Yarden is part of a new wave of Nigerian singers using soft tenor vocals and moody minimalism to tell emotional stories. But unlike many of his peers, he’s guided by a clear sense of nostalgia – his Instagram bio even reads “new nostalgia.” His latest single, Ifeoma, featuring rising act taves, continues this thread with a nod to Nigerian pop legend Felix Liberty’s 1989 hit of the same name.
The interpolation is subtle but powerful. In reworking a classic love song, Yarden leans into a growing Gen Z trend of revisiting vintage Nigerian music and blending it with contemporary Afropop. The song’s themes – romance, longing, emotional vulnerability – are familiar, but the delivery feels current and emotionally resonant. The production is groovy, percussive, and soulful, with synth-horn parts adding a vintage flourish.
While not groundbreaking, Ifeoma is sticky and stylish – proof that Afrobeats’ future might lie in its past.