By Fasuyi Tolulope Samuel
Nigerian music star Skales is enjoying a resurgence in global attention, thanks to an unexpected but powerful push from Spanish football wonderkid Lamine Yamal.
The evergreen party hit “Shake Body” has been making waves on Spotify once again after being featured in several clips of the 17-year-old FC Barcelona forward — clips that quickly went viral.
Skales, born Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, is a veteran of the Nigerian music scene known for his infectious Afrobeat and dancehall rhythms. His hit “Shake Body” originally dropped in 2014, becoming an instant anthem across Africa.
A decade later, the track has found a new lease on life, propelled by Yamal’s influence on Gen Z football fans and music lovers across Europe.
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The renewed popularity of the track has earned Skales a seat at the global table. He was recently invited to meet Lamine Yamal, his family, FC Barcelona teammates, and members of the club’s backroom staff.
The warm reception and camaraderie left the artist inspired, and he’s now teasing a new hit that could continue this unlikely cultural crossover.
Following Barcelona’s dramatic UEFA Champions League semi-final exit to Inter Milan — a thrilling encounter that ended 4-3 on Tuesday (7-6 on aggregate) — some Nigerian fans took to social media to playfully blame Skales for the team’s misfortune, citing his close ties with the players.
But the singer, unfazed by the online banter, has chosen to respond with music.Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Skales dropped a snippet of his upcoming track titled “Dance Like Yamal”.
He wrote:“Una go cry blood …. Dance like Lamine Yamal is a global hit already!!! FORCA BARCA LEZZZGOOO LA LIGA NEXT 💪💪 INFACT MAKE I ENTER STUDIO FOR ANOTHER SONG FOR LAMINE YAMAL 😁👐😂”
The snippet has already sparked excitement among fans of both Afrobeats and football, many of whom anticipate another global hit.
With the La Liga season still ongoing and Skales riding high on streaming numbers, the synergy between music and football may just be setting the stage for a new era of cross-cultural collaborations.
