10 African Songs That Found a Second Life on TikTok
TikTok has become one of music’s most unpredictable rediscovery engines. A song can spend years existing within the memories of its original listeners before a 15-second snippet, an unexpected dance routine or a particularly funny video introduces it to an entirely different generation. Across Africa, this has created some remarkable second acts for records that had seemingly completed their commercial runs. From Nigerian Highlife classics to Ivorian Afro-zouk, Ugandan pop and Congolese rumba, songs have found renewed popularity through creators who have given them fresh cultural contexts. Some have returned to streaming charts, others have introduced forgotten artists to younger audiences, and a few have achieved international recognition that eluded them at their original release. Here are ten African records that found another life through TikTok.
1. Love Nwantiti – CKay
CKay’s “Love Nwantiti” is perhaps one of the most consequential examples of an African song finding a second life through TikTok. Originally released in 2019 as part of his CKay the First EP, the romantic Afropop record initially enjoyed a modest reception before a viral dance trend on TikTok in 2021 changed its fortunes. Its catchy refrain, understated percussion and infectious melody made it an easy fit for dance videos, romantic clips and user-generated remixes. The resulting momentum was extraordinary. The song climbed to No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, while different versions collectively generated more than six million TikTok video creations, according to contemporary industry reporting. What began as a relatively understated release became CKay’s international breakthrough.
2. Ameyatchi – Mathey
Nearly three decades after its release, Ivorian singer Mathey’s “Ameyatchi” became an unexpected international sensation. Originally released in 1996, the Afro-zouk record found a new audience in 2023 when a dance trend built around its infectious instrumental introduction began spreading on TikTok. The simple choreography, featuring a distinctive side-to-side hip movement, proved particularly popular, eventually generating more than four million videos under the sound. The trend also introduced younger listeners to Mathey’s music and her place in Côte d’Ivoire’s musical history. Its commercial impact was equally significant: in March 2024, the song received Gold certification in France, following its resurgence and renewed streaming success. Mathey subsequently released a remix, capitalising on the unexpected attention surrounding a record that had spent years outside the mainstream conversation.
3. Gentility – Melvitto featuring Wande Coal
Released in 2019, “Gentility” was one of those records that demonstrated Wande Coal’s enduring ability to make melodic magic sound effortless. Produced by Melvitto, the song eventually found an unexpected audience in early 2022 when a sped-up version became popular on TikTok. The accompanying waist-whining dance videos gave the record a new lease of life, bringing it back into conversations and onto streaming charts. It eventually reached No. 1 on Apple Music’s Top 100: Nigeria chart. Wande Coal also joined the excitement, offering a ₦1 million reward for the best video created to the song. A few years after its original release, “Gentility” had become a fresh favourite for a generation of listeners who might otherwise have missed it.
4. Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche (Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo) – Gentleman Mike Ejeagha
Few TikTok revivals have been as culturally significant as the resurgence of Gentleman Mike Ejeagha’s “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche”, popularly recognised by its “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo” refrain. Originally released in 1983, the Igbo Highlife recording experienced a remarkable resurgence in July 2024 after comedian Brain Jotter incorporated it into a dance video that inspired thousands of recreations. The challenge involved a distinctive, comical walking routine that quickly became a social media favourite, bringing the 41-year-old recording to the attention of younger listeners and international audiences. Within a week of the trend taking off, the song had inspired approximately 29,000 TikTok posts, while Brain Jotter’s original video had accumulated 19.6 million views on TikTok. The renewed attention also brought people to Ejeagha’s doorstep, with admirers visiting to celebrate the veteran musician and his contribution to Nigerian folklore.
5. Londa Enamba Yo – Betty Mpologoma
Ugandan singer Betty Mpologoma experienced an unexpected return to the spotlight when her 2005 hit “Londa Enamba Yo” became a popular TikTok sound in August 2024. The resurgence began with a humorous video by TikTok creator Jelton, which poked fun at women who did not receive gifts on International Girlfriends Day. The song quickly caught on, with more than 83,000 users adopting it as a soundtrack for their own videos. Its popularity extended beyond the platform, returning the record to nightclubs and live performances across Uganda. The renewed attention was significant enough that Mpologoma publicly expressed gratitude to the creators who had brought her music back into circulation and considered rewarding them. It was an unexpected reminder that a song released almost two decades earlier could still find a new generation of admirers through the right social media moment.
6. Nwanem Ebezina – Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe
Another Highlife classic that found an unexpected audience through TikTok is Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe’s “Nwanem Ebezina”, often shortened to “Ebezina”. Originally included on his 1996 album Kedu America, the song began circulating widely on TikTok in late 2022 and early 2023. Its use in dance videos and cultural appreciation content introduced the recording to a younger audience, many of whom were encountering Osadebe’s music for the first time. The song’s title, which translates roughly to “my sibling, do not cry”, and its unmistakable Highlife arrangement made it particularly appealing for creators celebrating Igbo culture. Its resurgence is another reminder that Nigeria’s musical archives contain records capable of finding new relevance decades after their original release.
7. Kassongo – Orchestra Super Mazembe
More than four decades after its original release, “Kassongo” by Orchestra Super Mazembe found a fresh audience through TikTok. Originally released in 1977 on the group’s Giants of East Africa album, the recording blends Congolese rumba with an infectious rhythm and storytelling that has kept it memorable among older East African music enthusiasts. Its TikTok resurgence in 2024 came through dance challenges, nostalgic skits and cultural appreciation videos. The renewed popularity was substantial: Capital FM Kenya reported in November 2024 that the song had inspired more than 157,000 user-generated videos and accumulated millions of views. Beyond the dance routines, the renewed interest also introduced younger audiences to Orchestra Super Mazembe, a group whose music helped shape East Africa’s popular music landscape.
8. Shake Body – Skales
Ten years after its original release, Skales’ “Shake Body” returned to the spotlight through an unlikely connection with European football. The 2015 dancefloor favourite first received renewed attention through a remix by Dutch DJ Onderkoffer, which began circulating on TikTok and Instagram. However, the defining moment came in March 2025 when Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal shared a video of himself dancing to the original song alongside fellow footballers Nico Williams and Samu Omorodion. The clip took off, inspiring another wave of dance videos and introducing the record to audiences far beyond its original market. The resurgence generated more than 200,000 streams in just ten hours. The renewed attention also opened up new opportunities for Skales, including a European tour and an appearance at Barcelona’s Copa del Rey celebrations.
9. Over Again – Edem
Twelve years after its original release, Ghanaian rapper Edem’s “Over Again” found a new audience through TikTok. The record, which had already enjoyed a successful run on Ghanaian radio, returned to prominence in 2026 as younger creators began using it to soundtrack emotionally driven videos, relationship skits and personal storytelling. Its renewed relevance came from the way its lyrics lent themselves to relatable situations involving love, betrayal and emotional resilience. The resurgence was not limited to social media engagement either. In February 2026, the song had re-entered Spotify’s Top 100 in Ghana, alongside renewed activity across other streaming platforms. For Edem, it was a welcome return for a record that had spent more than a decade in his catalogue before finding another cultural moment.
10. Piki Piki Skirt – Afunika
Zambian singer Afunika’s “Piki Piki Skirt” is another example of how TikTok can carry African music beyond its original geographical audience. Released in 2018, the song found wider international attention through TikTok around 2022, as its energetic rhythm and dance-friendly sections became popular among creators. Its emergence was part of a wider moment in which African records were finding new audiences through short-form videos, dance routines and viral sounds. In a 2022 report on African artists finding global audiences through TikTok, Le Monde highlighted CKay’s “Love Nwantiti”, as one of the songs experiencing explosive online popularity. It was a significant moment for Zambian music, demonstrating that the platform’s influence was extending well beyond the more internationally established music scenes.
