Galala, shoki: 10 popular dance moves Nigerians rock to at parties

Nigerians love to dance and every Nigerian artist who knows this tries to create a new dance move for fans to rock out to and keep their song and music video alive forever. Naij.com contributor, Obey Olayinka, has come up with a list of popular dance moves Nigerians rocked out to starting from the late nineties to date. 

1. Galala

This dance step that is associated with “the ghetto” or Ajegunle, Lagos was made popular by dancehall/highlife singer Daddy Showkey in the mid to late nineties. The song grew in popularity with the rise of “ghetto” acts like Daddy Fresh, Baba Fryo, Danfo Drivers, African China and Stereoman among others.  Although many artists have claimed to be the originator of the funny dance step that includes weird facial expressions and body distortions, this has not derailed from its enjoyment. A variation of it can be seen in music videos by foreign dancehall artists like Brick n Lace and Sean Paul.

2. Suo

Suo also a “ghetto” dance overthrew galala to become the hottest thing in the late nineties but unlike galala, its reign was brief. It was made popular by Mountain Black and Mad Melon aka Danfo Drivers on their hit single, Danfo Driver.

3. Alanta

Alanta was as weird as galala; characterised by “winch face”, dancers raise their legs, one after another beating an imaginary drum on their stomach.  It was made popular by Artquake. 

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4. Makossa

Known in Nigeria as makossa, it is actually based on the Congolese soukous. It was made popular in Nigeria following an influx of Francophone songs by Koffi Olomide, Awilo Longomba and others in the late nineties and early noughties. One may argue that popular dance steps that followed the makossa craze were inspired by it. 

5. Azonto

Nigeria became popular in Nigeria thanks to Ghanaian singer Fuse ODG with his song Azonto featuring Tiffany. It gained more popularity when Wizkid spits on its beat in one of his freestyles and when the video above went viral, gaining more views than even the official video by Fuse. It has gone on to become one of the greatest dance movement in the last decade, spreading from Ghana to other African countries and Europe. 

6. Etigi

Etigi became popular when Iyanya released the video for his hit single, Kukere. It is actually an Efik traditional dance move that was modernised.

7. Skelewu

Davido wowed everyone with his hit single, Skelewu, and followed it up with a beautiful dance step to promote the song. The song gave the Nigerian artist recognition home and abroad, memorable of which was when it was played during the half time of a Spanish La Liga match.

READ ALSO: Watch American Rapper And Her Team Dance To Shakiti Bobo (VIDEO)

8. Shoki

Shoki will be remembered as one of Nigeria’s most controversial dance steps because about three acts claimed to be its originator, Dre San, Lil Kesh and Orezi. Leaving the originator issue behind, Shoki was a hit, considering how easy it is. It was even co-opted by American rapper Missy Elliot in her latest video, WTF.

9. Sekem

Sekem dancers are lovely to watch. The jolly sideways, back and forth moves is the beauty of the dance step created by MC Galaxy on his hit track Sekem.

10. Shakiti Bobo

In what looked like a mere freestyle when it was first released, Olamide’s Bobo became a monster hit when its visuals was released with a trending dance step that many embraced with both arms. Bobo became so famous that worshipers made its moves at churches across the federation. Who wouldn’t like to move to Bobo considering the playful way it was brought to us?

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