“Awade” makes a fitting entrance for FOLA’s sophomore era, opening his 14-track album 9 with an Afrobeats record released on October 9, 2026. The Yoruba title translates to “We have arrived” or “Here we come,” giving the song a clear sense of arrival as the first record on the project.

More than simply starting the tracklist, “Awade” introduces the body of work that follows and marks another stage in FOLA’s developing career. The release comes after his debut project Catharsis and his 2026 collaboration “Paparazzi” with Shoday, adding to the run of music surrounding his current era.

Released under Dangbana Republik Records and EMPIRE, the song leads an album that brings together FOLA’s solo material and collaborations with several prominent names in Nigerian music. The project features Davido, Ayra Starr, BNXN, Bella Shmurda, and Zlatan, giving the 14-track collection a broad mix of individual and collaborative records.

As the first song listeners encounter on 9, “Awade” establishes the starting point for FOLA’s sophomore project and introduces the album before the remaining tracks unfold.

Download “Awade” by FOLA below and experience the opening track from his 9 (Striker) album.