Oxlade Urges Nigerian Artists to Revive Five-Minute Songs

Diafa Doubra,

Nigerian Afrobeats star, Ikuforiji Olaitan*m, popularly known as Oxlade, has urged fellow artistes to return to making longer songs, saying the industry needs to “bring back five-minute tracks.”

The singer made the call in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, sparking reactions from fans and colleagues. Oxlade’s appeal comes at a time when many Nigerian songs average just two to three minutes, a trend driven by streaming platforms and younger artists like Rema, Joeboy, Omah Lay and Ayra Starr, who have popularized shorter tracks.

Interestingly, Oxlade himself has benefited from this style, with his 2022 breakout hit, “Kulosa,” running just 2 minutes and 31 seconds. Still, he now believes that longer songs would allow for deeper storytelling, richer instrumentals, and more emotional connection with listeners.

His comments have reopened debates about creativity versus commercial success in Afrobeats, as fans continue to compare Nigeria’s short songs with South Africa’s Amapiano tracks, which often run for seven minutes or more.