Afrobeats Lyrics that Deserve their Own Novels

 

By Olumide Labulo 

Afrobeats isn’t just music, it’s pure storytelling magic layered over addictive beats that make your shoulders move whether you like it or not. Sure, the drums slap and the melodies are sweet, but half the reason these songs stick to your head is because the artistes drop lines so vivid, so dramatic that they practically beg to leap off the speakers and into the pages of a novel.

You’ll be grooving in your car when suddenly you hear Burna Boy declaring he’ll “chop you like suya,” and you start picturing an entire romantic comedy set in a Lagos suya joint. Or Wizkid crooning about “spiritual ginger,” and your mind spins off into fantasies of secret powers and mystical dance floors. But while plenty of people talk about the hottest Afrobeats tracks, hardly anyone’s asking the real question: What if these lyrics were actual novels? Because let’s be honest, Nigerian artistes know how to turn a simple sentence into a scene worthy of its own plot twist and some of these lines carry enough drama, romance, or outright wahala.

So here’s a playful look at five Afrobeats lyrics that absolutely deserve to be transformed into books bordering on romantic thrillers, mystical adventures, military thrillers, etc.

1. “She tell me say, she no go leave me, she no go run away.” from Joeboy's “Baby”

Imagine a young Lagos banker meets the perfect girl. She’s sweet, loyal, and swears she’ll never leave him. Then poof! It all goes up in smoke. Her real name isn’t even what she told him, and she’s running an elaborate dating scam. "Baby" becomes a romantic thriller where love and fraud tango baje baje, and Joeboy might just get a cameo as the soundtrack to every heartbreaking scene.

2. “I go chop you like suya.” from Burna Boy's “Gbona”

Omo, this one choke oh. Nothing says romance like comparing someone to spicy meat on a stick. Lol. Burna Boy’s sizzling line would make the perfect title for a romantic comedy set in a bustling Lagos suya spot where a fiery female chef and a grumpy food critic clash, flirt, and eventually..., well,  chop each other like suya. Lol.  If you don't gerrit, forgerrit!

3. "Spiritual ginger.” from Wizkid's “Fever”

This is a whole fantasy novel waiting to happen, walahi. Imagine a young musician in Lagos whose lyrics hold secret mystical powers: healing the sick, unlocking secrets, or summoning supernatural vibes. But of course, with great ginger comes great responsibility, and dark forces want his “spiritual ginger” for themselves. 

4. “Make e no cause yawa.” from Patoranking's “Abule”

To be frank, no one likes to be disgraced. Not even in Nigeria where shame no get house. It seems to be the eternal prayer of every Nigerian: “Make e no cause yawa.” or "God abeg oh." This line belongs in a chaotic, comedic novel set during a neighborhood party in Abule. The protagonist’s mission? Keep the peace, stop the DJ from fighting the MC, and ensure Mama Chioma’s rice doesn’t mysteriously vanish from the buffet. 

5. "Only your body fit calm my stress.” from Omah Lay's, “Understand”

This is the swoon-worthy title of an emotional romance novel about a young man battling Lagos traffic, career stress, and existential dread. Like the balm in Gilead thing, all becomes soothed by the gentle presence of his lover. But of course, there’s a dark secret threatening to ruin everything, because Afrobeats songs love a little heartbreak with their vibes. Or even yank the twist and just maintain a straight plot. It depends.

So who says Nigerian music is just about dance floors and club bangers? With lyrics this rich, Afrobeats is practically a library waiting to happen. Until then, let's keep vibing and daydreaming!