Oxlade Urges Afrobeats Stars to Revive 5-Minute Songs

|By Oko-Echem Agnes

Afrobeats sensation Ikuforiji Olaitan, widely known as Oxlade, has called on Nigerian musicians to extend the length of their songs, challenging the industry’s recent trend of short tracks.

Taking to his X handle on Thursday, Oxlade declared, “Bring back 5 minutes songs.” His appeal quickly struck a chord with fans and colleagues, sparking conversations about the changing dynamics of Afrobeats.

In recent years, Nigerian mainstream music has leaned heavily toward brevity, with many hits running barely over two minutes. The trend, pioneered by heavyweights like Wizkid and Mr Eazi, gained momentum as younger stars such as Rema, Joeboy, Omah Lay, and Ayra Starr stormed the scene between 2019 and 2021.

By contrast, South Africa’s Amapiano genre thrives on lengthy tracks, often stretching beyond seven minutes.

Oxlade himself once embraced the shorter format. His 2022 chart-topping single “Kulosa” lasts just 2 minutes and 31 seconds, a sharp contrast to the longer songs he now advocates for.

His latest call may signal a shift in how Afrobeats artists approach music production in an era dominated by fast streaming and viral trends.