The SongarkiveA record of who made Nigeria’s traditional and grassroots songs, and the evidence for it.
Recently updated
- From Glory to GloryUnder reviewT. K. Ekundayo Phillips
Four-verse English hymn in four-part harmony, frequently sung at evening services and festive occasions at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos.
- Yoruba Magnificat in CUnder reviewT. K. Ekundayo Phillips
Setting of the Song of Mary (Luke 1:46 to 55) in Yoruba for choir, congregation and organ, often sung at synodical and diocesan services.
- Baba a f’ara WaUnder reviewT. K. Ekundayo Phillips
Short Yoruba vesper hymn, “Father, we surrender ourselves”, sung at the close of evening worship before the recessional in Anglican churches of south western Nigeria.
- I’ll Bless the Lord at All TimesUnattributed
Sung in Nigerian churches and catalogued as anonymous. The words are Psalm 34:1, which has many musical settings, so the first task is to establish which melody is meant here before an origin can be traced.
- Aka JehovaUnder reviewGabriel Eziashi
Igbo praise song, “the hand of Jehovah”, catalogued as the work of Gabriel Eziashi.
- Olorun T’o TobiUnder reviewMosun Olaitan
Yoruba praise song catalogued as the work of Mosun Olaitan, known as Mosun Exalter. Widely sung from 2019; the date it was composed is not recorded in the source.
- Way MakerUnder reviewSinach
Worship song by the Nigerian singer Sinach, covered worldwide. Its authorship is not in question, but it shows how quickly credit thins as a song travels: the original studio recording was removed from YouTube and Facebook in August 2024 amid a producer’s claim to a production credit.
- Sweet MotherUnder reviewPrince Nico Mbarga
Highlife song of praise for a mother’s care, recorded by Prince Nico Mbarga with his band Rocafil Jazz and released in December 1976 on Rogers All Stars, an Onitsha label, after EMI had turned the demo down in 1974. Reported as the best-selling single by an African artist, and so widely sung that it is often treated as a folk song, though its author is on record.
- Oh Glory, Glory, Glory to the LordUnder reviewBishop John O. Odiete
A fast congregational chorus sung in Nigerian churches, usually looped inside a praise medley. Attributed to Bishop John O. Odiete of Church of God Mission, Easter 1975. The claim is recorded as told and awaits evidence.