“Any weapon against me no fit prosper / Back to sender / make my money pass Bullion Van,” Seyi Vibez sings in Buillion Van (2022), his baritone full of girth and confidence with his prayer-inspired music lyrics. Similarly, Asake sings with the same level of pizzaz in Nzaza (2022), “See am for my dream as I wear my crown / Get down on my knees as I pray to Jah.” The incorporation of spiritual themes and references to divine favor is not unique to contemporary artists like Seyi Vibez and Asake. Several Nigerian musicians across eras and genres have woven lyrics alluding to concepts of blessings, gratitude, and devotion into their songs. Though the specifics may differ, the underlying messages of hope, thankfulness, and connection to the divine have a common thread, and the practice is longstanding.
Long before the rise of Amapiano, Afrobeats reigned as the prominent Nigerian genre, encompassing various artistic offshoots like Afro-fusion, Afro-rave (Rema), Afro-pop, and others. Recently, some have proposed the emergence of a new Afrobeats sub-genre: Afro-Adura. Though its classification is debated, Afro-Adura represents a blending of spiritual themes with contemporary styles. The name combines “Adura,” meaning prayer in Yoruba, with Afro from Afrobeats. Songs in this sub-genre weave together lyrics about divine blessings, determination, and motivation with energetic Afropop instrumentation. But is the sub-genre particularly new?
The genre’s pioneers include legendary Nigerian singers like Tope Alabi, 9ice, Oritsefemi, Jaywon, Dotman, and Barry Jhay. One might argue that coining the term Afro-Adura is unnecessary because these artists can easily be subsumed under the already existing Afro-gospel genres. While this might be true, it’s important to note that even though one can get away with categorizing Tope Alabi songs under Afro-gospel, we cannot particularly apply that to Seyi Vibez. While Seyi Vibez fuses spiritual references with melancholic undertones and contemporary sounds, his music and that of similar artists contain layers of nuance and emotion not found in traditional gospel. For example, Oritsefemi’s 2014 hit Mercies of the Lord expressed faith amidst hardship; those sentiments resonate even more profoundly today. Nowadays, you can hear the heartfelt sincerity contained in these so-called Afro-Adura songs. A perfect example of this is Prayer (2023) by Portable, a song filled with Yoruba supplications and thanks, using vulnerability to evoke emotions from the listeners.
In his album Billion Dollar Baby, Seyi Vibez sings about his rags-to-riches story. Through songs like Ife and Saro, as well as others on the record, he describes his journey from poverty to financial success, having escaped poverty in the hood. Now that he has become wealthy, Vibez celebrates the hustling lifestyle that allowed him to achieve his current status. Throughout the album, his happiness, his pain, and his struggles are palpable. You feel these emotions, not just in his lyrics, but in the beats, adlibs, instruments, and every one of the album’s components.
Afro-Adura songs have some common recognizable traits. Firstly, a significant portion of the lyrics must be in the Yoruba language. Next, it must evoke some form of emotion, either inspirational, motivational or just palpable melancholy. Additionally, it must supplicate to God while preaching the gospel of hard work, patience, and discipline. Lastly, the song must reference making money or express struggles with lack. To get a feel of what a typical Afro-Adura song is, the album, Billion Dollar Baby or Bella Shmurda’s Vision 2020 featuring Olamide is a good place to start. Some current singers championing the Afro-Adura movement include Barry Jhay, Seyi Vibez, Zinoleesky, the now-late Mohbad, Portable, Bella Shmurda, Asake, TI Blaze, and more.
Some might dismiss the Afro-Adura style as lowbrow, unsophisticated, and inadvertently, razz. However, the genre has garnered wide appeal across different demographics in Nigeria. From elite business leaders to working-class youth and road vendors, Afro-Adura’s spiritual vulnerability and motivational lyrics transcend social barriers. The wealthy connect with the hard work and perseverance referenced in the songs. Marginalized communities relate to emotional authenticity and aspirational narratives. Afro-Adura gives voice to universal human experiences – hope, faith, resilience – through culturally resonant music. This broad accessibility debunks mislabeling the genre as niche or classist. If anything, Afro-Adura signals a musical movement uniting Nigeria’s social spectrum. By weaving together modern sounds with traditional mores, it forges communal bonds and speaks to shared dreams.
One might wonder if Afro-Adura has staying power as a popular music genre. Given the economic challenges in Nigeria coupled with the prevalent religious culture, Afro-Adura is uniquely positioned to thrive. With its blend of African sounds and devotional lyrics, Afro-Adura offers music many Nigerians can relate to and find solace in. Music inherently expresses the realities of the society around it. Afro-Adura channels Nigerians’ struggles, hopes, and reliance on faith into powerful anthems. With lyrics emphasizing overcoming adversity through hard work and spirituality, it offers a source of motivation and catharsis.
The genre has existed for years and continues to adopt more artists to itself. While the sound will surely continue to evolve, it’s almost certain that Afro-Adura (or another moniker that retains the same characteristics) will remain a relevant force within the nation’s musical landscape.