In Nigeria, there’s always a new hot upcoming artist every year, making Afrobeats one of the most listened-to music genres with very strict and hard competition.
The funny part of this is that most of these artists have been doing music right from childhood but never get to see the limelight due to many reasons. For most artists, if you ask them why they haven’t been able to do collabs with top artists, they’ll respond that they have no money or support, nor are they signed to any record label.
Despite the fact that some are doing their best to get seen, it’s just about 5–10 percent of artists in Nigeria that are able to get the limelight, and even most of them are not able to trend or get fame beyond their states. Some only get national recognition in maybe the South, West, or East—mostly because of the language differences across different regions in Nigeria.
Going back to 2020, there have been different new artists every year with new styles of their own:
- 2020 → Omah Lay
- 2021 → Buju (BNXN)
- 2022 → Asake
- 2023 → Shallipopi
- 2024 → Fola
And now, 2025 is already showing signs of a new name on the radar “Mavo” .
Who Exactly Is Mavo?
Mavo started gaining buzz in early 2025, signed to Kilogbede records, and in mid-year, his sound was everywhere, TikTok, the streets, playlists, and even small clubs. People started catching his vibe, and before you knew it, “that Mavo sound” became something unique.
He describes his sound as “Berber Music.” According to him, it’s a mix of street slang, Afrobeats rhythm, and freestyle melody, basically the perfect blend of what makes people move and relate. It’s raw, street, and melodic at the same time.
Mavo has that thing where he can twist simple lines and everyday slang into something catchy, something you’ll find yourself repeating even when the song stops playing. That’s the “Burbur effect.”
Just like Shallipopi in 2023, nobody really saw him coming. He just appeared, loud, confident, and ready.
Background
Mavo’s real name is Oseremen Ukanigbe Marvin, and he hails from Ekpoma, Edo State.
Surprisingly, he’s not just a musician, he’s also a medical student at Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) in Ekiti State. Imagine juggling lectures and labs and still dropping viral hits, that’s dedication.
- Hometown: Ekpoma, Edo State
- Currently based in: Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
- University: Afe Babalola University (ABUAD)
- Age: 21
Streaming Stats (Across Platforms as of 2025)
- Followers: 97K
- Total Streams: 70.8M
- Playlists: 736
- Playlist Reach: 26.8M
- Chart Entries: 222
- Shazams: 760K
- Videos: 71.1K
- Total Views: 157M
Those are crazy numbers for someone who’s still upcoming—and that alone shows how fast Mavo’s movement is spreading.
Music Journey
Mavo officially entered the scene with his debut EP “Ukanigbe,” which was more like a raw introduction of who he is and what he stands for. The project gained traction through pure fan love, no heavy promo, just people vibing naturally.
He later dropped “Sanko” and “Sanko II (Deluxe),” showing his growth and range, from soft melodies to energetic street bangers.
By the time he released “Kilometer,” Mavo was already becoming a name people searched for on TikTok and Apple Music.
But what really blew everything up was “Escaladizzy” and “Escaladizzy II”, both featuring top artists and instantly going viral. Within weeks, clips of people dancing to his hooks were everywhere online.
Now with his latest project, “Kilometer II,” Mavo is proving that he’s not just another one-hit artist—he’s building a wave of his own.
Recent Releases
- Money Constant—with Wizkid, DJ Maphorisa, and DJ Tunez (24 Oct 2025)
- Shakabulizzy—Remix—with Davido (24 Oct 2025)
Top Performing Tracks (October 2025)
| Rank | Track | Featuring | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Money Constant | Wizkid, DJ Maphorisa, DJ Tunez | 92% |
| 2 | Shakabulizzy — Remix | Davido | 88% |
| 3 | Shakabulizzy | — | 70% |
| 4 | Escaladizzy II | Shallipopi, Zlatan | 69% |
| 5 | Tumo Weto | — | 64% |
| 6 | Escaladizzy | WAVE$TAR | 64% |
| 7 | Kilogram | Famous Pluto | 61% |
| 8 | Attack | Adekunle Gold, Cruel Santino | 60% |
| 9 | Too Busy | Kashcoming | 58% |
| 10 | Shooting Star | — | 57% |
| 11 | Kilobizzy | — | 57% |
| 12 | Feel Nice | — | 56% |
Mavo’s rise is proof that talent, consistency, and street connection can still break through in this generation of heavy competition. His “Burbur Music” is fast becoming a sound of its own, not just in Nigeria, but across platforms.
