The landscape of the Nigerian music industry has completely evolved from what it was in 2003.
During that period streaming platforms were almost non-existent,and it was difficult for musicians to get their music to consumers.Inspite of that a good number of Nigerian music stars remained undeterred and continued churning out hit after hit.
Like they say ‘how time flies’,when you realize that in 2023,some songs that were released in 2003, will be turning 20. Though these songs were released 20 years ago,they have remained evergreen. Generation to generation have continued to groove to them.
This piece spotlights 10 hit Nigerian songs that are turning 20 in 2023.
1. Olufunmi – Styl-plus
Styl Plus was formed in 1997 as a gospel group but later they moved into R&b.They group gave us wonderful songs that rocked the nation for a long time. The song ‘Olufunmi’, is clearly the stand out song from their rich catalogue.The song became a ‘national anthem’,and was in constant rotation on radio stations across Nigeria.Till date anytime the song is played listeners are caught in nostalgia as they vibe to the song.
2. P-Square “Senorita”
“Senorita“, the debut single from P-Square is off their 2003 debut album, “Last Nite“, Senorita” is one of the major singles and received the most airplay from the album. Their elder brother, Jude Engees Okoye produced the song alongside with the talented duo.
3. Tony Tetuila x Tic Tac “FeFe Ne Fe”
2003, Tony Tetuila(Tetuila*) had serious skin in the game. He had already dropped two albums and had hit songs like “My Car.” Ever the pioneer, for the second single from his third album, he linked up with Ghanaian artist, Tic Tac, to create “Fen fen ne fe.” This was the first Nigerian/Ghanaian collab in modern times to see commercial success.
4. Danfo Driver – Mountain Black, Mad Melon
The duo of Mountain Black and Mad Melon (real names Jimoh Olotu and Omeofa Oghene respectively) are better known by hit single ‘I am a Danfo Driver, Suo’
As youngsters growing up in the slums of Ajegunle, Lagos they were exposed to the conventional music of the Ajegunle called Galala music and indulged in it in their leisure time.They drove a commercial bus to make ends meat until they were discovered by Cornerstone Music and the rest as they say is history.
The single released in 2003 was such a big hit nationwide, that it became an anthem of sorts and set on the neon tracks of the spotlight.
5. Sunny Neji “Oruka”
Oruka by Sunny Neji is one of the widely played songs in Nigerian wedding parties from its time of release to date.The evergreen wedding song is one of the singles included in Sunny Neji’s fourth album, “Unchained”, which was released in 2003 via O’Jez Music. The song Oruka by Sunny Neji will forever be featured in Nigerian wedding scenes and love stories
6. Jazzman Olofin Ft Adewale Ayuba “Raise The Roof”
Defunct X-Appeal member, Jazzman Olofin featured Fuji star Adewale Ayuba on this massive tune titled Raise The roof. It was indeed a national anthem and instant party starter.
7. D’Banj “Mobolowowon”
The record “Mobolowowon” was one of the lead singles off D’Banj’s debut album “No Long Thing” which was released by Mo’Hits Records. “Mobolowowon” was released officially as his debut single before he linked up with Don Jazzy and created what was one of Nigeria’s biggest labels in the mid-2000s, Mo’hits.
8. Let’s Live Together- Kush
KUSH was a group made up of three women, (Lara George, TY Bello and Emem Ema) and a man (Dapo Torimiro).
K.U.S.H released their hit song “Let us Live Together” as part of their album The Experience in 2003. The video for this well-liked song featured a combination of black, white, grey, and sepia.
In between shots of TY Bello and Lara George doing their thing, were short clips of wartime scenes. The theme was devastation, death, and destruction, and Kush played it to the greatest effect with everything from a starving child to a woman promising to kill another woman and an image of a dead body on burnt soil.
9. Sola Allyson “Eji Owuro”
In 2003, a fresh-faced Sola Allyson burst onto the scene with the track “Eji Owuro” which acted as the soundtrack to a film of the same name. Her haunting voice as she sings about love is what made this track so special.
10. Ehen by Ruggedman feat. Nomoreloss
Nigerian rap icon Rugged man tapped the late singer Nomoreloss for this revolutionary rap diss track.Rugged man was in fine form and displayed top notch lyricism,as he named drop a couple of rappers at that time whom he felt were not representing the genre well.This song was hugely popular among hip hop fans,and kept a lot of rappers on their toes.
1st picture is Sunny Neji,
2nd picture is Style Plus,
3rd picture is Kush,
4th picture is Jazzman Olofin,
5th picture is D’banj,
6th picture is Sola Allyson,
7th picture is Tony Tetuila,
8th picture is Rugged Man,
9th picture is Danfo Drivers,
last picture is Psquare.
FilmOne Entertainment, the distributing company, shared the news in an Instagram post on Monday.
They revealed that the film marked the second biggest opening weekend for a Nollywood release in 2025.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Labake Olododo tells the inspiring story of a courageous woman who rises against oppression in her community.(NAN)
In a groundbreaking achievement for Afrobeats and Nigerian music, Davido has become the first living male artist to grace the cover of Rolling Stone Africa. This significant milestone was announced with the unveiling of Davido as the cover star for the March/April 2025 issue.
The renowned Nigerian afropop artist, celebrated for his global hits such as “If,” “Fall,” “Blow My Mind,” and “Unavailable,” has played an instrumental role in the evolution of Afrobeats and the international recognition of African music. Since his debut at the age of 19 with “Dami Duro,” Davido has established a multifaceted empire, excelling not only as a musician but also as a record label owner, mentor, and cultural ambassador. The Rolling Stone Africa cover story delves into his resilient journey, highlighting his forthcoming fifth studio album, *5ive*, and his enduring influence on the African music scene.
Obi Asika, Director General of Nigeria’s National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), expressed pride in Davido’s accomplishments.
“At the National Council for Arts and Culture, we are thrilled to embark on this expansive partnership with Rolling Stone Africa. It is fitting that our launch icon is Davido, one of the Kings of Afrobeats and a global ambassador for Nigerian music, culture, and fashion, who shares positive energy with his vast global audience,” Asika stated. He further added, “We take pride in Davido and all of our Ambassadors who continue to make Nigeria a focal point in global music, film, fashion, literature, sports, comedy, and more. Congratulations to him on his fifth album and to Rolling Stone Africa on their relaunch. Stay tuned for ‘Nigeria Everywhere’ and other unique collaborations with Rolling Stone.”
D.R. Bellegarde Smeralda, CEO of Rolling Stone Africa, also lauded Davido’s contributions to Afrobeats and Pan-Africanism.
“To kick off our partnership with the National Council for Arts and Culture in Nigeria, which will introduce our monthly segment called Nigeria Everywhere, we could not have chosen a more fitting cover story than Davido’s,” Smeralda remarked. “Davido has long been a stellar ambassador for Afrobeats and Nigerian culture on a global scale, and it is inspiring to see what he and his team have accomplished in music and beyond, consistently promoting Pan-Africanism.”
Rolling Stone Africa, launched in August 2024, aims to celebrate African music, culture, and narratives, functioning through a joint venture between the Mwankom Group and Penske Media Corporation (PMC). A portion of the magazine’s proceeds supports charities focused on preserving African history and promoting children’s welfare, underscoring its commitment to making a meaningful impact beyond entertainment.
Follow Rolling Stone Africa on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for the latest updates. Davido’s feature on the cover is not just a milestone; it embodies the unstoppable momentum of Afrobeats and the global influence of Nigerian culture.
The auxiliary nurse who treated the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, has revealed what transpired that led to his demise.
Testifying before Justice C.A. Shotobi at the Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu, Lagos, on Friday, Ogedengbe recounted that after giving Mohbad the injection, he developed goosebumps. His wife, Omowunmi, allegedly described it as a “normal response” for him.
According to the nurse, she was called to treat Mohbad for a cut on September 11, 2023. The following day, she administered tetanus, paracetamol, and antibiotic injections.
After the third injection, Mohbad reportedly felt nauseous and threw up, leading to weakness and goosebumps.
Nurse’s testimony on how Mohbad died
“On Sept 11, 2023 I was at Cotonou to process my admission. As I was on my way back , I saw Spending’s missed call and I called him back. Then he told me I should come and treat his friend in the house who had a cut. I told him I was just coming back from Cotonou.
“I later missed his calls because I couldn’t pick up. As I got to CMS, a call came in from DJ Bami, he introduced himself that he was from Spending. I couldn’t go to the house that day. I got there the next day at about 2:30pm. I met a guy in the sitting room carrying Liam and DJ Bami led me upstairs.
“On getting to the room Mohbad was, I saw some water on the floor which Dj Bami mopped. We then moved Mohbad from the room he was to another room. It was only the 4 of us that were upstairs. Me, Mohbad, Djbami and Wunmi. As I was giving the first injection, Mohbad asked me the type of injection I wanted to give him and I told him Tetanus Injection, Paracetamol Injection and antibiotics. I first gave him Tetanus and Paracetamol Injection. After I gave him the paracetamol injection, Wunmi said he had ulcer.
“When I gave him the third injection, he started reacting and saying he wanted to throw up. Djbami and wunmi led him to the bathroom where he threw up. After throwing up, he sat down on the floor and was very weak. Then, goose bumps appeared on his body. Wunmi told me that is how he used to react to injection and I told her that she should have told me before.
“She then said that if they pour water on his head, he will calm down. Wunmi then poured water on him. When I saw the goose bumps, Dj Bami and I quickly went down to rush to the pharmacy so we could get an antidote. We got to the first pharmacy but they didn’t have what we wanted, we then went to another pharmacy. They called Djbami from the house that Mohbad was convulsing and I told them to rush him to the hospital.”
