa De Novia blends humour, heart, and just the right dose of the supernatural, a delightfully quirky watch that proves even ghosts can have unfinished business and great chemistry.

Watch Casa De Novia on Prime Video.

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8. Big Joe (2025)

Running time: 2h 12m

Directors: Fredrick Leonard and Desmond Anyanwu

Genre: Romcom

Michael’s (Fredrick Leonard) home is a pressure cooker of secrets, chaos, and barely-contained drama. At the centre of it all is Big Joe (Ukeme), the all-purpose handyman who doubles as cook, cleaner, gatekeeper, and unofficial family therapist.

Between Michael’s unpredictable girlfriend, his meddlesome younger sister, and one wild incident after another, Big Joe somehow keeps the household from falling apart.

Big Joe is a funny, warm-hearted romcom about the everyday heroics that hold families and sanity together.

Watch Big Joe on YouTube.

7. Mofe Ni Mofe (2021)

Running time: 1h 36m

Director:

Genre: Comedy, Drama

After being jilted on his wedding day, Mofe (Lateef Adedimeji) wants something simple, love without spectacle. However, Moji (Jumoke Odetola) has survived four failed engagements and is determined to have the wedding of the century, if only to silence her critics.

Their love is real, but their visions couldn’t be more different. What follows is a battle of pride, healing, and compromise — a heartfelt comedy about two people trying to rebuild trust without losing themselves in the process. Mofe Ni Mofe is proof that sometimes, love is easy. It’s the wedding that’s the real drama.

Watch Mofe Ni Mofe on YouTube.

6. The Order of Things (2022)

Running time: 1h 38m

Director: Dr. Sid

Genre: Romcom

Tunde (Timini Egbuson) is ready to get married, but his family isn’t prepared for him to do so. According to tradition, his older brother Demi (Obi Maduegbuna) must get married first. The only problem? Demi is a shy, socially awkward techie who can barely hold a conversation, let alone survive Lagos dating.

To fast-track their happily ever after, Tunde and his fiancée launch “Project Find Demi a Wife,” complete with a makeover and a crash course in romance. What follows is a string of hilarious disasters, heartfelt moments, and family chaos.

The Order of Things is a charming romcom about love, loyalty, and learning to let life unfold in its own time.

Watch The Order of Things on Netflix.

5. Battle On Buka Street (2022)

Running time: 2h 20m

Director: Funke Akindele

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Two half-sisters, Yejide (Funke Akindele) and Awele (Mercy Johnson), have been rivals since birth — literally, born a minute apart to different mothers in a polygamous household. Years later, their feud reignites when both open rival bukas (food stalls) directly across the street from each other.

What begins as a business clash quickly spirals into a full-blown street war, dragging in their families, neighbours, and the entire community.

With powerhouse performances from Sola Sobowale and Tina Mba as the mothers who started it all, Battle on Buka Street is a hilarious, chaotic, and deeply Nigerian story about pride, family, and forgiveness.

Watch Battle On Buka Street on Prime Video.

4. The Man for the Job (2022)

Running time: 2h 1m

Director: Niyi Akinmolayan

Genre: Drama

Joseph Barnabas (Uzor Arukwe) is a former tech bro turned ride-hailing driver, just trying to make ends meet. But one good deed — helping a young programmer, Zina (Temi Otedola), fix a glitch in her app — spirals into a nightmare when he’s accused of being part of a massive fraud scheme.

As his life begins to crumble, Joseph must rely on his sharp-witted wife, Esohe (Ini Edo), and loyal friend, Tega (Ibrahim Suleiman), to uncover the truth. The Man for the Job is a gripping mix of family drama and tech-world intrigue that asks how far a man will go to clear his name when the system turns against him.

Watch The Man for the Job on Prime Video.

3. All Na Vibes (2021)

Running time: 1h 20m

Director: Taiwo Egunjobi

Genre: Drama

Three teenagers’ lives are upended after a party goes terribly wrong. Lamidi (Molawa Davis) talks his friend Abiola (Tega Ethan) into hosting a house party, but what should have been a night of fun quickly descends into chaos when Sade (Tolu Osaile) — the spoiled daughter of a powerful politician — goes missing.

As panic spreads and the search for Sade intensifies, the friends are forced to face the ugly realities of class, privilege, and corruption that shape their world. All Na Vibes is a sharp, unsettling coming-of-age drama that captures the restlessness of Nigerian youth and the high cost of a single bad decision.

Watch All Na Vibes on Netflix.

2. Dinner At My Place (2022)

Running time: 1h 43

Director: Kevin Luther Apaa

Genre: Rom-com

Nonso (Timini Egbuson) has planned the perfect proposal, a cosy dinner, soft lighting, and his late mother’s priceless ring hidden in a bowl of egusi soup for that big, romantic reveal.

Everything is set until his unpredictable ex, Bisi (Bisola Aiyeola), crashes dinner and accidentally swallows the ring. What follows is a hilarious night of panic, improvisation, and emotional chaos as Nonso tries to salvage both the proposal and his peace of mind. Dinner at My Place is a witty, feel-good romcom that proves love stories never go exactly as planned — and that’s half the fun.

Watch Dinner At My Place on Netflix.

1. Lionheart (2018)

Running time: 1h 35m

Director: Genevieve Nnaji

Genre: Drama

Adaeze Obiagu (Genevieve Nnaji) is a highly ambitious and capable young woman working as a director in her family’s transportation company, Lionheart. When her father, Chief Ernest Obiagu (Pete Edochie), suddenly falls ill, she’s ready and expected to take over the day-to-day running of the business. However, her father overlooks her for the acting CEO position, choosing instead to entrust the company to his brother, Godswill (Nkem Owoh).

Adaeze must now work with her uncle, a man whose traditional and superstitious approach clashes sharply with her modern business sense, to save the company. The company faces a looming threat of collapse due to mounting debts, forcing Adaeze and Godswill to collaborate to keep the family legacy afloat.

Watch Lionheart on Netflix.

ALSO READ: Every Nollywood Remake So Far, Ranked from Best to Worst

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What exactly is Urban Chords?

Who’s behind Urban Chords?

Subscribe to Zikoko Pop newsletter, The Feed, for the most important pop culture news

What’s Choir Refix?

What’s Choir Refix trying to do?

READ NEXT: I Have 426K Instagram Followers. This Is How I Use ChatGPT to Make My Content

The public says…

But Urban Chords isn’t done

The legal implications

Is it legal to AI-cover or recreate other artists’ songs?

Are there processes of rights clearance for reproductions like these?

What happens if the featured artists or their label take issues?

Get More Zikoko Goodness in Your Mail

How do ownership and royalties work when it comes to AI-generated content?

Would this situation open up a new debate in the Nigerian music law?

ALSO READ: How Much Money Is There To Be Made Being Funny Online?

Album of the Year

Record of the Year

Song of the Year

Best New Artist

Best Global Music Performance

Subscribe to Zikoko Pop newsletter, The Feed, for the most important pop culture news

Best African Music Performance

Best Global Music Album

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Best Pop Solo Performance

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Best Pop Vocal Album

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

Best Dance Pop Recording

Best Dance/Electronic Album

Best Remixed Recording

Best Rock Performance

Best Metal Performance

Best Rock Song

Best Rock Album

Best Alternative Music Performance

Best Alternative Music Album

Best R&B Performance

Best Traditional R&B Performance

Best R&B Song

Best Progressive R&B Album

Best R&B Album

Best Rap Performance

Best Melodic Rap Performance

Best Rap Song

Best Rap Album

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

Best Country Solo Performance

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

READ NEXT: Nigerians Who Have Won or Been Nominated for Grammys: A Complete List

Best Country Song

Best Contemporary Country Album

Best Traditional Country Album

Best American Roots Performance

Best Americana Performance

Best American Roots Song

Best Americana Album

Best Bluegrass Album

Best Traditional Blues Album

Best Contemporary Blues Album

Best Folk Album

Best Regional Roots Music Album

Best Latin Pop Album

Best Música Urbana Album

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

Best Música Mexicana Album (including Tejano)

Best Tropical Latin Album

Best Reggae Album

Best New Age, Ambient Or Chant Album

Best Album Cover

Best Recording Package

Best Album Notes

READ NEXT: The Top 10 Nigerian Albums Nominated for A Grammy, Ranked

Best Historical Album

Best Jazz Performance

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

READ NEXT: I Have 426K Instagram Followers. This Is How I Use ChatGPT to Make My C o ntent