Cough, aka Odo, is a hit single by popular Nigerian artist Kizz Daniel. Odo is a short form for the word “Odoyewu”, which originates from Ghana. It means “Undying Love”.
Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, better known by his stage Kizz Daniel is a well-known afropop artist. He has several hits to his name, the likes of Buga, Jaho, Flex, Eko, Sofa, Addict, Skin, No Do, Laye, Yeba, Poko, Pak ‘n’ Go, Ello Baby, Jombo and several others.
The hit artiste began pursuing music as a career in 2013 after he graduated from the university. Kizz Daniel met G-Worldwide Entertainment CEO Emperor Geezy, who went on to sign the singer to his record label, subsequently releasing his first single Shoye in 2014. Shoye was the track that properly launched Kizz to the level of the Nigerian music scene, announcing the arrival of a superstar.
The afropop star showcases his range with each single-drop. Kizz has certainly mastered the art of hit-making and Odo is no exception. The hit artist has had the opportunity to rub shoulders with the many well known artistes across the globe, such as Diamond Platnumz, Sarkodie and Nasty C, to mention a few.
On the new track that is dominating airwaves, Kizz Daniel said: “For this song, I wanted to highlight the feeling of new love. The song itself is energetic, celebratory and really captures what it’s like to impress someone new.”
With over one billion streams across platforms and close to 10 million Instagram followers, this is Kizz’s follow up to his global hit Buga and it is definitely in line with its predecessor. Odo has also become quite the sensation on TikTok. It even has its own signature dance.
The Blaise Beatz produced Odo has a shiny-groove vibe to it. It is upbeat right from when the beat drops and has a certain bop to it. It is also littered with high-key synths and low-key percussions, your typical afropop flow sure to have you vibing in no time.
Odo‘s lyrics tell a story its listeners have heard one too many times. It is basically an ode by a loverboy to his proposed lovergirl. The lyrics go thus:
I want to flex my love (eh eh)
I wan impress (eh eh)
And I want to carry my love away (eh eh)
To a place she loves (eh eh)
Ah, my woman, woman (eh eh)
I wan impress (eh eh)
And I want to carry my love away (eh eh)
To a place she loves (eh eh)
Mr. Loverboy tells listeners how he has undying love for his girl, how he wants to impress her and take her away on vacation to a place she loves.
Although many people across Africa are laying claim to “Odoyewu” as a word indigenous to their culture, the artiste himself has said it is Ghanaian, nipping the budding ownership controversy. The word is a slang that means ‘love that usually lasts forever’ – “Odo” means love and “Yewu” eternity. Kizz Daniel must be commended for not only producing a very good sound, but also having an eye for the money. With the song dominating airwaves across many countries in Africa, it can only mean that is a commercial successful. It is, perhaps, more commercial than the ode to love it professes.
Odo is another hit-single from Kizz Daniel that has taken over airways in no time with its relatable lyrics and up-tempo vibe. Add this hot-hit to your afropop playlist today.
Didi Dan-Asisah is an art enthusiast and critic. She lives in Lagos.
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
