WATCH: Shettima, Oshiomhole dance to ‘Buga’ at Tinubu rally (VIDEO)

Four years after its release, Kizz Daniel’s Buga appears to have found a second life as a favourite soundtrack for Nigerian politicians at rallies and public events.

The latest performers are Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who danced energetically to the hit song at an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The pair took to the stage on Friday as the song played, raising their shoulders and moving to its rhythm before party supporters and dignitaries gathered in support of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

Videos of the moment circulated online shortly afterwards, attracting humorous and supportive reactions from social media users.

Their performance provided a light-hearted interlude at the political gathering, but it was not the first time Buga had found its way onto a Nigerian political stage.

Politicians and ‘Buga’

Released in May 2022 by Kizz Daniel, featuring Tekno, Buga became a global Afrobeats hit and inspired a viral dance built around raised shoulders and a celebratory pose.

The expression “buga won” loosely encourages people to flaunt or celebrate the results of their efforts. Its triumphant message and easily recognisable dance have made the song a recurring choice at political and public gatherings.

In November 2022, then Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo sang and danced to Buga while addressing participants at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation global conference in Lagos.

Mr Osinbajo used the song to illustrate how Nigerian music crossed language and cultural barriers. He encouraged members of the international audience to join him in performing its signature shoulder movement.

He also referenced and sang portions of Burna Boy’s Last Last and Asake’s Organise while discussing the international reach of Nigerian music and culture.

Mr Tinubu also danced to Buga in December 2022 after speaking at Chatham House in London during his presidential campaign.

A separate video from January 2023 showed him dancing to the song at a town hall meeting with young Nigerians in Abuja.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was similarly filmed dancing to the hit after securing the APC ticket to seek a second term in 2022.

These appearances have helped move Buga beyond parties and social-media dance challenges into Nigeria’s political arena, where upbeat music is frequently used to energise crowds and make candidates appear more relatable.

Tinubu’s Uyo rally

The Uyo rally formed part of President Tinubu’s visit to Akwa Ibom State, where he inaugurated projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration and participated in the APC’s political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

The president arrived in the state on Friday alongside First Lady Oluremi Tinubu. They were received by Mr Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Mr Eno and other government officials.

Projects listed for inauguration included the international terminal building at Victor Attah International Airport, the International Airport Hospital and Ibom Aviation Village.

Others included the Airport-Okopedi Road, Ring Road 3, the AKWA-GIS Office Complex, the Command and Control Centre and ARISE Palm Resort.

The rally, tagged #RenewedHopeInAkwaIbom, brought together APC leaders, political stakeholders and supporters of the president’s second-term ambition.

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Mr Shettima also drew attention days earlier at an APC rally in Calabar, Cross River State, where he and the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, ran towards the podium before performing dance moves.

In Uyo, however, the familiar sound of Buga took over the stage, placing Mr Shettima and Mr Oshiomhole on a growing list of Nigerian politicians who have danced to the song in public.

From tourism conferences and campaign events to endorsement rallies, Buga appears to have become more than a party hit. For Nigerian politicians, it is increasingly the song to play when there is a crowd to excite and a political success to flaunt.