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“That sound is the soundtrack of Lagos. It’s everywhere. That sound gave birth to Afrobeats and all the things that we hear right now,” Gold told AFP in Paris.
A descendant of the Kosoko royal family, the Afropop icon draws inspiration from the Indigenous Yoruba community, one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa.
It is “one of the oldest sounds of Nigeria”, the 38-year-old singer said.
Fuji music, a popular genre that evolved from Yoruba Muslim culture, is known for its fast beats, large ensemble of percussion instruments, and lyrics based on key sociopolitical themes.
The genre took off in Nigeria in the 1960s, shortly after the country declared independence.
Late singer-songwriter Ayinde Barrister, widely regarded as the pioneer of Fuji music, named the style after the famous Japanese mountain.
Gold blends traditional elements from Nigeria’s rich musical heritage with the catchy melodies of contemporary R&B.
Like Burna Boy or Davido, he represents this generation of Nigerian artists who have bridged divides between past and present for an international audience.
“You listen to it, and it makes your body move. It’s magical,” the singer said.
“Fuji, Highlife (another traditional genre), every sound from Nigeria makes you feel alive. I feel like that’s why it does well,” he added.
Full of colourful outfits, lively dancing, and flower-covered boats, his “Party No Dey Stop” music video — a viral duet with fellow Nigerian Zinoleesky — has amassed 29 million views on YouTube.
The song is his first major hit in the United States.
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