If you were at #BurningRam2023 you’re definitely the life of the party.
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As all roads lead to Burning Ram, the biggest meat cookout and grill festival in Lagos, on Saturday, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to curate the perfect vibe to pre-game to.
Jam to these ten songs while planning for or heading to Burning Ram 2023. But get your ticket here first.
Goat Chop Lion – PayBac iBoro
The song and album, West African Goat, both suggest where rapper, PayBac iBoro’s head is at as he overcomes stronger forces to become the best rapper this side of Africa. On the 2023 track, he maintains competition but gives props to his colleagues, OdumoduBlvck, Reeplay and the rest of the Anti-World Gangsta crew in Abuja.
Beef – M.I Abaga
M.I Abaga released MI2: The Movie at the peak of his beef with Kelly Handsome in 2010, with its sixth track, Beef, taking direct shots at Kelly, “Kelechukwu, clap for yourself, well-done.” M.I poked him further, “Kpomo, you no chop. Fish, you no chop. Goat, you chop. You say you want beef.” Kelly replied with Finish You Boy in January 2011, but the world had moved on by then.
BBQ & Shayo – The Lost & Found
BBQ & Shayo is the funky lead single off of Face Off, a 2016 album by rappers Boogey and PayBac iBoro, and music producer, Charlie Xtreme (FKA Charlie X), under their collective, The Lost & Found. Singer, Rexx, performed the chorus in Igbo and English, celebrating in anticipation of a good time.
And exactly like he sang, tomorrow at Burning Ram, “The party go make sense o. You can bring your girlfriend o, for some barbecue and shayo.”
Kako Bi Chicken – Reminisce
The intro on this song is a hall of famer. Reminisce said, “I have moved to greatness,” and indeed Kako Bi Chicken became his breakout song in 2012. Produced by Sarz, this jam keeps the party pumping.
Chicken Curry – Mr Eazi
When Mr Eazi was still making Banku music and finding his way from Lagos to London, Chicken Curry featuring U.K artist, Sneakbo, appeared on his 2018 album. On it, Eazi sang that his “thing” tastes like chicken curry. Weird but the song is a jam.
Chicken, Spice & Curry – Joeboy
Joeboy featured Ludacris on this 2023 song on his latest album, Body & Soul. Just like Eazi’s Chicken Curry, Joeboy’s Chicken, Spice & Curry is about love and relationships. And you can drop a waist-whine to every rhyme as they roll out.
Turkey Nla – Wande Coal
The title refers to a thick lady, and this fast-paced afro-pop jam produced by Dapiano was the ultimate party starter when it came out in 2017. Six years later, Turkey Nla still raises the roof.
Turkey Nla (Remix) – King Perry
First off, this is not a remix of Wande Coal’s song mentioned above. This Turkey Nla (Remix) is a song on King Perry’s Continental Playlist EP of February 2023. But it does stress the same message WC had on his version.
G.O.A.T – Seyi Vibez
Seyi Vibez released G.O.A.T off his Memory Card EP early in 2023. The song samples old Apala artist, Fatai Olowonyo’s Elewue Wole Medley — a diss track aimed at Ayinla Omowura. But Seyi Vibez flipped it and made his own song about seeking divine guidance and having satisfaction in life.
The Goat – Monaky
Monaky released The Goat in 2023, a braggadocious single about his vices and lifestyle. At the time it dropped, many people still compared him to Burna Boy due to their similar vocal texture and music styles. Monaky might’ve been influenced by Burna, but he’s a unique act in his own lane.
Cue up this playlist as you prep to meet Ramsey at Burning Ram tomorrow.
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Many end-of-year music festivals and concerts will likely not happen this year because the promoters can no longer afford to book our afrobeats artists.
But that isn’t reason enough to give up on your December enjoyment. If you really want to be in party mode throughout your holidays, you can still have maximum fun these ways.
DJ and hypemen parties
Since artists are now too expensive to book, it’s the turn of the DJs and hype-men to take centre stage. No lip-syncing or waiting for an artist to come three hours after the show starts.
Indie shows
If an artist you like, whether they’re C or Z-list, has a show, go and enjoy watching them live. There are many independent musicians and upcoming acts throwing shows this December. You get to support them, and they get to make enough money to put back into their music to make more music you lowkey love.
Spend time in clubs
You already know you’ll enjoy loud music, alcohol and dance. You already know your favourite club gives you joy every other weekend. But it’ll be pro-max in December. You’ll get to party with invited celebrities and all the big ballers in your city for longer than the usual party hours because it’s the holidays.
Or go to the beach
Lagos beaches move like clubs, with their own celebrity DJs.
Throw your own parties
Gather your family, friends and loved ones and load up your favourite jams. Make it old-school, and everyone will be high on nostalgia, singing along till fuel finishes inside the generator (if you like, trust NEPA).
Street carnivals
If your street or estate has no plan to organise one, call a general meeting and give them the plan. Everyone will come together, have a good time and get to know that neighbour no one sees. You guys can even make estate merch to strengthen communal relationships.
Do “Home Alone”
If you want to be by yourself, that’s cool too. Eat some home-cooked food, drink up and turn up the music. Somebody say, “Macaulay Caulkin, we wanna party.”
There’ll be music at our meat and grill festival in Lagos this Saturday. Get your ticket and enjoy the biggest meat cookout in Nigeria.
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It’s the survival of the littest.
Whether you survived the haunted house or not get your tickets and make your way to the meatiest festival on this side of the map.
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Such fun times when we shook our bodies and broke our backs to 4/4 beats.
Do you know that since these afrobeats jams came out, you’ve grown ten years older?
Jaiye Jaiye
This Sarz-produced song by Wizkid expressed the artist’s aspiration to do exploits and give his parents the fruits of their labour. Wiz featured the legend, Femi Kuti, who delivered the saxophone sounds that make the song extra memorable.
Sho Lee
Back then, when you heard “D’Tunes again o”, you were sure a banger was about to play. In 2013, Sean Tizzle broke into the mainstream with the D’Tunes-produced Sho Lee. And anytime the song came up, your shoulders would anticipate the chorus, “sho le?” — are you a real baddie or an audio one? — so you could lift them up and down in response.
Durosoke
Olamide hasn’t gone a year without dropping a hit song — or three — in his music career. 2013 was no exception. Durosoke was blasting on the radio, in the clubs, barbing saloons, and we could all recite the lyrics. From the beat to the flow and delivery, you can tell Baddo was in a playful mood and that transferred well to listeners. It’s always fun when we sing it out loud and throw our hands in the air.
Gobe
At a time when using songwriters or purchasing someone else’s demo was almost unheard of in afrobeats, Davido released Gobe, which was written and produced by an artist called Password. It turned out to be a smash hit. Those who were in love when it came out should be happily married with two kids by now. Even the artist is now a family man. But as for the rest of us, we’re holding out for the wise lyrics of this song to come to pass: “Good comes to those who wait”.
Kokose
Sound Sultan and Wizkid combined forces and took over dancing floors when they dropped this banger. Kokose commands your body to move and throws your booty in serious whine, urging you to “fidi jo” like 21 times in the chorus.
Beat of Life (Samba)
This song has one of the craziest beats in the last decade of afrobeats. Wizkid asks his love interest to be with him and gleefully boasts that he’s “Mr. Give You Everything You Need” before asking for a dance. This is another proof that Sarz and Wiz don’t miss. Ever.
Caro
Wizkid had just launched his label, Starboy Entertainment, when Caro came out and became a dancefloor darling. The song featured Wiz’s longtime affiliate, LAX, on a verse.
Sexy Mama
Iyanya had us in a chokehold with his bangers, Flavour, Your Waist and Sexy Mama. No other artist could fit best as a guest on Sexy Mama than Wizkid, who took the catchy chorus. Sexy Mama was for all the sexy babes, and they never waste time before shaking to the thumping tempo once it comes up.
The Matter
Maleek Berry featured Starboy on this bouncy vibe that introduced Berry, who was based in London, to a larger audience in Nigeria. We all sang along as Wiz affirmed that “20 man shall fall that day if you cross my lane o, eh.” We can all agree that Wizkid owned 2013. From solo songs to collaborations and label releases, he ATE.
The Kick
When you hear The Kick, you’ll shout “One by one, two by two, on the line, line.” “Infectious” and “memorable” are the only appropriate descriptors for this track. Don Jazzy produced and opened the song introducing Wande Coal’s Black Diamond label, then left WC to give us one of his best performances ever.
Gat Me High
This is the third track off May D’s first album, Chapter One. In the early 2010s, he was signed to Square Records, a label owned by veteran duo, P-Square. In that period, which can be considered as May D’s peak, we witnessed him deliver impressive cuts like Ile Ijo, Soundtrack and Gat Me High, one of the biggest songs of 2013. Anytime it played, it’s a must to scream “as a sure boy” to show our sability. A jam.
Tonight
Burna Boy has been that guy before all the Grammys and sold-out shows. He released Tonight in 2013, under Aristokrat Records, to the delight of an audience that quickly recognised his genius. The smooth blend of English, Yoruba and Igbo over LeriQ’s lush production was pure perfection.
ATTENTION: Catch the crazy dating stories of our 40+ anonymous writer, once a month from Sunday, June 11, 2023.
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Last Saturday, the hottest party for Nigerian women in 2023 happened. All the hot babes gathered in Ikoyi, Lagos and had so much fun that they HERtitude the talk of the town.
Amidst the buzz, there were clamours for a male-only party, and banter about whether the male version would be as successful as HERtitude.
I’ve been facepalming at all the comments and laughing at jokes about how guys can’t have fun without babes.
I spoke to nine Nigerian men, and this is what they had to say about the idea of a men-only party, or HIMtitude, if you will.
“It’ll work, but only in small groups.”
— Conrad, 28.
It won’t work unless the activities are competitive (either men are the ones competing or they’re watching others compete). Men can’t party together just for partying sake. Ko le werk because the essence of why it was created is lost when it becomes an arena of games. HERtitude was a party. Like, literally just a party. The games they played at the start were mostly warm ups for a night of dancing and drinking. I don’t think we need something that sells itself as the male version of HERtitude. Instead, we should have something completely removed from it. It’s like having an original story as opposed to trying to remake or continue a franchise.
“I will not be there.”
— Dolapo, 25.
“It may sound cliche but it’s only going to bang if there are football matches, board games, drinks, food, and the likes. But I don’t think it’s going to sell because guys like it when they can mingle and make friends with girls. As for me,, I won’t be attending.”
“HERtitude was for women. Let them enjoy it, please.”
— Laolu, 29
“I don’t want to see any HIMtitude or BROtitude abeg. We do these things all the time at bars, lounges, sports pitches, etc. The reason why it’s novel for women is because there are not a lot of spaces that accommodate women alone and it’s largely because men will go into those spaces and try to exert dominance. But men have so many spaces like that. Let women have this one, please.”
“HIMtitude will be dope for men to teach other men what they should know.”
— Ayodeji, 27.
“I think I like HIMtitude, it has a ring to it. I expect to see bottles, chow, games ranging from PlayStation to football, jenga, table tennis and the likes. Musical performances, a smash room, barbers with free haircuts, people teaching men how to do general life stuff that a fatherly figure would have taught you; knotting a tie, changing tyres, etc, prostrate cancer awareness with free tests, etc.”
Only macho contests and games can bring me to a HIMtitude event
— Adeolu, 30.
I might not attend a HIMtitude event, but if I did, I would expect to see a game booth where you can play one on one games with other guys, like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, FIFA, etc. Also, drinks, tug of war and other macho contests.
“A men-only party isn’t bad, but with physical and video games”
— Zaheir, 23.
I think it should be more of an interactive event than a ‘show’ event. There should be interactive activities, games and more games. That’s what I’d like to see.
“A movie booth because I don’t like sports or games.”
— Adeyinka, 30.
“I’d very much like to have a movie booth at a men-only party. I’m not a fan of football or games, so usually movies are where the magic is for me. It would make sense to have some of my guys come around and we see a movie together, something like fast and furious. Everyone has gotten so busy these days, it would be nice to catch up as a group. HIMtitude, run it for me, abeg.”
“There should be childhood games.”
— Fortune, 25.
A male version of HERtitude will make sense with the right things in place. Guys bond on different things, so there has to be categories of activities to do. A video game joint will make sense. Runway fashion, art display, music, painting and pure vibes. Spoken word including riddles and gist (riddles in pidgin can be fun). There can be games we used to play as kids like those ‘dancing around the chair,’ ‘name of things that you know’ and other stuff.”
READ: 7 Nigerian Men on Making New Friends in Their 30s
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They threw everyone a soft party
You don’t even need so much noise to be happy. You just need a cool party with a nice ambience where everyone can relax and truly forget their problems for a while.
Look at the ambience
It’s totally giving “joy” and we’ll understand if you feel bad for not attending the event.
And they invited everyone
If you weren’t there, you truly missed. But Leadway invited everyone on the internet and people showed up for a good time.
They even had games available
You just know they’re experts at taking a breather. Parties are fun, but games make them even more fun. This party had many different games from Jenga to Table soccer and even FIFA.
There was plenty food and drinks
A good party is incomplete without food. And because food is the way to many people’s hearts, Leadway made sure to deliver.
They hosted a karaoke session
It doesn’t matter if your friends have the worst voices. Watching them fumble as they try to sing Ed Sheeran’s songs or lip sync to Asake’s lyrics would definitely make you laugh your eyes out.
There was music too
If you couldn’t sing or were too shy to risk embarrassing yourself, Leadway had you covered with a DJ that played soft music for you to jam to.
They also shared party packs
People need something to remind them that at your party, they were happy. And this is exactly what Leadway did. Nothing makes you feel happy as a kid like receiving party packs after a fun day with friends. This party just goes to show how committed Leadway has been to people’s happiness over the past few decades, and we really love to see it.
Leadway is Nigeria’s largest non-banking financial institution that offers services to businesses and individuals. Their services include Insurance, Pension, Wills & Trusts services, Health Insurance and Asset Management.
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Our faves! It’s Hertitude season again and we can’t wait to spend time with you. While we wait, you should take this quiz to know what type of party girl you are.
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Attention owambe party planners! Times have changed, so we can’t accept jotters and napkins as souvenirs anymore. If we don’t receive these things at your next party, we’re not coming again.
Rechargeable hand fans
Don’t you see how heat is dealing with everyone this period? Share rechargeable hand fans at your party, and we’ll pray for you for 40 days and 40 nights.
Naira notes
There’s no money in the country, but we somehow still decided to attend your party. You must compensate us with new naira notes o. No jokes about this.
Eye drops
This country is showing us shege. Give us eye drops at your party so we can start seeing clearly again. It’s the thought that counts.
Fuel
Fuel scarcity happens every other weekend in Nigeria. Be intentional and give us a few kegs of fuel to take home for attending your party. It’s the little things that matter.
Foodstuff
Yes, we know we ate jollof rice at your party. But we still want to remember you when we get home. Give me foodstuff so you’ll forever remain in our hearts.
Partners
Half the time, we only come to your party to find a partner. Do the heavy lifting for us so we don’t have to attend a hundred owambes before finding our soulmates. You need to start dishing out partners at your parties.
Food flasks
We’re coming to eat food and steal extra anyway, so why not give us food flasks to make our lives easier? What do you think?
NEXT READ: The Zikoko Guide To Throwing An Owambe In Lagos
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Since you’re always asking God if you’re a spoon, we decided to give you an answer once and for all. So take this quiz to find out
