Hits come and go, and artists, too, but the tunes endure. There’s no expiration date. The mainstream resurgence of songs years after their original release is proof. Now, building catalogues, quality ones, is a recoupable career investment.
Two weeks ago, a dramatic and perplexing dance style from digital content creator Brain Jotter burst out. The dance became the internet craze that’s now been swallowed by the looms of protest against bad governance. Some people find the viral videos funny. But most viewers’ attention was hooked to the background music, which has been chiefly labelled “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo”. It’s a 1983-released song titled Ka Osi Le Onye Isi Oche by Nigerian Igbo-folk and highlife musician Gentleman Mike Ejeagha. Brain Jotter’s IG video has racked up only 30 million views and 20 million on TikTok. More social media users are making content with the song in the background.
Although Nigerian singer KCee first sampled Mike Ejeagha’s Ka Osi Le Onye Isi Oche on his “Cultural Vibes” album in 2018, the forty-one-year-old song didn’t get its biggest viral moment until this year. With time on our hands, we decided to compile a list of Nigerian songs that came back into power years after release due to social media trends, dance challenges, features, samples, interpolations, or remixes.
Social media trends and dance challenges
Vivid Imagination — Wasiu “Kwam1” Ayinde
In 2021, Vivid Imagination, a track off Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde’s 1999 “Okofaji Carnival (Fuji Fusion)” album, was the internet’s go-to response to troll or bant people. Since then, it’s been making a comeback, year after year, guaranteeing banger social posts. Imagine Nigeria hasn’t conducted its general election, and all that’s currently happening is just a revelation of the consequences of voting for an unfit presidential candidate. A sound of Vivid Imagination will sarcastically awaken you to reality.
Gentility — Melvitto featuring Wande Coal
Melvitto’s Gentility didn’t pick up until 2022, two years after its release. It took off on TikTok after users made videos of a sped-up version of the song. The virality pushed the song to number one on the Top 100: Nigeria chart on Apple Music.
Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah) — CKay
CKay’s Love Nwantiti
Features, samples, interpolations, remixes
Our Lord Jesus — YBNL All-Stars
“La la la la la la la o, our Lord Jesus is the ladder”, the opening lyrics of Agnes Iro’s “Follow the Ladder” (1992), sonorously flows into a sampled chorus for a rap possé cut featuring Olamide and ex-signees Lil Kesh and Viktor. Although Iro’s track is gospel, it gives a needed backdrop to the rappers’ reflective hustle tales.
Obapluto — Shallipopi
In 2023, Edo-born new school artist Shallipopi sampled Monday Edo’s Ogbaisi song (1996) on his hit, Obapluto. Although Shallipopi’s song sparked a ₦200 million copyright infringement lawsuit for sampling without permission, it took Ogbaisi from a community jam to a mainstream listenership.
Left Right — Keys the Prince
Yinka Ayefele’s 2005 hit Te Ota E Mole resurfaced as an interpolation on Keys the Prince’s Afroswing Left Right—Ayefele’s single enjoyed virality after a TikTok blow-up.
