In Nigeria, music and dance have always been intertwined. From Skelewu in 2013 to Buga in 2022, viral dance steps have repeatedly transformed songs into cultural phenomena. In the streaming and TikTok era, dance often serves as a shortcut to visibility.
But in 2025, the conversation is more nuanced. While some songs still explode thanks to a dance challenge, others dominate charts and break global records without choreography. So, the question is, does a Nigerian song still need a dance routine to blow?
Dance as a Proven Accelerator
Dance remains one of the surest ways to propel a song into mass adoption. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels reward creator-driven content, and simple, repeatable steps often determine whether a song trends.
• TikTok Nigeria’s “Year on TikTok 2023” confirmed that most of the year’s biggest Afrobeats moments were fueled by dance-led challenges.
• Kizz Daniel’s Buga was Nigeria’s most consumed single of 2022 across streaming, airplay, and YouTube. It also topped Shazam’s global chart, driven largely by its viral dance.
Case Studies: Songs That Blew With Dance
Over the years, these tracks became hits because of the dances tied to them:
• Davido ft. Omah Lay – “With You” (2025): Sparked trending dances and lip-sync routines on TikTok Nigeria, fueling its dominance and contributing to Davido’s record-breaking six consecutive years with a No.1 hit.
• Wizkid – “Kese (Dance)” (2024): Lived up to its name, with viral choreography helping it debut at #1 in Nigeria and smash Spotify streaming records.
• Davido ft. Musa Keys – “Unavailable” (2023): The #UnavailableChallenge made it one of TikTok Nigeria’s defining Afrobeats moments.
• Kizz Daniel & Tekno – “Buga” (2022): A simple step turned this into the most popular Nigerian song of 2022 and a global chart-topper.
• Asake – “Joha” (2022): Launched with a deliberate dance rollout, ensuring it stood out in Asake’s crowded release run.
• Zlatan – “Zanku (Leg Work)” (2019): Popularised the Zanku dance, cementing street culture in mainstream Afropop.
• Burna Boy ft. Zlatan – “Killin Dem” (2019): Spread the Zanku nationwide, helping Burna dominate the street wave.
• Naira Marley – “Soapy” (2019): Its controversial dance move sparked debate but amplified visibility.
• Olamide – “Wo!” (2017): The #WoChallenge turned into a street sensation despite health ministry controversy.
• Portable ft. Olamide & Poco Lee – “Zazoo Zehh” (2021): The synergy of Portable’s energy and Poco Lee’s dance push made it unavoidable.
• Shaku Shaku wave (2017–2018): Multiple hits, from Olamide’s “Wo!” to Mr Real’s “Legbegbe,” capitalised on this street craze.
• Davido – “Skelewu” (2013): A classic playbook move with instructional video and nationwide dance competition.
When Dance Isn’t Needed
On the other hand, some of Nigeria’s biggest hits rose without a dance challenge. See some below:
• Ayra Starr – “Commas” (2024): Surpassed 100M Spotify streams, certified Gold in Canada, and charted internationally, all without a major dance trend.
• Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – “Piece of My Heart” (2024): Set Spotify Nigeria’s biggest first-day streams and YouTube Nigeria streaming records through star power and anticipation, not choreography.
• Davido & YG Marley – “Awuke” (2024): Became Davido’s longest-running No.1 on the Official Nigeria Top 100, with success tied to its quality and streaming push, not a dance.
• Seyi Vibez – “Different Pattern” (2024): One of the top-performing songs of Q1 2024, thriving on street credibility and streaming, not a challenge.
• Asake – “Lonely At The Top” (2023): Nigeria’s longest-running No.1 song, without a dedicated dance trend.
• Rema – “Calm Down” (2022–2023): Reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot 100, powered by remixes and radio, not the viral dance videos by fans.
• Fireboy DML & Ed Sheeran – “Peru” (2021–2022): Climbed to No.2 on the UK Singles Chart thanks to strong airplay.
• Pheelz & BNXN – “Finesse” (2022): TikTok-driven through memes and audio trends, not choreography.
• Wizkid & Tems – “Essence” (2021): The first Afrobeats song to crack the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Top 10, carried by melody and cultural resonance.
• CKay – “Love Nwantiti” (2019–2021): Became a worldwide hit through remixes and covers, not tied to a single routine.
The Bottom Line
So, is dance still necessary for a Nigerian hit to blow? Yes, and No.
• Yes, as a catalyst: Dance challenges continue to supercharge songs into mainstream awareness. Buga, Unavailable, Kese (Dance), With You are proof.
• No, as a requirement: Some of Nigeria’s most significant global records like Essence, Calm Down, Peru, Lonely At The Top, and more recent hits like Commas and Piece of My Heart succeeded without a dance.
Conclusion
Dance is no longer a mandatory ingredient for success in Nigerian music. It’s still one of the most effective marketing tools available, but melody, remixes, star power, and global distribution can be just as powerful.
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