Arike by Kunmi hit a lot of sweet spots for Nigerian music lovers. There’s a long-standing tradition in Nigerian pop music which is a soft spot for naming songs after women. From Adekunle Gold’s folksy love song, “Sade”, to P-Square’s groovy “Ifunaya”, and Mayorkun’s take on “Sade” too, the tradition continues.
We’ve also had “Angelina” from both Johnny Drille and Fireboy in recent times. It’s no surprise then that when Kunmie came through with “Arike” earlier this year, listeners were quick to file it under the “another love song” category.
But “Arike” is not just a love song. Instead, it’s a tender ballad, a heartfelt plea for forgiveness, reconciliation, and emotional honesty that’s often rare in Nigerian pop music. It marked Kunmie’s breakout moment in early 2025, and with how well the song connected with audiences, it was clear that a new star had arrived.
The track earned critical praise and made the cut on our 20 Best Songs of 2025 So Far, which is proof of its lasting impact in a crowded year of releases. His voice carried depth, his songwriting showed maturity, and “Arike” quickly became one of the year’s standout records.
Now, just months later, Kunmie has released a remix of the song, featuring Nigeria’s beloved singer Simi and Swedish Pop star Mabel. As expected, reactions have been mixed. While some listeners have praised the remix as a smart move, others think it was unnecessary, especially with speculation that Simi was only added because of her viral cover of the song, which made waves earlier this year.
But is that really the case? It’s easy to draw comparisons to Rema’s “Calm Down” remix with Selena Gomez. Back when a snippet of that remix dropped, many people voiced their disapproval. Fast-forward to today, that same song became the biggest African-led global hit in recent history, crossing one billion streams on Spotify in September 2023 and opening major doors for Rema in new markets.
Of course, not every remix leads to global domination. There are, of course, plenty of forgettable ones as well. The song’s remix can serve different purposes. It can be to boost streaming numbers, refresh the song’s lifespan, or fulfill a creative dream; the move to remix a song is ultimately the artist’s team to make. The public will only decide how far it goes.
We’ve seen what Burna Boy did for Asake’s “Sungba”, and how Olamide’s guest verses have elevated countless rising stars. Even Tiwa Savage’s appearance on Patoranking’s “Girlie O” gave the song new energy. In that same light, Simi’s performance on “Arike (Remix)” feels anything but forced.
Her voice remains angelic, and her verse flows naturally with the song’s emotion. Mabel, on her part, brings a fresh texture to the track and lifts its melodic core in ways that feel global without losing its soul.
Most importantly, Afrobeats is currently experiencing a period of global expansion. Collaborations like this, especially with international stars like Mabel, offer one of the easiest ways to enter new markets. With her fan base in Sweden and parts of Europe, this remix gives Kunmie an opportunity to reach new listeners and grow his presence beyond Nigeria.
In the end, music is business, and the right collaboration can open new doors. With this remix, Kunmie just might have found the key. Only time will tell.
