It’s the great TikTok renaissance. Somewhere between the dance routines and lip-sync challenges, TikTok’s algorithm picked up something magical: the sound of nostalgia.
Every so often, a wave of old music resurfaces on the platform, transforming into viral trends and triggering memories of simple times. What’s most interesting, though, is how some of these songs are from eras past, from tapes and CDs dusted off from Nigerian living rooms, cars, and Owambe sound systems.
Somehow, these classics are not only coming back they’re coming back with a new purpose, finding their way onto global playlists and even entering the lexicon of Gen Z today.
Abass Akande Obesere — “Egungun”
This is the one and only “Egungun be careful.” If you grew up in the early 2000s, you know the power of Obesere. His music took over the space. If you think Ruger sings about immoral things, it didn’t start with him. There’s something raw, almost dangerous about his Fuji style that connects with today’s TikTok.
Maybe it’s the warning in “Egungun be careful, na express you dey go”—a line that’s resurfaced as a meme for cautionary tales and hilarious fail videos. His signature eccentricity, his audacious sound, and those beats have given this track a whole new life among people who weren’t even born when it first dropped.
Davido — “Dodo”
In 2015, before the Afrobeats took over the world, Davido was already creating hit after hit, and “Dodo” was one of those infectious jams that kept Nigerians dancing. Somehow, it’s back and doing rounds on TikTok, reintroduced to an audience that now knows him as The Baddest with a catalogue that spans continents.
It’s perfect for the TikTok crowd, with its repetitive chorus and steady rhythm, lending itself to dance trends that Davido himself has joined.
CKay — “Love Nwantiti”
This one’s a bit of a cheat—it’s hardly been gone long enough to be nostalgic. But CKay’s 2019 love song, “Love Nwantiti” is that rare hit that has travelled farther and wider than almost any other Nigerian song.
Even CKay couldn’t have predicted its viral potential, first on TikTok in 2021 and then across streaming platforms which later went on to dominate the world chart.
Gentleman Mike Ejeagha — “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche”
Now, if you want to talk about deep cuts, Gentleman Mike Ejeagha’s “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche” is the ultimate throwback. This is highlife from a time when Nigerian music wasn’t just about beats; it was storytelling, folklore, and a lesson in every line.
TikTok has a way of digging up these old records, giving them context, and allowing the culture to pass them down. Thanks to Brain Jotter’s skit that made the song viral.
K1 De Ultimate — “Vivid Imagination”
K1 De Ultimate’s “Vivid Imagination” is an example of that cross-generational magic that doesn’t quite fit any mould but somehow works perfectly.
His Fuji stylings, deeply rooted in Yoruba culture, have transcended to a platform where language is no barrier. On TikTok, you’ll find people vibing to “Vivid Imagination” without knowing a word of Yoruba, feeling the beat, and the soul of Fuji.
Melvitto & Wande Coal —“Gentility”
The reawakening of “Gentility” proves one thing: good music doesn’t age; it marinates. Wande Coal, with his velvety voice and falsetto, and Melvitto, with his production prowess, created a song that doesn’t demand attention but quietly takes it.
This song turned into a whole mood on TikTok, symbolizing that cool, laid-back “I’m not bothered” vibe. The lyrics, the beat, the vibe, it all feels like a quiet storm that slowly gains force until it’s everywhere. “Gentility” is proof that Wande Coal remains a powerful force in Afro-pop.
Stanley Okorie — “Billionaire”
If you’re Nigerian, you know Stanley Okorie. His songs are synonymous with Nollywood, and “Billionaire” feels like an ode to every Nigerian who has ever dreamed big despite humble beginnings.
It took over TikTok as an anthem of ambition, with people lip-syncing, recreating skits, and manifesting wealth while singing along to Okorie’s infectious tune. His music is pure Nollywood—dramatic, over-the-top, and somehow deeply relatable.
