Adekunle Gold, a Nigerian top musician, has released his sixth studio album entitled Fuji.
During a recent interview with Apple Music, the musician described Fuji as a tribute to the Yoruba music genre.
Gold disclosed that the widely accepted genre among the Yoruba ethnic group influenced his sound and upbringing. “I grew up on fújì. It’s at every party, every event. It’s ingrained in me,” he said.
Fuji is a fusion of traditional genres, including Apala, Tungba, and Fuji, with a blend of modern Afrobeats.
Tracks like “Big Fish” are about his rise in the music industry, while “Believe” and “My Love Is the Same” emphasise love and family.
This latest work showed his unrelenting effort in continuing to fuse Fuji sounds into his work, a strategy he has adopted since 2016, when he made his debut with Gold.
Diverse A-list artists, including Davido, Lojay, Shoday, Asa, Simi, his wife, 6lack, Deja, Cruel Santino , Mavo, Yinka Ayefele, Don Toliver, Tkay Maidza, Robert Glasper, and the Soweto Gospel Choir, featured as guest artists.
Adekunle Gold has released five studio albums before Fuji, including his 2016 debut, Gold, About 30 (2018), Afro Pop, Vol. 1 (2020), Catch Me If You Can (2022), and Tequila Ever After (2023).
Gold explained that the album’s title initially started as an acronym, ‘Finding Uncharted Journeys Inside, ‘but evolved into a direct celebration of the music that defines his identity.
“Even if I sing R&B, I sound fújì,” he said. “So I might as well show the world this sound I grew up on.”
With Fuji, Gold reaffirms his commitment to preserving and promoting Yoruba culture through music. I love my culture, my heritage,” he added. We all have a duty to show our culture. I will never stop doing that.”