Listen to Patoranking's First Official Single of the Year Titled 'I'm in Love'
Patoranking continues to give fans a glimpse into his more vulnerable side in this beautiful love song.
Patoranking delivers yet another single which sees him giving fans yet another glimpse into his more vulnerable side as an artist.
His first official single of the year, "I'm in Love" is a serenading love song where Patoranking unashamedly declares his love for a girl. He details the lengths to which he'll go to show her just how much he loves her.
"I'm in Love" is a mid-tempo track which stays true to Patoranking's signature Afro-fusion style. The string instrumentals add a nostalgic feel to the track and makes for some really easy listening. Before you know it, you'll be singing along to the infectious tune and probably running the song on repeat. We certainly are.
Following his 2019 sophomore album Wilmer, which was inspired by his daughter, Patoranking is certainly being deliberate about making sure his personal evolution translates into his music as well.
The artist is also not wasting any time in terms of taking his music to the rest of the world. He recently announced that he'd be embarking on his first international tour which will kick off in Toronto in early April. The artist is set to make stops in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, San Francisco and several other cities.
Speaking in an interview with Joey Akan for OkayAfrica last year, Patoranking spoke about his upcoming tour and said, "By God's grace, [my next steps are] putting Nigeria and Africa on the global map. We want to give them something that they would always look forward to for the next one." Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased here.
Listen to "I'm in Love" below. You can also find the track on Apple Music and Spotify.
Nigerian music newcomer Khaid comes through with a new love song.
Khaidshares "Jolie," an Afro-infused love song that marks his first music release for the year. The record is a rhythmic and melodic offering that is complete with an infectious hook and Khaid's captivating vocals. In the song, Khaid describes his admiration for a girl that he is pursuing, but equally expresses the challenge that he is having getting her attention.
At the age of 12, Khaid, who was born and raised in Ojo in Lagos, Nigeria, began to freestyle and shoot videos in the streets of Ojo, which is where he was eventually discovered and signed by Sydney Walker, the owner of Neville Records, and a prominent Nigerian comedian.
At the beginning of 2022, Neville Records announced Khaid as a new signee, and since then, he has continued to make waves in the Nigerian music industry. His debut single "With You," was released only eight days after the announcement, and went on to become a commercial success. The song became one of the country's top hits, which now has over 3.7 million views on YouTube and 5 million Spotify streams.
Khaid went on to a release a 6-track album called Diversity and continues to push the envelope at only 17-years-old. The young talent has an EP on the way in the near future, and was recently featured on Okay Africa's 12 Nigerian Artists To Watch In 2023.
We highlight Nigeria’s best emerging talents set to make their mark this year.
Nigeria is in many ways at the forefront of the global African music movement. The country has given birth to Africa’s biggest stars, and continues to do so year on end. However, this isn’t limited to the globally-known, such as international artists like Burna Boy and Wizkid. Every big artist starts from somewhere, and every established act once had their breakout moment.
Every year Nigeria churns out a handful of potential stars in the early phases of their journey to stardom, who make their mark with singles and projects that establish them as talents to watch. From greenhorns making their official debuts to budding talents attempting to establish their first hit single runs, we’ve highlighted a number of emerging Nigerian acts with amazing potential that wield a solid chance of breaking out this year.
Check out our list of 12 Nigerian artists to watch in 2023 below.
Khaid
Sulaimon Abiola, better known asKhaid made his debut in January 2022 at only 17-years-old. He had a hit straight out of the gate with his debut single “With You.” Khaid was announced as a Neville Records' signing on January 20, 2022. He released “With You” eight days after the announcement, and the song went on to become one of the country's top hits. Currently “With You” has over 3.7 million views on YouTube and 5.6 million streams on Spotify. The afrobeats and afro-fusion act is definitely an artist to watch, and we’re looking forward to more from him in 2023.
Odumodublvck
Odumodublvck is a boisterous Nigerian rapper known for two main things — his audacious, aggressive lyrics and style, and his fusion of afrobeats, grime, and drill. The outcome is his very own personal blend of hip-hop. In 2022 he signed a record deal with NATIVE Records, in partnership with Def Jam Recordings. Odumodu raps mostly in Nigerian Pidgin English, telling stories about his community and everyday experiences in a witty, vivid fashion. His latest release is “Picanto,” a punchline-heavy afro hip-hop cut featuring Zlatan and Ecko Miles.
Bloody Civilian
Bloody Civilian is an Abuja-based producer who just began her journey as a recording artist. She was selected to contribute music production to the soundtrack of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, discovering she would be a key part of Marvel’s latest blockbuster ever before she had released her debut single. She was signed by Def Jam CEO Tunji Balogun, the same name responsible for signing Tems, SZA and Kendrick. She released her debut single “How To Kill A Man” in October 2022, a satirical tutorial to women on how to reclaim their agency, wrapped in an afropop package.
GreatMan Takit
Greatman Takitis a singer, songwriter, and gospel artist from Kwara state, Nigeria and yes, Greatman Takit is actually his real name. He stepped out in earnest in 2020, after breaking out from renowned Nigerian gospel choir The Gratitude to be a solo act. Since then he has established himself as one of the leading faces of Nigeria’s afro-gospel movement. He’s responsible for “Commando,” a colorful and infectious afro-gospel tune made in collaboration with Ko’rale.
Pawzz
Emerging afro-fusion artist David Dekor, better known as Pawzz released his debut EP titled Press Play this month. The 5-track EP is an exuberant display of vocal dexterity, floaty melodies, and positive energy. On “Body Language,” Pawzz expresses desire and longing, issuing a sensuous fusion of afro and R&B, while on “Koma” we see Pawzz live out his afropop star potential with confidence and charisma. Pawzz is a Port Harcourt city native, the same city that birthed Burna Boy and Omah Lay, and if Press Play is anything to go by, we trust that Pawzz is well on the way to matching up to the legacy of his predecessors.
Boy Spyce
Boy Spyce is a singer, songwriter, and performer, and a native of Benin city in Edo state. The 21 year-old signed to Mavin Records in 2022 after having the underground buzzing with a number of freestyle videos. He dropped his self-titled debut EP the same year, a 5-track offering of solo songs by the talented vocalist. “Nobody” is an age-appropriate love song, a midtempo afrobeats cut that sees Spyce candidly express his affections to the apple of his eye.
Somadina
Somadina is a highly-talented vocalist who made her initial debut in 2018 with her singles “IHY” and “Lay Low” and began to build a following, particularly among Nigeria’s alternative music scene. The 22-year old considers herself a genre-fluid artist, with her discography laced with pop, rock, R&B, and alternative sounds. Her latest release is “an EP that feels like an album” titled Heart of The Heavenly Undeniable. The 11-track EP is an alchemy of sounds that features alté scene heavyweights Zamir, The Cavemen, and Odunsi the Engine, and was released under Warner Music Africa.
Berri Tiga
Agada Blessed Obotu, known as Berri-Tiga is an afropop singer and native of Benue State, Nigeria. He made his debut in 2021 with afrobeats number “Fire” before rising to national attention in 2022 as a result of his hit collaboration with Carter Efe “Machala,” an ode to pop superstar Wizkid which topped Apple Music’s Nigeria Top 100 chart shortly after release. His latest release is titled “God”, an upbeat tune that sees Berri sing praises to his Maker for his many victories over a highlife-inspired afropop instrumental.
Kémi Lopez
Kémi Lopez is a Nigerian R&B and soul singer and songwriter from Maiduguri, Nigeria. Kémi's sound embodies a blend of contemporary R&B, alternative R&B, indie soul and afro-soul. Her unique vocal texture and delivery coupled with her ability to fluidly switch between English and Yoruba gives the young singer a distinct edge. Her latest release is titled “Love,” a sultry R&B ballad that narrates the story of a woman thinking out loud about her ideal love over an intimate and emotive R&B soundscape.
Kold AF
Also joining the class of newcomers in Nigeria’s music scene isKold AF, a singer and songwriter who deals in afro-fusion with a distinct style and sound. In December 2022 she dropped a 2-track EP titled Kold SZN, a brief but impressive offering that’s just a taste of what’s to come from the talented vocalist and performer.
L0LA
L0la is a 21-year old Nigerian singer and songwriter, based in London. She’s a bit of a mystery, with limited info about herself available aside her very many Instagram photos, but one thing we do know about her is that she’s well embedded in Nigeria’s alté scene. She’s featured on songs with the likes of Cruel Santino, and on Somadina’s EP along with the likes of Zamir and Odunsi The Engine. L0la has already began to grace live events in the UK and Europe, and she has an EP out, her debut project titled Love, L0la. Her latest release is “Conceited,” an alternative rock fusion that reveals L0la in her element.
Bayanni
Bayanni is a Nigerian singer and songwriter, and a new signing announced by Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records in August 2022. Joining the host of talented young artists on the label such as Johnny Drille, Ladipoe, Rema, Ayra Starr, Magixx and Boy Spyce, he was introduced with the release of his self-titled debut EP Bayanni, featuring four solo singles. One of his standout tunes so far is “Ta Ta Ta,” a vibrant afrobeats single laced with sexual innuendo.
The Nigerian American director has long used the tools of his multi-hyphenate trade to expand the ways Africans are seen. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, 'Bravo, Burkina!' gives him a larger canvas on which to paint.
Whether it’s employing asylum seekers to model his designs or adding his flair to a piece of pivotal clothing that the late Chadwick Boseman wore in Black Panther, Walé Oyéjidé has always been about using whatever elements he can to push the ways Africans have traditionally been portrayed. What he hinted at in his short film After Migration: Calabria (available on the Criterion Channel), which tells the story of two refugees settling in Italy, he now gets to explore further in the feature debut, Bravo, Burkina!
“It's the best sandbox in which to play,” Oyéjidé tells OkayAfrica about the medium of film. “It’s been the natural evolution of all the work we’ve done over the past decade, and for me, it’s the perfect Venn diagram.” From working with a composer on the score, which harks to his career as a musician, and creating the costume design, which is rooted in his work as founder of menswear label Ikiré Jones, Bravo allows Nigerian-born Oyéjidé to continue the theme of paying homage to the many cultures he’s experienced and to share stories of people who have traveled from one place to another.
Bravo is part of the Sundance Film Festival’s Next section, which spotlights innovative films that are set to shape the future of cinema. It has also been selected to open this year's FESPACO next month. Just as he did in the short, After Migration, Oyéjidé uses sumptuous cinematic images to re-shape the way migration stories are often centered on trauma and suffering. His lens has always been love-centered and steeped in regality, in a passionate effort to re-assign meaning to images that have too easily become the accepted norm, and in this feature film, his mission flourishes.
Photo: The Sundance Institute
Once again, Oyéjidé sets part of the story in Italy, a recurring mise-en-scène for him on account of its visuals and aesthetics, but also, for the role it plays in migration. “It’s prevalent everywhere, but because they are on the forefront of North Africans and West Africans crossing the Mediterranean it’s sort of the perfect staging ground – both from a story standpoint and also from a design standpoint,” he says. “So it's very much where I love to play. And also it looks gorgeous,” he adds.
Shot in two weeks, on two continents, the film was made with the collaboration of the Ethical Fashion Initiative, which introduced Oyéjidé to the weavers of a village just outside Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso who become characters in the film. “It’s set in Burkina Faso and the name is in the title for deliberate reasons, but the idea is that really this boy or child or person could be from anywhere, going to anywhere. It's intended to be a universal global story about the need to leave and the desire to return.”
Oyéjidé spoke to OkayAfrica about how this film, which sees a young boy leave his Burkinabè village, fits into his greater life’s work.
Interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The costumes in Bravo, Burkina! are beautiful - and they once again speak to a different way of seeing migrants - how did you go about creating them for this film?
The through line of all our work has always been with the attempt to depict regality. So you'll often hear me say I have no interest in peddling in trauma. Every artist has their burdens that they carry which inform their work. I happen to be of a generation in which images of persons of African descent were almost always condescending, demeaning, not beautiful, perhaps with some degree of truth, but rarely with a wide enough aperture to show those people depicted as their full selves. With all my work, it is first and foremost, visually beautiful and respectful and regal, despite what is happening with the characters, even at their lowest points, even if they're villainous.
The idea is that you're showing that all these persons, particularly those of African descent – or really anywhere, the idea is that they're stigmatized, marginalized populations – you show them, or I intend to show them, with a vast range of nuance, and specifically, those who are from populations that have been disregarded, I seek to give the beauty and strength that I know that they possess. Because I know these people; they are aunts, cousins, people you know.
So when we're making clothing, the fact that this child might be in a village doesn't mean he looks destitute. This kid looks amazing. The fact that this person is an older man, walking the streets of Italy looking for work, doesn't mean he's not regal, doesn't have elegance. We know all these people. Like, I don't know any cousin of mine who doesn't have pride, who doesn't look stunning, when he or she is walking down the street, regardless of what their financial circumstances or job circumstances may be. The missing link for a lot of these very common immigration stories is that they're often made by a filmmaker who doesn't love the subject.
"When we're making clothing, the fact that this child might be in a village doesn't mean he looks destitute. This kid looks amazing," says Walé Oyéjidé about his approach to the costumes of 'Bravo, Burkina!'
Photo: The Sundance Institute
In all of my work, the reason that people are seen as they are, is because I see them as I see my wife, child, mother, aunt, brother's best friend. I'm looking at them through the lens of love, despite what's happening for them. The clothing really is just one more tool to depict the innate natural regality that all these persons, that we, you and I, know very well, possess. The clothing just helps them accentuate what has always been there, and that is the secret weapon that I have. But the clothing itself would do nothing; the magic really is in the people.
The change I seek to create in the world is what I didn't have when I was younger. I’m hoping to give both myself, and those who come after me the opportunity to see themselves in a way that they know themselves to be, so we don't have to pretend to be somebody else.
Lawyer-turned-designer Walé Oyéjidé is releasing his first feature film into the world, sharing his beautiful but mission-centered work on a new canvas.
Photo: The Sundance Institute
The film captures feelings, states of being, of leaving and returning - how did it unfold in your mind as the writer as well as director?
We definitely had it really well scripted, but I think the beauty of this work, particularly when you work, as we like to often work, with both a combination of non-professional actors and professional actors, is that people bring a level of authenticity in themselves. Also, the cultural sensitivity – despite the fact that I'm Nigerian American, these are all cultures, which you need to respect and kind of slow walk towards and let people educate you on their landscape and how they speak, how they eat, how they love and hate each other. I think people inform and bring themselves to the stories in ways that bring much more life than the words you might have on a page.
For example, the Italian artisans are a real father and son in their real space. This is really just us pointing a camera at them and saying, 'Be yourself within this construct narratively, but be yourselves.' It's the same thing in Burkina Faso. These are real weavers, in their real living space with their real issues and their real joys and their real happiness. It's about having the privilege to let people allow themselves to be shown in their own glory, as opposed to dictating and enforcing upon them a preconceived notion. Certainly, I have a point of view and an aesthetic lens, but it's one that seeks to collaborate, and respect those in their natural state of being, and hopefully reflect themselves in ways that they want to be seen.
What's behind the title, 'Bravo, Burkina!'?
I'm interested in making cinema and work that lasts beyond me because all of us will be gone sooner or later. So the question then becomes, if you are going to speak or make, are you wasting people's time or are you adding to the conversation? It is always my interest in adding and informing. It's not to say that this is the greatest work or the best but it is, I believe, a perspective that is unseen and hopefully, a perspective that will be healing. It's exciting to me, the idea that you can have African cinema that doesn't look at all the way people would assume when they hear the phrase.
When you ask a person outside of the continent, where and what is Burkina Faso, if they have an answer, it rarely will be a positive answer. So this is an intentional branding of an African nation. In my culture, in Yoruba culture in West Africa, and it's very prominent in Africa, all names have meaning.
It's my belief that I have a duty to make the world easier for those who come beyond. So when I have the opportunity to speak to the entire globe with art, what am I doing? Am I going to present my culture, my people, my continent in a way that sets us further back? Or am I going to do something that is uplifting -- despite how you feel about this work. Even in the naming, the simple naming, a thing people say with their mouths. Regardless of how the film is received, if nothing else, the title itself is a raised fist or a torch flame, and the hope is the beyond that, beauty permeates.
Senegal's Baaba Maal shares a new song ahead of his upcoming album, Being.
Renowned Senegalese singer and guitaristBaaba Maalhas shared a new single called "Agreement." The song is the fourth track on his upcoming album Being, which is slated to be released on March 31st, 2023.
"Agreement," a percussion-heavy record produced by Johan Hugo, fuses both ancient and modern rhythms, and continues Baaba Maal's ongoing musical quest to connect the past and the present, while making lasting cultural and emotional connections through music.
While discussing the record, Baaba Maal dissects the meaning of the song and explains that it draws inspiration from day-to-day relationships.
“Agreement is about the relationships you make in your life, whether they are with friends, musicians, neighbors, people you love,” says Baaba Maal. ”When you say to people, we are going on this journey through life together, through good times and bad, you should be very sure that you mean it.”
The Senegalese legend continues breaking down the meaning of the song by explaining it through a cultural lens.
“It’s based on a proverb from my community — to say no at the beginning to the idea that we will always be together is much stronger and more noble that beginning a relationship and then cutting it short later, maybe forty years later. Be mature enough to take seriously an agreement you make with someone about the future, about your souls being connected,” says Maal.
After a seven-year music hiatus, "Agreement" is one of Maal's new releases, and he will continue to share his music in the coming months with fans. In addition to releasing his upcoming album, the Poor-born icon will be performing at the Barbican in London, for the first time in 20 years on May 30th, 2023.
Maal'sBeing is a riveting extension of his pioneering, transcendent, and inspiring four-decade legacy that has blended the traditional and the innovative, the acoustic and the electronic over the years. For being, Maal reportedly partnered with long-time producer Johan Hugo, and recorded the body of work in Brooklyn, London and Senegal. Watch the visualizer for "Agreement" below.
Nigeria's renowned Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, scored a nomination at the 2023 Oscars for co-writing ‘Lift Me Up’, one of the songs on 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.'
Photo: The Sundance Institute 
