Adekunle Gold’s sixth studio album, FUJI, is both a reclamation and a rebirth. The Nigerian star, known for bending genres and expectations, reaches inward this time, channeling the spirit of traditional Fuji music through the lens of modern Afropop and global soul. The result is an ambitious 15-track project that feels as intimate as it is expansive.
Released on Friday, FUJI brings together an impressive cast of collaborators, including Davido, 6LACK, Cruel Santino, Tkay Maidza, Robert Glasper, Lojay, and the Soweto Gospel Choir. Yet, the album’s greatest strength lies in Gold’s ability to merge these worlds seamlessly, grounding each feature in his personal storytelling and sonic heritage.
Across the record, Gold balances triumph with vulnerability. Songs like “Only God Can Save Me” and “I’m Not Done” reflect on grief and endurance, while “Attack” and “Love Is An Action” lean into rhythm, joy, and community. The album’s soundscape bridges Yoruba percussive traditions with lush R&B textures and shimmering Afropop melodies, reaffirming Gold’s gift for reinvention.
For an artist who has continuously evolved—from the folk storytelling of About 30 to the slick, experimental tones of Tequila Ever After—FUJI feels like both a homecoming and a statement of purpose. It celebrates heritage without nostalgia, drawing strength from the past to reimagine what Nigerian pop can be in a global context.
More than a genre exercise, FUJI is Adekunle Gold at his most self-assured, reflective, and spiritually grounded. It is a portrait of an artist who understands that growth often begins by looking inward, finding rhythm in memory, and transforming tradition into something beautifully new.
Featured Image: Artist Supplied
