Fast-rising Nigerian Afrobeat star, Fido is one artiste the industry and its fans should look out for this year. Fido continues to inch closer to the big leagues after the release of his hittrack – Awolowo. The Afrobeat genre is going agog with Fido’s “Joy Is Coming” his latest ushering in the new year 2025.
Joy is coming was released on December 14 and has been tearing-up the airwaves since then. The song is one of the most used by Nigerian content creators on social media this season.
Why Fido’s Joy Is Coming Is Such A Big Deal
The song, Joy Is Coming is a perfect song to usher in the new year, especially with the country reeling from hard times from the reforms of the current government.
Fido’s Joy is coming has also become a hit, latching on to the high religious sentiments of Nigerians who believe that there is always a better day; especially after a tough year.
The song has dethroned Davido, Chike and Odumodublvck’s hit, Funds at the top of Apple Music Naija top 100. The song has also come in strong to dethrone Funds as the number one street anthem for the month of December. The song dethroned Funds just after three weeks of it being at the top of the charts.
The Influences Behind The Success Of Fido’s Joy Is Coming And Its Lyrics
The song itself is influenced by a Bible verse popularly used by people who have been through some sort of distress or the other. This verse is Psalm 30:5, which reads, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
The lyrics of the song sends a powerful message, especially the hook:
“Mòdupè, Olúwa, Olúwa, ye-ay (I’m thankful, God, God ye-ay)
Joy is coming, Joy is coming “
Other powerful verses include the first one which reads:
“Put on your shoe, make you stand at ease
All your sorrow, make you dance dem free
If e no be Galala Galala, ye!
If e no be Galala, I go give dem Fuji.”
Galala and Fuji are some of the popular local musical genres both born in the slums of Lagos including Ajegunle, and Mushin. These musical genres, though not international, heavily influence and serve as the basis of the Afrobeat genre. They have superstars like Wizkid, Timaya, Wande Coal and Burna Boy as representations of these sub genres.
Another popular part of the song is that which sings:
“Upu NEPA, upu NEPA (woza) [up NEPA, up NEPA]
Òluwá ti mu’ná dé ay-ay (My God has brought on the light)
Awon t’èmi Sá’ná wo’lé ay-ay (Let my guys come in with the lit-up drinks)”
NEPA is in reference to the various electricity distribution companies in Nigeria which used to be the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA). It then became privatised in the early 2000s with its name changing multiple times. With the country suffering from epileptic power supply, there is always joy in the streets when the power comes back on. This makes everyone scream in excitement; “Up NEPA!” And through the sale, acquisitions and segmentations of the National power grid into electricity distribution companies, many Nigerians still refer to these companies as NEPA.
Sá’ná wo’lé literally means strike on the light. This references the popular act done in night clubs and bars when someone buys an expensive drink. The waiters celebrate the sale of the drink and the buyer by putting on sparklers on the bottle as they carry them to the buyer.
Many Nigerians wish to get so rich that they may also have to buy expensive drinks in the club with sparklers on them. This dream is held on to by many as they move into the new year 2025.
Points Validating Fido’s Joy Is Coming Success
One of the points validating the song’s success in the Nigerian sphere is its ability to be sung along to. Fido uses a mixture of catchy words, generally accepted language and simple lyrics to capture his listeners.
Also coupled with it is the fact that “Joy is coming” can be tagged as either an Afrobeat or Gospel song gives him more access to the conservative Nigerian community.
Fido is seen as the biggest competitor to some of Afrobeat icons like Kizz Daniels and Skibii. The Matogun born singer is one of the few Ogun State-born artistes to rock the Afrobeat scene. With his progress, it seems Fido is out to put his name on the history books of the music genre.
Who Is Fido?
Christened Awosika Olayemi Joseph, Fido was a part of the choir in his local church growing up. One can see his ambitious drive from being raised by a single mother.
That doesn’t mean that Fido doesn’t have the onions to back up his trade. He is a product of the lagos-based performing arts institute, the Performing arts, Entrepreneurship, Fashion and Technology Innovations Institute (PEFTI Film Institute. The institute is owned and run by the popular Nigerian soap-opera giant, Wale Adenuga; who had his works like Papa Ajasco and Super Story; influencing the lives of many Nigerians growing up.
Fido attended the institute in 2019 and joined Inner Circle for artiste development.
His hit song, Awolowo gathered attention, making it to the top 10 positions of both Apple, Spotify and Shazam’s lists.
Final Words
We at Trickle Media See Fido going on to become one of the legends of the Afrobeat genre, not just in Nigeria, but worldwide. All he has to do is to keep up his staying power and continue to get better. We wish him all the best as the year 2025 unfolds!
