Northern Nigerian musicians are reclaiming their place in the country’s music industry. Leading this resurgence are artists like FirstKlaz, Namenj, DJ AB, OG Abbah, and Dap Boy, each bringing fresh energy and sound to the scene.

The new wave of Arewa stars turns up with a rise of fresh acts and innovative sounds that blend the current Nigerian Afrobeats style with influences from both past and present Northern musical traditions. They are making waves online, producing viral hits, and collaborating with major names in the Nigerian music industry.

The momentum hit its strongest peak this ember month period of the year with several releases and a tremendous amount of social media buzz. The revival spans multiple Northern hubs, including Kaduna, Abuja, Jos, and Katsina.

Northern music acts struggled to break into the mainstream, leaving many talents unseen. This new generation, however, is changing the narrative and proving the North can compete with Nigeria’s music heavyweights.

The North has previously produced stars such as M.I. Abaga, Arewa Mafia (Classic), Magnito, B.O.C Madaki, Morell, Ice Prince, and Jesse Jagz.

Below are the new artists shaping the modern Hausa music scene in Nigeria.

FirstKlaz
In the nation’s capital, young and fast-rising Afrobeats and Afro-fusion artist FirstKlaz, a Nasarawa state-born and Abuja-raised singer, is changing the game, opening a wider presence for Northern music. He seamlessly blends R&B, Afro-Tunes, and hip-hop with traditional Arewa sounds, partnering with veteran Northern band Ilya Entertainment to create a fresh musical identity.

FirstKlaz has produced an impressive range of tunes, capitalising on his Gen Z series, which took concrete shape in 2024 and quickly gained widespread attention online. He has collaborated with notable artists such as Terry Apala, Jeriq, Zlatan, and Joeboy, further solidifying his rising profile. This year, he released his latest EP, Deja Vu, in October, featuring standout tracks such as Soyaiya, UMI, Aure, and Genz Arewazobia.

His sound draws inspiration from musical legends past and present, with influences ranging from Angelique Kidjo and Bob Marley to Ice Prince and Olamide, positioning FirstKlaz as one of the most promising talents in Northern Nigerian music and standing as a pioneer of Kalangu (talking drum) sound.

Namenj
Ali Jubril Namanjo, popularly known as Namenj, is an Afro-pop singer blending contemporary music with Hausa cultural elements, originally from Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. He gained a breakthrough after covering Adekunle Gold’s ‘Orente’. The self-acclaimed ‘North Star’ stands out with his unique style and sound, with notable hits like Dama, NaMatsu, Kagiya Watarana, and his latest single, Yaushe, released late last month. The singer is considered one of the top acts from the Northern music scene.

DJ AB
Kaduna-based rapper and singer Haruna Abdullahi, professionally known as DJ AB, ranks just behind First Klaz and stands among the top acts in the Northern music scene.

Revered by fans as ‘The King in the North’, DJ AB is one of the most promising talents shaking up the region with hit tracks like Soyayya Dadi, Ke da No, Masoyiya, and his latest single, Basuso.

At 31 years old, he remains a leading figure in Arewa music, consistently pushing the boundaries and shaping the sound of Northern Nigeria.

OG Abbah
Deep in the Arewa music scene emerged OG Abbah, a rising Northern artist who has taken the internet by storm with his latest single, ‘Wayyo Allah Na’. The track quickly became a viral sensation, inspiring fans and netizens to participate in various challenges across TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms, with millions of views and likes on the track.

The song’s massive popularity has earned it the tag of ‘Song of December’ among netizens, making it the perfect soundtrack for year-end celebrations.

‘Wayyo Allah Na’ has now amassed over a million streams on Spotify, with over 300,000 monthly listeners, and is charting across multiple music platforms. It currently ranks among the Top 100 songs on Apple Music Nigeria, holding the number 39 spot.

Mr Dap Boy
Following closely behind OG Abbah is Mr Dap Boy, another fresh artist making waves on social media from Katsina, Nigeria, particularly through TikTok, with his latest single, ‘Lokaci’, which has generated a lot of buzz online.

The young act joins the momentum and boosts the coverage of the effort revolving around the Northern music scene.