As a Nigerian from the South West, music has always been more than entertainment—it is the air we breathe, the pulse of our streets, and the soul of our gatherings. Growing up, I was exposed to sounds from everywhere, and for me, rhythm matters more than lyrics.

There’s always been love for music from Northern Nigeria, we listened to icons like Dan Maraya Jos, Hajiya Barmani Choge with her calabash orchestra, and Bala Milla. These artists shaped my early encounters with Hausa music, yet, there was always a void—It felt like those voices, stories, and rhythms of the most spoken language in West Africa deserved to reach farther—similar to their Sahel counterparts from Mali, Senegal, Guinea, and beyond. Oumou Sangaré, Salif Keita, Ali Farka Touré, and many others come to mind.

Over the last year, I found myself filling that gap. My car radio rarely leaves Hausa stations, and it was there I discovered a song from 1993; Soyeya (Love) by the legendary Sa’adou Bori, a superstar of the 1990s and 2000s who found fame in Northern Nigeria and deeply loved by the people. His sound was rich, soulful, and deeply rooted in tradition yet modern in its pull. Born in Maradi, Niger Republic, Bori’s music exemplified how sound travels freely across the borders. Sadly, he died in a car crash in 2008 at just 42, ending a brilliant career that spanned nearly two decades. On the positive side, his powerful voice rings alive in his music and rich body of work.

Exploring his legacy led me deeper into the vibrant contemporary wave of Hausa music. Today’s artists blend tradition with modernity, creating music that feels both local and global. Their influence is unmistakable-even in the South, where artists that include Q Dot, Portable, and DJ Yk Mule weave Hausa rhythms into their work.

To share my journey, I have curated a playlist on Spotify and YouTube of ten favorite tracks from the North—the music that now shapes my daily reflections. From the captivating voice of Abdu Boda, the energy of young Dan Musa New Prince, the street-shaping power of Dauda Kahutu Rarara, to the vibrant Prince MK Baagi (Nupe), these songs remind me that Nigeria’s musical story is far bigger than any single genre.

‘Soyeya‘ – Sa’adou Bori

‘Asha Ruwa’ – Abdu Boda

‘Auren Ahmed & Aisha’ – Dan Musa New Prince

‘Buje’ – Sa’adou Bori

‘Nupe Vibe’ – Prince Mk Baagi

‘Jigida’ – Maryam Fantimoti 

‘Rika Dai Dijima’ – Dauda Kahutu Rarara

‘Dan Kwali’ – Sogha Niger 

‘Saminai Remix’ – Ali Jita

‘Anatayi Muna Taji’ – Nazir M. Ahmad

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