As Nigerians navigate the highs and lows of 2025, from the hustle and bustle to quiet, personal moments, one thing remains constant: music is a powerful tool.
I reached out to ten Nigerians to compile a list of songs that’s more than just a list of hits. They’re candid and personal music that are carrying them through their year, giving them melodies, joy and resilience needed to face another day.
“It was my prayer point during the crossover night and in fact for 2025.” — Favour
The first 2025-realised song that I first heard this year is Lawrence Oyor’s “Favour”, back in January. The title was my prayer point during the crossover night and in fact for this year. I just want God’s favour in everything I do and the song fits perfectly. Also, my name is Favour — and so far, my name has been a reflection of my life. My grades are good, my family too. If there’s something that’s ever felt perfectly made for me, it’s this song.
“It clearly expresses many of my feelings to my partner.” — Tunde
I have been in love for the most of this year and FOLA’s “you” clearly expresses many of my feelings to my partner. It’s groovy and Afrobeats; just how my babe loves her music. It’s delivered in languages my babe and I understand; very easy to sing to each other.
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“On a deeper level, it’s about how I lost my spark and praying that I will soon find myself.” — Wale
Easy. It’s Tim Lyre’s “Find You.” The entire Spiral album has an introspective theme that makes it emotive, but “Find You” stood out to me because I had different interpretations of the song.
On the surface, I associated it with an ex I was deeply entangled with in the past and still imagine a future with—just because of how perfect we were together and how she brought a brighter aura to light up my life. So maybe, if it’s meant to be, I’ll find her. But on a deeper level, I interact with the song as if it’s a letter to myself, about how I lost my spark and praying that I will soon find myself. It’s a really beautiful song that’s helped me so much this year. Shout out to Tim Lyre for real.
“It helped me survive a hellish commute in the first quarter of this year.” — Thomas
It’s “Egaju” by Tim Godfrey and Emekasongsz. It’s a beautiful Christian song, which is funny because I’m not religious. Like many Christian songs, it doesn’t have a lot of lyrics (most of it is a call and response of the same two lines), but somehow ends up being seven minutes long.
It’s catchy as hell and helped me survive a hellish commute in the first quarter of this year. Tim Godfrey (the main artist) gets bodied by the person he features (Emekasongsz) and I find that so fucking funny.
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“There was a particular midnight I had it on repeat and I got a little teary eyed.” — Wisdom
For me, it’s “Memories” by Lojay and Tyla. It’s a heartbreak song sort of and there was a particular midnight I had it on repeat and I got a little teary eyed at some point. I didn’t exactly cry but it made me feel something and reminded me of some past experiences with heartbreak.
“It’s my motto and where I find my optimism right now.” — Folaranmi
When Seyi Vibez first released “Pressure”, I loved it, though not almost as quickly as I loved his previous releases. But a couple months later, around the time I was experiencing a drought: volunteering and looking for freelance gigs but nothing — a line in the song hit me. It says, “Only a diamond can come from all this pressure.” I repeated that line like twice after I heard it and shook my head in agreement.
It’s my motto and where I find my optimism right now. By the time better days come, you’d know that my struggles made me but they wouldn’t matter anymore.
“It makes me feel that love in any form is still worth believing in.” — Mercy
One song that means a lot to me this year is Burna Boy’s “LOVE” from his latest album. It makes me feel that love in any form is still worth believing in. I liked the song immediately when I heard it and every time I’m driving my car, it’s a must-play — once, at least.
“It’s been healing me and activating the spirit of worship in me.” — Chidinma
I found a song titled “Ya Yesu” by CHEE and Kaestrings. Personally, I have been through a new phase in my faith. I have been looking for God’s mercy and this song is part of my journey. It’s been healing me and activating the spirit of worship and reverence for God in me. If I’d found it earlier, it’d be my most played song this year.
“This song was my ‘I know God will not forget me.’” — Honour
For me, it’s Sound Of Salem’s “Promise Keeper.” You know how they say after you cry, you will look for a solution? Well, this song was my “I know God will not forget me, my name is Honour and God will honour me.” When this song comes on, I’ll bop my head because I know the pain I’m facing is nothing compared to the joy that’s coming. So, I celebrate.
“It’s the song I have played the most this year.” — Yomi
I will go with Rema’s “Baby (Is It a Crime).” It’s one of the best produced songs this year. It’s beautifully written too. It’s the song I have played the most this year, whether I’m working,cleaning or want to sleep at night. I expected more of Rema’s 2025 releases to follow that song’s template and I was disappointed tbh. “Baby” is a jam. In fact, it’s the best Afrobeats song of 2025.
