When music observers and lovers that pay close watch to the growth of Nigerian music look back at 2022, it will be described as the year where the gates of international progression were significantly flung wider apart, with Afrobeats acts and their records notching wins and making statements greater than even some of their international counterparts. However, beyond the year of seismic smash hits and viral Tiktok challenges tucked under the Nigerian music industry’s belt, the power strides of the scene were backed locally by top-notch albums and EPs. With this in mind, the Notjustok staff community came together to rank the 15 best albums and EPs of the year judging by sonic and thematic quality, thematic diversity, cohesion, replay value and resonance.
Going against the typically unspoken calendar of the music scene which tends to spot minimal activity till the end of the first quarter of the year, Fave put out her debut project on the 20th of January. Despite her smash hit “Baby Riddim” already bringing in the ringer, Fave had not rested on her oars, delivering a 5-track EP that was not only soothing and hypnotic with songs like “Obsessed” but featured a refreshingly different perspective on what it is for a woman to navigate love in these times and climes– “Mr Man”.
