‘Kese (Dance)’ Review: Wizkid Keeps It Catchy But Lacks Innovation

Nigerian singer Wizkid’s single, Kese (Dance), came out on November 15, 2024. ‘Kese Dance’ is the second track of ‘Morayo’ album after the release of ‘Piece of My Heart’, a collaborative project with an American singer-songwriter, Brent Faiyaz.

The song’s combination of Afrobeats rhythms and catchy hooks makes it a guaranteed party favorite. Here are the lyrics in their entirety prior to the analysis.

Lyrics: Wizkid – Kese (Dance)

Chorus: Dance (Gbedu) Chale, make we dance (Gbedu) Make it dance (Oh, le-le-le, gbedu) Let the music e dey play (Gbedu) Omo, say you go dance (Gbedu) Chale (Starboy), make we dance (Gbedu) You go dance (Gbedu) You go dance

Verse 1: For the vibe, I’ve been out for days Steady chasing the kpa, I dey concentrate (Okay) Mm, anytime I dey Whether night or day, I dey on my j’s (Yebo) Even normally, mm Them go dey dance to the gbedu, them go feel high ray ‘Cause anything wey I drop, dem go chop, ajé Whether night or day I dey on my j’s, I dey on my j’s

Pre-Chorus: Kese, kese, kese, kese, kese, kese Gbese, gbese, baby, lẹsẹkẹsẹ How many times dem go tell person? Dem no dey pay to dey learn lesson Shamanya, gbẹ́mi de’bè And it’s a vibe anytime we dey there I no get time, I no get patience Spray the money plenty

Chorus: Dance (Gbedu) Chale, make we dance (Gbedu) Make it dance (Oh, le-le-le, gbedu) Let the music e dey play (Gbedu) Omo, say you go dance (Gbedu) Chale (Starboy), make we dance (Gbedu) You go dance (Gbedu) You go dance

Verse 2: So, tell me what you wanna do tonight? You no the party no go make sense, if we never dey there, we make the party come alive We turn the O2 to O3, má lọ bé si italawa So baby, tell me why you wanna Shake body make you do as you like Na steady we dey blow the cana Blow some trees, make me feel alright I no fit lie, man, I’m wasted And I’m feeling reckless Na who buy last get lastest That’s why I’m working on patience I no dey joke with my paycheck If dem dey sleep, make dem wake them So we go vibe, we go vibe tonight, k’ama de’bè

Pre-Chorus: Kese, kese, kese, kese, kese, kese Gbese, gbese, baby, lẹsẹkẹsẹ How many times dem go tell person? Dem no dey pay to dey learn lesson Shamanya, gbẹ́mi de’bè And it’s a vibe anytime we dey there I no get time, I no get patience Spray the money plenty Kese, kese, kese, kese, kese, kese Gbese, gbese, baby, lẹsẹkẹsẹ How many times dem go tell person? Dem no dey pay to dey learn lesson Shamanya, gbẹ́mi de’bè And it’s a vibe anytime we dey there I no get time, I no get patience Spray the money plenty

Chorus: Dance (Gbedu) Chale, make we dance (Gbedu) Make it dance (Oh, le-le-le, gbedu) Let the music e dey play (Gbedu) Omo, say you go dance (Gbedu) Chale (Starboy), make we dance (Gbedu) You go dance (Gbedu) You go dance

Review: A Party Anthem or Just Another Repetitive Jam?

Wizkid’s Kese (Dance) is built for the dancefloor, delivering groovy beats and a party vibe, but does it bring something new to the table or just join the long list of Afrobeats tracks?

1. Heavy Reliance on Repetition

Afrobeats, thrives on repetition. But Kese pushes the limits of that. The hook:

“Kese, kese, kese, kese, kese, kese”

Is used so much while singing it that it turns into a phrase. Now, this phrase truly acts as a creative figure. This has a downside of making the song lose its misfire power over long periods of play.

2. Lyrically Shallow and Lacking Depth

Wizkid is appreciated for the value of his lyrics in songs like Ojuelegba and Essence; Kese is not on that level of telling a story. The song stays on having a good time, making money, and fails at an elevated point of a tale or emotional contact. Lines such as:

“You know the party no go make sense, if we never dey there”

emphasize the song’s focus on partying, but there’s a lack of inventive wordplay or original lyrical concepts.

3. Predictable Song Structure

The song adheres to a typical Afrobeats structure: it starts with an intro, features a catchy hook that repeats, includes a verse, and has a chorus that recurs often. There is not much progression, and the energy stays similar throughout the whole project. Contrasting Essence, which took time to build up, Kese remains on one vibe throughout.

4. Similarity to Past Releases

A major fault of Kese is that it sounds more like an EP of Wizkid’s earlier works rather than something new. The beat, flow, and delivery are all quite familiar, giving it a sense of safety rather than a bold effort to explore new creative avenues. In contrast to his Made in Lagos era, where he ventured into softer, more melodic sounds, Kese remains anchored in his typical club formula.

5. Strong Production but No Surprises

While the lyrics may not be the strongest point, Kese certainly does shine with top-tier production. A combination of traditional African instruments and rhythms with modern Afrobeats makes this track a perfect fit for the dance floor. At the same time, considering Wizkid’s star status, listeners could have expected more imagination.

Final Verdict

Kese is an upbeat and boisterous track, for sure, that will please in clubs and at parties. The production quality is great, and the hook is catchy enough that anyone would want to sing along. This one, however, lacks novelty, lyrical substance, and any of those catch-on moments that may elevate it to one of Wizkid’s most memorable songs. It is a good addition to his discography but doesn’t move the needle.

What Do You Think?

Do you feel ‘Kese’ is a hit or just a regular Afrobeats sound? Should Wizkid experiment a bit more with his sound?

Let us know what you think!