Nigerian Afrobeats singer and songwriter FOLA returns with 9, his sophomore album, released on October 9, 2026, through Dangbana Republik Records and EMPIRE.
The 14-track project marks another important step in his musical journey, following the success of his 2025 debut album, catharsis. Drawing inspiration from football’s number nine shirt, traditionally associated with a striker responsible for scoring goals, the album reflects FOLA’s ambition to make a lasting impression with his music.
Across 9, FOLA explores different sides of his artistry through a blend of Afrobeats, melodic songwriting, romantic themes, personal reflection, and confident declarations of success. The album features collaborations with some of the biggest names in contemporary African music, including Davido, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Darkoo, Bella Shmurda, and Zlatan. These appearances add variety to the project while allowing FOLA to maintain his own musical identity across its 14 songs.
The album opens with “awade” and continues with tracks such as “how many?,” “stubborn,” “in order,” and “attention!” Among its collaborations, “2am in toronto” features Davido, “treat u right” brings in Ayra Starr, “my type” features BNXN, and “hold u down” includes Darkoo. The closing track, “it’s over,” brings together Bella Shmurda and Zlatan, giving the album a lively collaborative finish.
Fans who have followed FOLA’s rise can also revisit earlier releases, including “alone” featuring BhadBoi OML, “Lost” featuring Kizz Daniel, and songs from his debut album, catharsis. His earlier work helped establish his melodic approach to Afrobeats, while 9 builds on that foundation with a larger tracklist and an expanded collection of collaborators.
With 14 tracks and a runtime of approximately 39 minutes, 9 by FOLA is available on major digital streaming platforms, including Apple Music. The album brings together familiar releases and new material, offering listeners a broader look at FOLA’s sound, ambitions, and continued development within the Nigerian Afrobeats scene.
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