Already known to some listeners before its official release, ‘Waf’ is a 2026 release by Nigerian musician FOLA, featured on his second studio album, 9.
The song started going viral in May when an unpublished version popped up on TikTok. People began using the song in their videos, creating an audience months before FOLA announced it would be on the album.
What makes this release especially intriguing is that it circulated early. Instead, it was decided to give the recording over to listeners outside the normal promotional procedure first so that familiarity might be built up by frequent exposure on social media, rather than through an official single campaign.
That existing recognition is an advantage as the completed recording starts to circulate through streaming. But its longer-term success hinges on whether the buzz generated by short-form video converts into sustained listening habits beyond the initial launch time.
“Waf” is out on all major digital streaming platforms. Listen to the official release, and let us know what you think in the comments below.
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