Although Valentine’s Day is typically linked to love, romance, and significant displays of affection, a recent report from Spotify indicates that Nigerians are increasingly embracing themes of heartbreak.
From 2022 to 2024, heartbreak song streams surged by an astonishing 626 percent, making Nigeria the leading country in Sub-Saharan Africa for streaming emotional ballads during the month of love.
Instead of candlelit dinners, many Nigerians are finding solace in music, using their playlists to navigate the highs and lows of relationships.
The soundtrack of Nigerian heartbreak
One of the most defining heartbreak moments for Nigerians in recent years was the tragic passing of street pop artiste Mohbad. This was reflected in Spotify’s data, which showed that on Valentine’s Day in 2024, ‘Egwu’ by Chike and Mohbad ranked among the top three most-streamed songs in Nigeria.
Also topping the list was ‘One Love – Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By The Film’ by Wizkid, which secured the number one spot, while Shallipopi and Odumodublvck’s ‘Cast’ took third place.
In 2023, Spotify says Omah Lay’s deeply emotional track ‘Soso’, a melancholic plea for relief from pain, dominated Valentine’s Day streams.
The song was accompanied by j-hope’s ‘Arson’ and Ayra Starr’s ‘Sability’, further proving that Nigerians embrace heartbreak melodies just as much — if not more — than love songs during this period.
Heartbreak songs peak between 9am and 11am
Interestingly, Nigerians are not saving their heartbreak playlists for late-night reflection. Contrary to expectations, Spotify data shows that heartbreak songs are streamed most frequently between 9:00 am and 11:00 am.
For three years in a row, this has remained a consistent trend, suggesting that rather than starting their mornings with upbeat or motivational tunes, many Nigerians begin their workday with songs that help them process personal emotions. Offices, cubicles, and workspaces are quietly filled with the sounds of heartbreak as people tune in to music that mirrors their feelings.
Nigerian men stream more heartbreak songs than women
One of the most surprising revelations from the data is that men in Nigeria stream heartbreak songs on Valentine’s Day at a significantly higher rate than women.
Male listeners showed a 362 percent increase in heartbreak song streams, compared to 169 percent among female listeners. This challenges the common belief that women are more expressive about heartbreak, suggesting instead that men may be turning to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
While Valentine’s Day remains a time for love, the data paints a different picture — one where heartbreak is just as prevalent.
Whether Nigerians are mending broken hearts, reminiscing about lost love, or simply resonating with the emotional depth of these songs, Spotify data reveals that when love is in the air, so is heartbreak — and Nigerians are pressing play on their pain louder than ever.
