Held in partnership with the African Union Commission, the ceremony once again showcased the continent’s sonic dominance, from Afrobeats and Amapiano to Bongo Flava and Soukous.

The evening was a dazzling display of culture, with high-energy performances, heartfelt tributes, and a red carpet that saw stars stepping out in some of the continent’s finest fashion.

While Nigerian superstars dominated the spotlight, AFRIMA 2025 remained a truly pan-African affair, featuring talent from Rwanda, Senegal, Morocco, South Africa, and beyond.

“Tonight is not just about trophies; it’s about the unity of our culture and the strength of our voice on the global stage,” said AFRIMA President Mike Dada during the opening remarks.

The ceremony blended legendary icons with the “New Wave” of African music, underscoring the continent’s vibrant present and promising future.

Hosts & Media Personalities

• Enioluwa Adeoluwa
• Claudia Naisabwa
• Tosyn (The Style Infidel)
• Ariane Celeste Moua
• Olisa Adibua
• Juliet Ibrahim
• Annie Macaulay

Musicians & Performers

• Rema
• Seyi Vibez
• Shallipopi
• Phyno
• Yemi Alade
• Patoranking
• Falz
• Qing Madi
• Jazzman
• Adewale Ayuba
• Jux
• Cindy Le Coeur
• Gaise Baba
• Kunmie
• Chella
• Element Eleéh
• Weeha

Notable Figures & Dignitaries

• Mike Dada (AFRIMA President)
• Jonny Baxter (British Deputy High Commissioner)
• Simon Field (UK Deputy Head of Mission)
• Ambassador Anna Westerholm (Sweden)
• Toke Benson-Awoyinka (Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism)
• Ayo Animashaun (CEO, HipTV)
• Kenny Ogungbe
• Dayo Adeneye

AFRIMA 2025 was more than an awards show — it was a celebration of African music’s power, diversity, and global influence, uniting performers, industry figures, and dignitaries in a night to remember.

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Speaking during a recent conversation with Adekunle Gold on Apple Music Radio, the veteran artist—fondly known as the Bonsue Fuji King—outlined his vision of reintroducing Fuji to the world through collaboration and creative reinvention.

“I want to collaborate with the likes of you, Tiwa Savage, everybody, to make Fuji music popular,” Ayuba said. “Fuji is ours, and we must embrace it.”

Ayuba, whose career spans over four decades, likened his dream to what Bob Marley did for reggae, stressing that Fuji possesses the same cultural richness and emotional depth to captivate global audiences. He believes that with the right partnerships, modern production, and storytelling, Fuji can become the next African sound to conquer the world.

The conversation also held special meaning for Adekunle Gold, whose recent album Fuji and its standout track Many People feature both Fuji rhythms and a cameo appearance by Ayuba himself—a symbolic bridge between generations.

AG Baby described the experience as “surreal,” reflecting on Ayuba’s influence during his upbringing:

“I grew up hearing Ayuba’s songs everywhere—on the streets, at parties, on the radio. To now talk about the future of Fuji with him feels unreal.”

Ayuba, in turn, praised Adekunle Gold for his forward-thinking interpretation of the genre, calling Fuji “complete music, filled with love, dance, and energy.” He encouraged more Nigerian artists to reconnect with the genre’s roots and help elevate it to international recognition, much like Afrobeats has done over the past decade.

With cultural icons like Ayuba leading the charge and new-generation stars embracing Fuji influences, the genre could soon experience a powerful renaissance that reclaims its place at the heart of Nigeria’s global music identity.

Adekunle Gold speaking with Adewale Ayuba on Apple Music Radio:

AG Baby: What’s next for you?

Adewale Ayuba: I want to collaborate with the likes of you, Tiwa Savage, everybody to make Fuji music popular. Fuji is for us and we must embrace it pic.twitter.com/UrCUCQUgmf

— 𝗔𝗟𝗕𝗨𝗠 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗦 📀 (@AlbumTalksHQ) November 12, 2025

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These Nigerian songs dominated the airwaves in 2003 and 20 years later, still have a place in the hearts of fans who remember them.

In comparison to what it is now, the Nigerian music industry’s environment was very different in 2003. The reality of the situation was that American pop culture and music dominated at the time, with Nigerian entertainment taking a back seat.

Despite this, Nigerian artists continue to put a lot of effort into their songs.

The year 2003 was excellent in terms of sound diversity. Gospel, Hip-hop, and R&B were among the musical genres that Nigerian artists experimented with.

P-Square their debuts that year, but they would not see significant success until much later in their careers. Veteran artists like Tony Tetuila and Sunny Neji released notable hits as well.

It was also a good year for the female force, as Sasha, Nigeria’s first notable female rapper, released her breakthrough track ‘Emi le gan‘ on Da Trybe Records.

The majority-female band KUSH also released “Let us Live Together,” which was their biggest hit. With the release of “Eji Owuro,” Sola Allyson created one of Nigeria’s most well-known love songs. Love/Heartbreak was a theme that frequently appeared in the music that was being released at the time.

Here are the top Nigerian songs that are turning 20 in 2023.

RELATED;

• Top 5 Naija songs turning 20 years in 2020
• 10 Evergreen Nigerian songs turning 15 in 2022

OLUFUNMI- Styl-plus

One of Nigeria’s best R&B groups, Styl-plus, released their smash hit ballad “OLUFUNMI” in 2003. Following its release, Olufunmi was one of the songs that radio callers most frequently requested.

Because TV stations kept airing the song’s video back-to-back, it became a national anthem for love. The song was about a heartbroken boyfriend who kept proclaiming his love and affection for his girlfriend.

Danfo Driver – Mountain Black, Mad Melon

Following Ajegunle’s domination in Nigerian music, the combo of Mad Melon and Mountain Black created this simple yet popular dedication to commercial bus drivers in Lagos.

Mountain Black and Mad Melon both saw their musical careers take off because of Danfo Driver, which helped make them well-known figures in the Nigerian music scene.

The song Danfo Drivers was so well-liked by listeners that it became the group’s name.

Oruka – Sunny Neji

Oruka by Sunny Neji was one of the top five wedding songs in 2003. It had to be on the playlist of every DJ.

The song was released from the album, “Unchained“. It enjoyed massive airplay and became an anthem at every wedding ceremony and between newlyweds. The song was produced by Sunny Nneji and co-produced by Sammy Odins Odihirin under the O’Jez Music label.

Ehen by Ruggedman feat. Nomoreloss

Nigerian rap music needed a rude awakening, and this song provided it. Ruggedman turned the focus back to excellent rhymes and lyricism. He did not hold back when he took jabs at the biggest rappers of the day. Few people have dared to follow Ruggedman’s example.

Senorita- P-square

“Senorita“, the debut single from P-Square is off their debut album, “Last Nite“, and their elder brother Jude Engees Okoye directed the video.

The song, which featured the duo’s dancing abilities, earned the most airplay of the entire album. The two were inspired to dance as children by Michael Jackson.

Eji Owuro- Sola Allyson

This intriguing soundtrack is taken from her widely acclaimed 2003 project, Eji Owuro, which includes seven astonishing worship euphonies.

The love ballad propelled Sola Allyson to fame because of its romantic elements, which made it a requirement for weddings.

The song was produced by Cohbams Asuquo.

Emi Le Gan- Sasha P

Known as the first lady of rap in Nigeria, this was Sasha P’s debut solo track under Da Trybe records. Saha P earned the deserved title as Nigerian rap First Lady thanks to her beautiful penmanship.

Let’s Live Together- Kush

KUSH was a group made up of three women, (Lara George, TY Bello and Emem Ema) and a man (Dapo Torimiro).

K.U.S.H released their hit song “Let us Live Together” as part of their album The Experience in 2003. The video for this well-liked song featured a combination of black, white, grey, and sepia.

In between shots of TY Bello and Lara George doing their thing, were short clips of wartime scenes. The theme was devastation, death, and destruction, and Kush played it to the greatest effect with everything from a starving child to a woman promising to kill another woman and an image of a dead body on burnt soil.

https://youtu.be/YWWXCgZKmg0

RELATED:

• 10 Nigerian songs from 2022 still ruling the airwaves in 2023
• Oldies Throwback: Top 10 songs from the 90s

Raise Da Roof- Jazzman Olofin ft Adewale Ayuba

This was rap meets Fuji as Jazzman Olofin and Adewale Ayuba really raised the roof with this song and had listeners dancing their heart out. The song shot him into limelight during that period.

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Fuji music’s impact can now be found throughout Nigerian mainstream music, with artists such as Olamide, Teni, and others continuously incorporating and sampling fuji melodies into their sounds, as well as collaborating with fuji musicians.

As Afrobeats grows in popularity, artists of our generation are looking back to earlier artists and genres who dominated the Nigerian music industry in the past for inspiration.

The influence of these famous singers can be found in the songs we’re listening to today, from Abas Akande Obesere to King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1).

• RELATED: Popular Nigerian Afropop songs that sampled from Fuji songs
• RELATED: Nigerian Artists who have collaborated with Veteran Musicians

Here are some Nigerian artists whose tracks are influenced by fuji music’s never-ending groove:

Olamide

Olamide is one of nIgeria’s greatest to come out from the 2010s. Since his rise to fame thanks to his breakout hit, “Eni Duro“, Olamide has proven to be one of the most consistent hitmakers of his time, having released over ten albums.

While his style of rapping is mostly indigenous, Olamide is influenced by Fuji and he is known for sampling popular fuji songs in his own songs.

On his 2013 album, Baddest Guy Ever Liveth, Nigeria’s number one baddo takes us on a trip down memory lane thanks to his lyricism and badass sample of KWAM 1’s fuji hit, Orin Abode Mecca Medley, which was released in the 1980s.

Teni

Teni must have grown up listening to Fuji because some of her songs proves this to be true. In 2018, Teni cemented her position as one of the most exciting stars to watch out for when she dropped “Askamaya“, a fuji-influenced Afropop hit.

Askamaya was everywhere, and we couldn’t get away from it. It borrows Adewale Ayuba’s old school fuji song, Omoge Cinderella, and has become a popular street and club anthem.

Naira Marley

While Burna Boy has established himself as the King of Fela samples, Naira Marley is deserving of his own title, this time for sampling some of our favourite Fuji bangers.

Most of his earliest songs have drawn inspiration from Fuji songs.

Tapping another musical rebel, two of the Marlian leader’s hits from 2019 sample songs from fuji legend, Obesere.

On Pxta, there’s a clear sample of Obesere’s 2002 song, Obutun. And on Opotoyi, Naira Marley dips his hand into the Obesere bag to pull out Papa Worldwide.

He also Oesere’s American Faaji Series for his 2018 “Japa” hit song.

• RELATED: Fuji legend Ayinde Barrister would have been 73 today
• RELATED: Nigerian Artists who share the same birthday date with other celebrities

Adekunle Gold

When Adekunle Gold broke into the music scene, he was known as the king of modern folk music but sometimes his lyrics share similarities with lyrics from fuji artists.

In his collaboration with DJ Tunez, Adekunle Gold sings about happiness and love on a song titled ‘My Love” that samples KWAM 1’s Can’t Just Stop Thinking about You.

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• Artiste Name: Adewale Ayuba
• Song Title: Koloba Koloba
• Genre: Fuji
• Country: Nigeria
• Year: 2021

The Fuji music Icon Adewale Ayuba is at it again as he puts out his long-anticipated single titled “Koloba Koloba” off his forthcoming album.

The music icon took to his social media page to tell his fans the inspiration behind this single, which came from a real life scenario.

• RELATED: [Music]: Adewale Ayuba – My Lagos
• RELATED: Adewale Ayuba – Bonsue Fuji From Africa (Prod. by Black Jerzee)

Adelwale Ayuba is known for his brand of the fuji music genre called  “Bonsue Fuji”.
Every lover of Fuji music will absolutely love “Koloba Koloba.” Put on your dance shoes before you start listening to this one.

Listen up!

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In an interview with Sunday Scoop, Ayuba stated,

“As long as Nigeria exists, fuji music shall live. It is a genre of music we can call ours because of its cultural background.”

Ayuba reflected on how he never expected his breakthrough song, Ijo Fuji, to be so popular.

He said,

“I was planning to make an album that would promote fuji music. Nobody knows if any record will be successful but to the glory of God, the song was accepted.”

Recollecting the most unusual place he had ever got the inspiration for a song, the clean-shaven singer said;

“I once got the inspiration for a song right in front of an officer at the American embassy in Lagos.”

• RELATED: Popular Nigerian Afropop songs that sampled from Fuji songs
• RELATED: Fuji Maestro Adewale Ayuba Bags Chieftaincy Title, opens Multimillion Naira Mansion

The well-known performer also stated that any of his offspring would be welcome to follow in his footsteps.

“Yes of course, but God knows best. I always pray for God’s will to be done on my children.”

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Adewale Ayuba who is well known for his achievements in the Fuji genre recently bagged a chieftaincy title as the Otunba Aare Bobaselu of Ikenneland.

A video sighted on social media captured the moment the singer was conferred with the title in an installation ceremony that had royals among other important dignitaries in attendance.

 

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• RELATED: Popular Nigerian Afropop songs that sampled from Fuji songs
• RELATED: Fuji legend Ayinde Barrister would have been 73 today

Ayuba also held a house-warming ceremony for a massive mansion which he just completed in the same community, Ikenne Remo. A video showing invited guests arriving at the singer’s new house was also sighted online.

 

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Fuji, one of the more historically notable Nigerian Genres of music was born out of an Islamic form of music in southwestern Nigerian called Were/Ajisari.

This music was used to wake Muslims up during Ramadan fast. The origins of the genre “Fuji” date back to sometime during the 1960s.

The reform of Were/Ajisari into Fuji is credited to Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, who released his debut LP in 1966. According to Wikipedia, the name Fui was born after Barrister saw a poster at an airport, advertising Mount Fuji, which is the highest peak in Japan.

In one of his early albums, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister described fújì music as a combination of music consisting of sákárà, Apala, jùjú, Aro, Afrobeat, gudugudu, and some elements of highlife.

Kollington Ayinla, another pioneer alongside the aforementioned was influential in the growth of the genre through the 70s.

By the 80s, the genre had become very popular across the region with the likes of King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) being credited for modernising the music and later in the 90s, Abas Akande Obesere through his introduction of “Asakasa” or Street slang.

Today, the influence of fuji music is littered all around Nigerian pop music, with the likes of artists like Olamide, Teni, Naira Marley and others constantly introducing and sampling fuji melodies into their sounds and even collaborating with fuji musicians.

• RELATED: Nigerian Hit Songs you didn’t know sampled Foreign sounds
• RELATED: Fuji legend Ayinde Barrister would have been 73 today

Opotoyi-Naira Marley

“Opotoyi” was released in 2019 and was one of the hit songs Naira Marley put out during that period. The song was produced by his in house producer, Rexxie.

However many won’t realize is that the song was sampled from one of Popular fuji star, Obesere’s songs, “Papa Wordwide”. Obesere was a rebel in the fuji genre whose style of music and lyrics was a bit different from his contemporaries.

DJ Tunez ft Adekunle Gold- My Love

DJ Tunez and Adekunle Gold partnered together in 2017. This record was DJ Tunez first single in that year and it was produced by Del’B.

Adekunle Gold brings in Happiness, Love moments, Beauty and Perfection on this tune. His delivery and enchanting lyrics will surely have everyone clamouring for love this summer.

Gold’s lyrics were sampled from KWAM 1’s “Can’t Just Stop Thinking About You”

Japa- Naira Marley

Naira Marley is an avid fan of Fuji and his songs is a testament to that fact. “Japa” was released in 2018 and produced by Rexxie. Part of its lyrics is sampled from Obesere’s American Faaji Series.

Another song that samples Obesere’s is Olamide’s 2017 Shanko Baby.

Anifowshe- Olamide

To go down memory lane of his struggle to fame, Olamide release “Anifowshe” in 2013. The smooth song samples KWAM 1’s Anifowhse which was released off his Orin Abode Mecca medley album in 1980.

• RELATED: 10 Throwback Songs from Olamide that you should re-visit

Pxta- Naira Marley

Pxta or “Puta” was released in 2019 and produced by Rexxie. The song samples Obesere’s “Obutun” released in 2002.

• RELATED: List of Top 5 most followed African artistes on audiomack
• RELATED: List of Top 10 most followed Nigerian musicians on Instagram

Askamaya- Teni

In 2018, Teni who was the hot topic of the moment released Askamaya, a club-worthy tune. The song became a popular street anthem at the time of its release. The song samples Adewale Ayuba’s “Omoge Cinderalla”.

• RELATED: Top 10 Essential songs from Teni that will have you dancing

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Due to popular demand, we bring to you another “fuji relaxation mixtape” to bless your playlist, hosted by DJ Real.

• SEE ALSO: DJ Baddo x DJ Real – Street To Stardom Mix Vol 3
• SEE ALSO: DJ Beeast – Southy Naija Mix (S.A x Nigeria)

It features Ebenezer obey, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Pasuma, Kayode Fashola, King Sunny Ade, Saheed Osupa, Adewale Ayuba, KS1 Malaika, K1 De Ultimate, and more…

Listen Up!

DOWNLOAD FUJI RELAXATION MIX

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After the release of his album ‘WonderMan’ the Bonsue Fuji Founder ‘Ayuba’ (Mr Johnson) Rounds up the year 2017 with this exciting and patriotic new music and video in celebration of Lagos State. 

DOWNLOAD : Adewale Ayuba – My lagos

Watch and Enjoy!

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Just like you must have heard alot about many people who arrived Lagos with just a pair of trousers, two shirts and a pair of shoes well Ayuba would proudly tell you he was one of them. In those young years of all fun and play, Ayuba who was the last child of his parents took the bold step of visiting Lagos and this is where his wild dreams would emerge. He reminisces on his youthful days where he would stand in the presence of potential record label owners and sing for them, these gentlemen then would laugh so hard at his unique style of music, it would take them a very long time after the western world could see and feel his uniqueness to know how valuable the African voice of a youngstar who wanted to stand out would be. His journey would continue and in Lagos his dream would gain the light that spread beyond his dreams and across oceans. ‘My Lagos’ was written by Ayuba and specially dedicated to every single person who has made it big; Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Black or White.\

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B. A. Records HQ

Listen & Enjoy Below;

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