10 new songs this week, from FOLA’s 9 to Rybeena and Niniola

FOLA’s second album arrives on New Music Friday with Davido, Ayra Starr and BNXN on the guest list, and it leads GistMatrix’s countdown of new songs this week for Friday, 9 October 2026. GistMatrix checked each Nigerian and African pick on Apple Music Nigeria at about 8:40am WAT on Friday: the release date, the label and the track count.

Seven of the ten came out on Friday itself. The list also carries the song sitting at the top of Apple Music Nigeria’s trending chart that morning, and two global albums with a British-Nigerian thread running through one of them.

This is an editorial ranking, not an official chart. It weighs how fresh each release is, the names on it and how much Nigerians are talking about it.

What are the new songs this week?

The 10 picks are FOLA’s 9, Tobe Nwigwe’s THE BRIDGE, Rybeena and Niniola’s “Carried Away (Oke Agba)”, KOHDEE’s THE KOHDEX, Blaqbonez and Asake’s “IKEBE 3000”, WAVE$TAR’s Swagstar, Moelogo’s CNM (Can Never Miss), Chief Priest and Evado’s “Go Hard or Go Home”, Chase & Status’s Generic Everything and Troye Sivan’s She’s The Best.

1. FOLA, 9 (album, Afropop)

Davido, Ayra Starr and BNXN, all on one striker-themed album.

Afolarin Odunlami, known as FOLA, released his 14-track second album on Friday, 9 October through Dangbana Republik and EMPIRE. Davido features on “2am in toronto”, Ayra Starr on “treat u right”, BNXN on “my type”, Darkoo on “hold u down”, and Bella Shmurda and Zlatan share “it’s over”, according to the tracklist notJustOk published on Wednesday. Apple Music’s own blurb says the album channels a striker’s ambition.

Why it ranks: it is the biggest Nigerian album of the week, the follow-up to his 2025 debut Catharsis, and “2am in toronto” was first on Apple Music Nigeria’s Best New Songs list on Friday morning.

Where to listen: Apple Music Nigeria.

2. Tobe Nwigwe, THE BRIDGE (album, hip-hop)

An Igbo-titled track with Busta Rhymes on it.

Tobe Nwigwe, the Houston rapper with Nigerian roots, released the 12-track THE BRIDGE on Friday, 9 October. Its song “CHINEKE”, with Busta Rhymes, was on Apple Music Nigeria’s Best New Songs list on Friday morning. “Chineke” means God in Igbo.

Why it ranks: a US hip-hop album that wears its Nigerian heritage in the song titles, with a rap veteran on board.

Where to listen: Apple Music Nigeria.

3. Rybeena and Niniola, “Carried Away (Oke Agba)” (single, Afrobeats)

Niniola joins Rybeena for a Friday drop.

Rybeena and Niniola released “Carried Away (Oke Agba)” as a single on Friday, 9 October. Rybeena’s Apple Music page also lists 2026 singles with Tml Vibez (“Sunita”, August) and BhadBoi OML (“Realize”, February).

Why it ranks: it is one of the freshest songs on the list and made Apple Music Nigeria’s Best New Songs list on release day.

Where to listen: Apple Music Nigeria.

4. KOHDEE, THE KOHDEX (album, Afrobeats)

Twelve tracks, with Oxlade on the standout.

KOHDEE released the 12-track THE KOHDEX on Friday, 9 October through Troniq, distributed by Sony Music Entertainment France. “Uwese”, with Oxlade, was picked for Apple Music Nigeria’s Best New Songs list. KOHDEE’s earlier singles include “Go Well” with Tekno in 2023.

Why it ranks: a full album with a major-label distributor behind it and a big-name feature.

Where to listen: Apple Music Nigeria.

5. Blaqbonez and Asake, “IKEBE 3000” (single, Afrobeats)

The song Nigeria is streaming most among the new arrivals.

Blaqbonez and Asake teamed up again for “IKEBE 3000”, their second collaboration after “Chanel”, notJustOk reported on Friday, 2 October. When GistMatrix checked on Friday morning, it was first on Apple Music Nigeria’s Trending Songs list.

Why it ranks: it leads the build-up to Blaqbonez’s album NOMADINHO: 4TH PRIME, which Pulse Nigeria reported is due on Friday, 16 October.

Where to listen: Apple Music Nigeria.

6. WAVE$TAR, Swagstar (debut project, rap)

A first project built on luxury talk and jokes.

WAVE$TAR released the 10-track Swagstar on Friday, 9 October under STARLIFE ENT. Apple Music lists it as a debut and highlighted “RIC FLAIR DRIP” on its Best New Songs list.

Why it ranks: Apple Music featured it at the top of its Nigeria New page on release day, alongside FOLA.

Where to listen: Apple Music Nigeria.

7. Moelogo, CNM (Can Never Miss) (EP, Afropop)

Six songs, out midweek.

Moelogo released the six-track CNM (Can Never Miss) on Wednesday, 7 October through Motrakz Records. Its song “Poseidon’s Love” made Apple Music Nigeria’s Best New Songs list.

Why it ranks: a midweek release that beat the Friday rush and was still on the new-music list on Friday.

Where to listen: Apple Music Nigeria.

8. Chief Priest and Evado, “Go Hard or Go Home” (single, Afrobeats)

The Cubana nightlife boss is on the trending chart.

Pascal Okechukwu, the businessman known as Cubana Chief Priest, released “Go Hard or Go Home” with Evado on Friday, 2 October. On Friday, 9 October it was on Apple Music Nigeria’s Trending Songs list.

Why it ranks: a celebrity release that is still climbing a week on.

Where to listen: Apple Music Nigeria.

9. Chase & Status, Generic Everything (album, drum and bass)

Little Simz and J Hus on a UK dance album.

British duo Chase & Status released Generic Everything on Friday, 9 October, their first studio album in four years, according to the Official Charts Company. Guests include Little Simz, the British rapper of Nigerian heritage, J Hus, Giggs and Blanco.

Why it ranks: it is one of the UK’s biggest releases of the week, and Little Simz gives Nigerian listeners a reason to press play.

Where to listen: not confirmed in Nigeria; the album did not show in Apple Music Nigeria’s search when GistMatrix checked on Friday morning.

10. Troye Sivan, She’s The Best (album, pop)

The Australian singer’s fourth studio project.

Troye Sivan released She’s The Best on Friday, 9 October, the Official Charts Company reported. Sivan describes it as a painting of his life in all its moods.

Why it ranks: the week’s biggest global pop album.

Where to listen: not confirmed in Nigeria; it did not show in Apple Music Nigeria’s search on Friday morning.

What did GistMatrix check?

GistMatrix opened Apple Music Nigeria’s New page at about 8:40am WAT on Friday, 9 October and checked each Nigerian and African pick’s release date, label and track count against Apple’s own listing. Two global albums from the Official Charts Company’s New Music Friday list did not appear in Apple Music Nigeria’s search at that time, so their Nigerian availability is marked as not confirmed.

What happens next

Next Friday, 16 October, is stacked. Blaqbonez’s NOMADINHO: 4TH PRIME is due that day, Pulse Nigeria reported, and BellaNaija reported on 22 September that Fireboy DML’s ZUKO! and Kizz Daniel’s Radio Gidi are also set for 16 October. The next GistMatrix Music Countdown follows on Friday, 16 October.

FAQ

When did FOLA’s album 9 come out?
FOLA released 9, his second album, on Friday, 9 October 2026 through Dangbana Republik and EMPIRE.

Who features on FOLA’s 9?
Davido, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Darkoo, Bella Shmurda and Zlatan, according to the tracklist notJustOk published on 7 October 2026.

Which new albums are out on 16 October 2026?
Blaqbonez’s NOMADINHO: 4TH PRIME, Fireboy DML’s ZUKO! and Kizz Daniel’s Radio Gidi have all been reported for Friday, 16 October.

Which of these is on repeat for you this weekend? Tell us in the comments.

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