Being an adult in a country such as Nigeria is no child’s play. Let’s be honest, being a responsible adult can be daunting and can pose as a lot of stress. It seems all we do as adults is basically pay bills upon bills and deal with the harsh realities of life. Sometimes, we just want to escape, and relinquish adulthood. If only wishes were horses, right?
While it is physically impossible to go back to being children, however, it is possible to relive some of the memories that remind you of much easier times through music. Music has the power to evoke nostalgia and many times, nostalgia is such a beautiful feeling.
This sentimental reminiscent longing for a period in the past could be triggered by a variety of things, one of which is music and is scientifically proven. Neuro-imaging makes us aware of the fact that when we listen to songs, several spheres of the brain are stimulated and when they are the good ones, there is a supply of dopamine to the brain, which ultimately provides pleasure to the brain cells.
There are songs we listened to during our important, formative years as children or teenagers that if played now, remind us of the sweet, old days. There is literally a plethora of songs for the average Nigerian millennial, but strictly for the purpose of this listicle, we’re listing only 7 of them.
‘Kolomental’ – Faze (2006)
No, Victony isn’t the first person to have a song with this title. He was in primary school when this track off Faze’s ‘Independent’ album was doing crazy numbers – courtesy Alaba distribution networks. The record was an epidemic that tentatively turned Nigeria into a bughouse. Almost every young person in the country mimicked lunatic dance steps every time it was played and I consider that a reflection of our true identities, especially in Lagos.
‘If Love Is A Crime’ – 2Baba (2006)
This song was another reason to be a mumu for love at the time. It was another reason for the guys to spend their school fees, trying to get ice cream for their high school lover, and for the babes to steal provision from their mothers’ shops for their bobo in boarding school. Love in itself might not have been a crime, but it definitely involved some elements of it. If you are looking for instant time travel, this is the one.
‘Imagine That’ – STYL-Plus (2006)
Laced majorly with Yoruba language and pain from heartbreak, this song has lyrics catchy enough for the dumbest human alive at the time to know it word for word. It was released at a time when the band was as their peak and was one of their countless hit singles.
‘Ifunanya’ – P. Square (2007)
Many of us sang along to it, cried to it and even choreographed to it. The afropop/R&B record was a special love song by arguably one of the biggest musical groups to ever emanate from Africa. You would literally act like you were in love with any Ifunanya you knew, just so that you could relate to the lyrics of this jam.
‘Fire On The Mountain’ – Asa (2007)
This 2007 folklore banger introduced the nerdy, uber talented and Iconic Asa to the most of her Nigerian audience. I personally remember my first impression when I saw the visuals on TV screen. I didn’t even think the song was by a Nigerian artiste because of how different it sounded from the normal afro-hiphop that was mainstream at the time. The song is a classic in every ramification of the word and it certainly brings back memories.
‘Ololufe’ – Wande Coal (2007)
Talk about an anthem for lovers. This song by Wande Coal is popularly regarded as one of the best love songs ever from Nigeria. Ololufe was that song every young boy and girl sang to their crush or love interest. Wande coal’s sultry vocals and smooth delivery still lingers and can very much strike a chord till date. Today, if you listen to this song, you might probably crack a smile fueled by memories of the times that have been. Oh, young love. How sweet and breakfast-free!
‘Shayo’ – Bigiano (2010)
If you were an active socialite in that year, you certainly at some point must have gotten tired of this song because of how often it was played. ‘Shayo’ was a solid hit record. It would definitely leave you tap dancing with glee if it came up on the radio today; that’s for sure!
Still, time is never still. The hands of the clock are always moving and it means that just as the past stopped being the present, the present will also become the past some day. And right now will only become a memory in the next second. So this is a chance to make it a beautiful one by taking life one step at a time, because even beyond how much of a “scam” adulthood could be, life – truly – is one beautiful journey when we decide to always choose happiness.
What other songs would have made your list? Let us know.
Bomi Anifowose is a creative trying to navigate planet earth one simple step at a time. When he is not writing about the creative arts, or singing, he is somewhere in Utopia.
