Whether 2023 has been your year or it’s nothing like you wished for, you’ve tried what you can and you’re still standing as a new year approaches.
As we prepare to round up the year and welcome the holidays, take time to reflect and big-up yourself with these celebratory Nigerian songs that popped up on the radar in 2023.
Man of the Year — Seyi Vibez
Seyi Vibez is one of the most talked about artists in Nigeria this year due to his incredible three-project run this year. Thy Kingdom Come, the last of the projects, opened with Man of the Year. As Seyi throws his usual worship style on the song and lays claims at having the best year, he states the sky is enough for everyone to fly. This jam is for you to boastfully say you’re the man of the year while you motivate others they can be the men of the year too.
OVER DEM — Davido
“If dem wan turn Goliath, I be David for life,” Davido sings as he declares his dominion over haters. Not to sound like an opp, but this can also be a prayer point against Nigeria. The country can be the weapon fashioned against its people.
Eyes — Reminisce feat. Mayorkun
Reminisce grabbed Mayorkun for the opening chorus on his new album, Alaye Toh Se Gogo. Mayorkun starts by singing about the pressure he’s passed through to become somebody. Reminisce complimented this effort with two solid verses about determination and persistence. If 2023 has shown you a lot of shege, the song Eyes is the best recap of an interesting 2023.
Sunshine — Asake
“Sun gon’ shine on everything you do,” Asake sings on Sunshine, the fourth track on his sophomore Work of Art. As the choral vocals press against the log drums, the song hits on resilience and the promise of rest after work. So sit back and enjoy your 2023 wins. You’ve tried.
Sability — Arya Starr
Self-confidence is one of the best and most admirable qualities everyone should aspire to. Arya Starr knows this and turned it into an anthem.
City Boys — Burna Boy
When you finally realise your beauty, strengths and steeze, you see yourself bigger and better. From the J Hus’ intro speech to Burna Boy’s message about enjoying soft life, City Boys admonishes you to flex around your city this end of the year and live your life to the max.
Oloun — PayBac Boro feat. Payper Corleone
Even if you don’t get all you wished for, never stop fighting for them. In a painstaking but fired-up, passionate delivery, rappers PayBac and Payper Corleone swear that they must blow up and have the flyest things.
Keep optimism with you, fam.
BEZOS — BlaqBonez
With faith, Blaqbonez walks and believes that today may be challenging, but tomorrow, he may also be as rich as Jeff Bezos. This is the reality of life, and it can happen to anyone (who isn’t sitting down, lazy and entitled sha). Moreover, this is Nigeria, and the idea of waking up and blowing tomorrow morning is the delulu we need.
Holy Ghost — Omay Lay
First, let me say that I hope Omah Lay is doing alright wherever he is. Secondly, thanks to him for this emotional piece that kicks against inferiority complex. 2023 might shake your morale, but you can dance in 2024 with the assurance that the supernatural will boost your confidence. This song is consuming and uplifting.
Party No Dey Stop — Adekunle Gold feat. Zinoleesky
It’s the end of the year, and the title of this jam should be taken literally. Drink up and dance away. But don’t spend all you have on party o. 2024 is just a few weeks away, and saving will help you avoid the shege in the beginning of the year.
Press play.
