By Olayinka Akanbi
The third quarter of the year was a significant moment for Nigerian music.
It showcased the undeniable strength of an Afrobeats heavyweight, the determination of a mid-tier artist, and the startling rise of a newcomer who managed to shake things up.
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Between July and September, Burna Boy, Reekado Banks, and Fola released works that represent three distinct facets of the Nigerian pop scene: the global icon, the reliable performer, and the rising star.
Burna Boy (No Sign of Weakness)
When Burna Boy announced his eighth studio album, expectations were sky-high. No Sign of Weakness arrived with collaborations with big names like Travis Scott, and the rollout was primed for impact.
The numbers tell a story of strength at home but mixed fortunes abroad. The album debuted at #1 on the Nigerian Albums Chart and racked up an estimated 5 million streams in its first 24 hours on Spotify Nigeria.
Globally, it has since crossed 216 million Spotify streams, cementing its place as one of Burna’s most consumed projects of the year.
Yet, on the Billboard 200, the album peaked at just #200—his lowest U.S. chart entry to date.
For an artist who has headlined stadiums from London to New York, it was a reminder that global dominance is never guaranteed, even for Afrobeats’ leading figure.
Still, No Sign of Weakness reflects Burna’s consistency: a body of work that resonates deeply at home while keeping him in global conversations.
Reekado Banks (The Game Needs You)
Reekado Banks’ fifteen-track album, clocking in at just over 40 minutes, was framed as a call-to-arms and a reminder of his place in Afrobeats’ fast-changing landscape.
But the streaming response has been modest. With around 1.9 million total Spotify streams and a daily average of roughly 11,000 streams, the project has not yet sparked the kind of viral traction its title suggests.
For Reekado, who has delivered memorable hits in the past, ‘The Game Needs You’ is more of a steady contribution than a chart-dominating comeback.
Its value lies in reminding listeners of his craftsmanship, even if it has not turned into a streaming juggernaut.
Fola (Catharsis)
The most surprising story of this quarter came from Fola, a newcomer who turned his debut album into a phenomenon. Catharsis arrived quietly but exploded on streaming platforms.
In its first week, the album clocked 10.66 million streams on Spotify Nigeria, the highest ever for a debut Nigerian artist.
Within just 11 days, it had amassed over 50 million Spotify streams, with lead single ‘You’ hitting 28 million and “Lost” crossing 11 million.
The success wasn’t just local. Catharsis debuted at #14 on the Billboard World Albums Chart, while every track charted on the U.S. Billboard Afrobeats Songs Chart. ‘You’ peaked at #8, and ‘Eko’ reached #12.
For an artist with no prior full-length project, these numbers positioned Fola as the breakout star of 2025’s third quarter, signalling a new wave of Afrobeats acts ready to command both Nigerian and global audiences.
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This quarter showed the spectrum of Nigeria’s music ecosystem. Established stars like Burna Boy remain commercial anchors, even when global reception staggers; household names like Reekado Banks continue to supply solid projects, though without guaranteed viral traction; while newcomers like Fola can defy expectations entirely, leveraging streaming culture to leapfrog into global consciousness.
