Apple Music has closed out 2025 in Nigeria with a list that tells a clear story about the sound of the year. The country leaned into buoyant Afrobeats grooves, star collaborations, and a handful of songs that became part of everyday life from Lagos to London. At the very top is Asake’s Why Love, a single that dominated streams and conversation all year long.
Why Love by Asake, the song that defined parts of 2025
Why Love sits at number one for good reason. The song combined an irresistible melodic hook with Asake’s signature vocal urgency and production that married streetwise percussion with pop polish. Beyond the numbers, Why Love became a cultural moment. It provided the soundtrack for viral dance routines, radio rotation, and playlist placements across Africa and the diaspora. Those factors turned casual listeners into repeat listeners, which is exactly what Apple Music measures.
Wizkid’s presence and the power of collaborations
Wizkid appears multiple times on the list, proving his continuing pull in 2025. Kese Dance landed at number two and showcased Wizkid’s ability to evolve while remaining unmistakably himself. His pairings with Asake also paid off. MMS, the joint effort with Asake, and Bad Girl featuring Asake both made the year-end top ten, demonstrating how big-name collaborations can amplify streaming momentum in a crowded market.
Davido’s streaming strength with features and emotive tracks
Davido’s entries underscore another trend of 2025. Funds featuring ODUMODUBLVCK and Chike lands in the top three, and With You featuring Omah Lay is another confirmation that Davido’s melodic instincts and choice of collaborators translated into sustained listening. The song With You found favor on playlists and in playlists that drive repeat plays, a big component of year-end tallies.
Rising voices and crossover moments
The list also highlights rising and versatile artists. BNXN appears twice with Fi Kan We Kan alongside Rema and with Pidgin and English as a solo feature, showing the emergence of songwriting and vocal styles that resonate with younger listeners. FOLA’s who does that featuring Bella Shmurda captured attention enough to break into the top ten, which is notable for a track that built momentum through social sharing and radio. These placements show that 2025’s streaming landscape rewarded both established star power and breakout synergy.
Why collaborations mattered in 2025
One of the clearest takeaways from Apple Music’s year-end lists is how collaboration amplified reach. When two established artists join forces the combined fanbases, playlisting opportunities, and editorial attention multiply. In 2025 those dynamics pushed multiple collaborations into the top ten. The result was not just higher single counts for artists, but a sense that Nigerian pop in 2025 was communal and celebratory, at times playful and at times reflective.
Numbers and context
Apple Music’s regional year-end lists are shaped by cumulative streams on the platform over the 12-month period. They do not mirror a single chart week but rather the aggregation of listener behavior across the year including repeat plays, playlist placements, and radio synergy. The songs named as the most streamed in Nigeria reflect both momentary hits and tracks that enjoyed long life in listeners’ rotations. For specifics Apple Music’s Top Songs of 2025 Nigeria playlist provides a direct look at how those tracks stacked up across the service.
What this means going forward
The 2025 Apple Music Nigeria list points to a few likely continuities. First, collaborations will remain crucial as a growth strategy. Second, artists who can craft both viral moments and songs with staying power have an advantage when platforms reward repeat listening. Third, Nigerian music continues to be a two-way cultural exchange. Local hits cross borders quickly, and international attention feeds back into domestic streaming. Expect labels, artists, and curators to lean into those dynamics in 2026.
The Top Ten, as reported
- Why Love by Asake
- Kese Dance by Wizkid
- Funds by Davido featuring ODUMODUBLVCK and Chike
- MMS by Asake and Wizkid
- With You by Davido featuring Omah Lay
- Joy is Coming by Fido
- Fi Kan We Kan by BNXN and Rema
- Pidgin and English by BNXN
- Bad Girl by Wizkid featuring Asake
- who does that by FOLA featuring Bella Shmurda.
Apple Music’s regional year-end lists are a useful mirror for where listening attention landed. For lovers of Nigerian music, the 2025 list celebrates big hooks, clever pairings, and songs that became part of everyday life. If you want to dive into the full 100 song rundown, Apple Music’s Top Songs of 2025 Nigeria playlist is the place to listen.