Showbiz
How Flavour’s Uplifted Album Changed the Game: 15 Years of Igbo Pride and Global Hits
Fifteen years ago, something truly special dropped onto the music scene: Flavour N’abania’s second album, Uplifted. This was a first showcase of his talent. With powerful vocals, masterful highlife production, and a deep connection to his cultural roots, Uplifted solidified Flavour’s reputation as a gifted artist.
At the time of its release, Uplifted smashed through borders and cultural divides, all thanks to Flavour’s deep commitment to celebrating his Nigerian roots, especially his Igbo heritage. This powerful connection to his culture has made him a major force, not just in Nigeria, particularly in the East, but also among the Igbo community dotted around the world.
The sheer success of Flavour’s cultural expression is highlighted by Spotify data from Uplifted and his other tracks. Even though his songs are deeply rooted in his culture and often sung in Igbo, they’re getting massive plays all over the globe.
Uplifted itself has stayed a big deal on streaming platforms, with its standout tracks racking up some serious numbers. Among the most-streamed hits from the Uplifted album are Ashawo Remix, Adamma, and Oyi (I dey Catch Cold). These tracks, along with other timeless fan favourites like Time To Party, Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix), and Game Changer (Dike) have all contributed significantly to Flavour’s overall streaming success, proving their lasting appeal. Reflecting on the album’s anniversary during an exclusive chat with Spotify, Flavour revealed that for him, “Adamma” truly captured the essence of Flavour from the Uplifted album era.”
From the heart of Nigeria to global playlists: Flavour’s universal pull
Flavour’s music really does have a universal pull. His songs have popped up in over 2 million user-made playlists, which shows just how much people are connecting with and sharing his tunes. And get this: in the last three years, from 2022 to 2024, Flavour’s music has seen a growth in streams, a total stream increase of 134% globally, and a 573% increase across Sub-Saharan Africa.
While 51% of his total audience is in Nigeria, his influence stretches far and wide with the USA, UK, Canada, South Africa, and France all among his top listening countries. That’s a truly global footprint, reaching across Africa, Europe, and America.
Leading Flavour’s listenership in Nigeria is a strong showing from Lagos, accounting for 38% of his Nigerian audience. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers State also follow closely, making up 22% and 16% respectively, together claiming 76% of his Nigerian audience. He also enjoys love in the east as two Eastern Nigerian cities, Enugu and Onitsha, break into his global top 10. Big international cities like Greater London, Johannesburg, and New York City feature prominently too. This wide geographical spread shows how his music crosses all sorts of borders.
Who’s listening? A look at Flavour’s fanbase
Flavour’s audience is diverse with Gen Zs (18-24 year olds) as his biggest fans globally and across Sub-Saharan Africa. This strong youth appeal is vital for his long-term success. While his music celebrates women, men form the majority of his listeners globally (57%) and in Sub-Saharan Africa (63%).
The lasting success of Uplifted highlights how digital streaming has completely changed the music industry. Platforms like Spotify have given artists like Flavour ways to connect with fans everywhere. These days, streaming data gives us a clear, numbers-based look at an artist’s reach, showing that Flavour’s cultural stories, delivered in fluent Igbo, truly resonate far beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Flavour’s strong link to his Igbo roots, seen in his music, has driven his global success, acting as a cultural bridge for Nigerian traditions. The ongoing popularity of Uplifted and his other songs on streaming platforms proves that genuine cultural expression, mixed with great artistry, ensures lasting success today. As Uplifted hits 15 years, it showcases the power of culture worldwide.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A 12-hour non-stop entertainment event offering various performances and activities all night long will take place in Lagos from the evening of December 21 into the early hours of December 22, 2025.
This programme known as InsomniaQ, is being put together by one of Africa’s leading digital payments platforms, Quickteller.
Quickteller is a brand powered by the Interswitch Group, and InsomniaQ was created to celebrate African creativity.
The all-night music and entertainment experience will hold at the Ballroom of the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.
It is designed to capture the vibrancy and cultural energy that define Lagos in December. InsomniaQ is positioned to become Africa’s newest must-attend December destination.
The concert blends diverse African soundscapes, creative expression, and immersive lifestyle experiences, offering a night curated for music lovers, diaspora returnees, cultural enthusiasts, and everyone drawn to the city’s festive season.
More than a concert, InsomniaQ represents a new cultural moment, one that celebrates the richness, depth, and diversity of African talent. With a lineup cutting across contemporary and alternative genres, the festival aims to introduce a bold, fresh, and unforgettable experience within Lagos’ already vibrant entertainment landscape.
“InsomniaQ is an invitation to celebrate African creativity in a way that feels bold, fresh, and true to who we are.
“Quickteller has always been an essential part of the experiences people value, and this festival brings that connection to life in an entirely new dimension.
“As Lagos welcomes friends, family, and visitors from around the world each December, we are proud to introduce a platform that showcases our music, our culture, and the vibrant energy that defines this season,” the Divisional Head of Growth Marketing for Quickteller Ecosystem at Interswitch, Mr Olawale Akanbi, noted.
Through Quickteller, Interswitch continues to champion initiatives that go beyond digital transactions to enrich the everyday life of millions of Nigerians.
InsomniaQ extends this mission by empowering cultural expression, unlocking creative opportunities, and supporting the continent’s growing entertainment ecosystem.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The quartet of Oyindamola Timothy (Fashion), Steve Adeyemo (Tech), Uche Kalu (Dance), and Emmanuel Elijah (Music) emerged the category winners of the Stanbic IBTC FUZE Talent Show 4.0.
They received N10 million each for their efforts, along with mentorship opportunities, industry exposure, and support to advance their creative journeys.
The four were chosen from the 12 finalists at an event aired on Sunday, December 14, 2025, on AIT (DStv Channel 253) at 7:00 pm, Africa Magic Showcase (DStv Channel 151) at 5:00 pm, and streamed live on the official Stanbic IBTC YouTube channel, connecting millions of viewers to the excitement and energy of the show.
The 2025 edition drew over 6,000 entries nationwide and continued to inspire a new wave of innovation among young Nigerians in fashion, technology, dance, and music. The participants fought for a share of the N90 million in prizes put up by the organisers.
This year, the FUZE Talent Show also introduced an exciting new twist: The Fan Favourite Feature, which allowed viewers across the country to vote for the contestant who most inspired them. This addition deepened audience participation and further strengthened FUZE’s mission to connect creativity with community support.
“FUZE 4.0 truly lived up to its promise as The Ultimate Show, a platform that celebrates courage, creativity, and innovation.
“Every contestant who graced that stage reminded us of the extraordinary potential of Nigerian youths.
“At Stanbic IBTC, we are proud to continue creating opportunities that help young people dream bigger, think bolder, and achieve more. It is all about home-grown talent for us as we power the made-in-Nigeria initiative,” the chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mr Chuma Nwokocha, said.
As excitement builds for FUZE Festival coming up on Saturday, December 20, 2025, attendees can anticipate experiencing this year’s edition theme The Ultimate Show in full, with circus-style attractions, from magicians and parade performers to flash mobs and art displays.
An expanded marketplace, freebies from participating partners and on-site Stanbic IBTC services will enhance convenience, while performances by Wande Coal, Pheelz, Chike, and Ms DSF will add a nostalgic, high-energy finish. Interested attendees can register to attend via the Stanbic IBTC Events App or visit www.events.stanbicibtc.com to secure their spot.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The 2019 single released by Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer, CKay, Love Nwantiti, has officially surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.
This feat has made him one of the few African artists to reach this milestone and the first Nigerian solo act to achieve this.
The song has sustained a global appeal, with listeners from the United States, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and the United Kingdom playing it in the last 28 days alone, a proof of the track’s staying power well beyond its viral peak.
This achievement places CKay in an elite group of African artists with billion-stream records on Spotify, which includes hits driven by collaborations with Nigerian artists, such as Drake’s One Dance (featuring Wizkid and Kyla), Future’s Wait For U (featuring Drake and Tems), and Rema’s Calm Down (featuring Selena Gomez), and solo song Water, by Tyla.
Love Nwantiti was released on CKay’s EP titled CKay the First. It began as a slow-burn masterpiece that captured a global audience. It then broke out by blending the grooving rhythm of Afrobeats with an emotional feeling and an entrancing melody, a sound CKay himself pioneered and coined as Emo-Afrobeats, fusing African rhythms with raw, heartfelt emotion.
The song, which translates to sweet gentle love in the Igbo language, communicates an intense desire for a love interest. Its journey from a homegrown Nigerian track to a cultural sensation fuelled by countless dance challenges, social virality, and international remixes is proof of the widespread power of its sound.
It remains a fixture on playlists globally, with over 3.9 million playlist adds and sustained streaming momentum across continents.
CKay achieved this historic mark with a solo, non-collaborative lead release by a Nigerian artist. This distinction highlights his unique vision and singular impact as both a writer and performer, making him a true torchbearer for the new generation of African music talent.
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