Apala Music (Sakara, Waka, Were) | Stream African Apala | Josplay | Josplay Music

Apala

Apala

Night Picks40 songs

Apala

Sakara, Waka, Were

Apala emerged in Ede, southwestern Nigeria, fusing traditional Yoruba music with Islamic practices as non-liturgical festival music. Pioneered by Haruna Ishola in 1947, the genre features Islamic cantillation, call-and-response vocals, and Yoruba percussion including gangan, agidigbo, and sekere. Apala draws from folklore and spirituality, serving as cultural resistance while addressing socio-political topics for working-class Yoruba communities.

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Apala

Apala

A mid-tempo Apala playlist for a content mood.

Igbo Highlife

Igbo Highlife

Igbo highlife music with patient guitar lines, dignified rhythms, and rich melodic storytelling. A timeless collection of traditional and classic Igbo highlife songs built on live instrumentation, steady groove, and communal spirit. Calm, warm, and heritage-driven, this playlist celebrates Eastern Nigerian highlife culture and enduring sounds that honor where the music comes from. Perfect for cultural listening, relaxed gatherings, and reflective moments.

Sundown Enugu

Sundown Enugu

Experience what an evening in a community bar sounds like in Enugu, Nigeria. Predominantly Igbo highlife, this curation of mid tempo highlife music creates the perfect background for conversations with friends. If you've got some palmwine, you will hit nirvana.

Ìṣẹ̀ṣe

Ìṣẹ̀ṣe

Ìṣẹ̀ṣe roughly translates to the Yoruba way of life. It is tradition, culture, religion all rolled into one. The Isese playlist is a collection of songs that pays tribute to Ìṣẹ̀ṣe. It predates genres like Apala, Juju, and Fuji. It is great for moments when you want to create a core Yoruba or Lucumi environment or pay tribute to the Yoruba gods - Olodumare, Orisha'nla, Ogun, Orunmila, Eshu, and Yemoja. It includes music from Nigeria, Benin, Cuba, and Brazil.

Highlife Sounds

Highlife Sounds

A bright, social highlife playlist blending Ghanaian swing and Nigerian warmth. A lively mix of classic and modern highlife music driven by uplifting guitar melodies, relaxed grooves, and dance-friendly rhythms. Built for friendly gatherings, daytime listening, and easy celebration, this playlist carries everyday joy without excess. Smooth, melodic, and rhythm-rich highlife for communal vibes and feel-good moments.

Adewale Ayuba

Adewale Ayuba

Adewale Ayuba

Atawewe

Atawewe

Sulaimon Oladele Oyeneye

Haruna Ishola

Haruna Ishola

Haruna Ishola

Kollington Ayinla

Kollington Ayinla

Kollington Ayinla

Arewa

Arewa

Fuji

Fuji

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