9ice’s ‘Gongo Aso’ and Styl Plus’ ‘Olufunmi’ among most streamed songs of the 2000 on Spotify Nigeria

Tapping into this sentiment, Spotify released two playlists in October highlighting the best deep cuts and evergreen favorites from 2000s and 2010s Afrobeats. They feature music that inspired today’s Afrobeats savants and is still widely enjoyed by fans.

Speaking on the list Spotify’s Artist and Label Partnerships Manager for West Africa Victor Okpala says:

“It’s easy to see how these decades-old influences, consumed by their parents, can inspire the identities and art of contemporary creators. Take Ayra Starr’s 2020 release, Sare, which interpolates Orere Elejigbo, the 1979 hit by the Lijadu Sisters.”

“And as Spotify Wrapped data for 2022 shows, Nigerians seek out nostalgia and old influences as listeners too. Tracks from the 1990s and the 2000s are favorites for young fans, with a particular taste for R&B and hip-hop hits from those decades.” he adds.

The top tracks from the 2000s, according to this year’s data, include many of the biggest global names of the decade, including Beyonce, Jay Z and Eminem. However, Nigerians still show a distinct longing for love songs and R&B sounds from the decade, with many of the top songs credited to Afrobeats icons like Wande Coal, Styl Plus and D’banj.

Most-streamed tracks from the 2000s on Spotify in Nigeria this year

A step further back into the 90s throws us straight into similar climes, palm trees and the golden age of West Coast Hip-Hop. The top tracks are dominated by rap, as 2Pac leads the pack with some of his best-known classics, including ‘Hit Em Up’ and ‘California Love’. This nostalgic feel for the era builds on a deep love for the genre and its sub-cultures that is even reflected in the styles of new wave artists like PrettyBoy DO. Tapping into another aspect of Nigerian 90s nostalgia is Lucky Dube’s ‘It’s Not Easy’, a song that has maintained strong fandom since it crossed over from South Africa as a message of struggle and hope, and is still poignant in current times.

Most-streamed tracks from the 90s on Spotify in Nigeria this year

Looking at the top songs from earlier decades, it’s also clear that old sentiments stand strong as shown by Lucky Dube’s Remember Me being the most streamed song from the 80s in Nigeria this year. Likewise, the influence of nostalgia in broader pop culture is playing a role in bringing that music to new listeners. And how much of a role did Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic play in propelling Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ to the top of the 50s chart?

No. 1s from other decades on Spotify in Nigeria this year