Fireboy DML's ZUKO! lands on 16 October: 13 tracks, YBNL Nation and EMPIRE, and an Imali that leans South African

Fireboy DML's fifth studio album, ZUKO!, arrives on Friday, 16 October 2026. The Lagos singer confirmed the date on Instagram, and the project is a 13-track record released through YBNL Nation and EMPIRE.

If you are new to him: Fireboy DML broke through in 2019 with the debut Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps, and has since built a reputation as one of Afrobeats' most melodic writers, with the 2022 hit "Peru" going global after an Ed Sheeran remix. His last full project was Adedamola, released in 2024.

What we know about ZUKO!

The announcement came with a cinematic teaser that shows Fireboy in a tailored red suit with bandages wrapped around his head. He has not explained the imagery or the title, so we will not guess at it. A full tracklist and guest list had not been published at the time of writing.

The singles so far

Three songs have been released ahead of the album: "Dopamine", "Story" and "Imali". "Imali" features Jazzwrld and Thukuthela and leans into South African three-step Afro house, which fits the way Nigerian and South African scenes have been trading sounds in recent years.

Fireboy also released "CLAAT!" this August with the Jamaican dancehall artist Masicka, a clash of Lagos melody and Kingston swagger. We have not confirmed whether it will sit on the album, so treat it as a related single for now.

Why it matters

Two years is a long gap in a market that rewards constant output, and the early singles suggest he is widening his palette rather than repeating Playboy. Whether ZUKO! lands that way is something we will only say once we have heard it.

We will update this guide with the tracklist and features as soon as they are public. Meanwhile, catch up on Fireboy's catalogue on his artist page.