Fuji dreams, global beats: Adekunle Gold’s evolution

BY ABIOLA ADIGUN

In the bustling streets of Lagos where creativity thrives at every corner, Adekunle Almoruf Kosoko—popularly known as Adekunle Gold or simply AG Baby—has carved out a space for himself as one of Afrobeats’ most versatile and inspiring voices. Born on January 28, 1987, the multi-talented singer, songwriter, and visual artist has grown from a local church choir boy into a global star who embodies resilience, artistry, and evolution.

Adekunle’s creative journey began long before the bright lights of sold-out concerts. Armed with a Higher National Diploma in Arts and Design from Lagos State Polytechnic, he first gained attention as the “King of Photoshop,” impressing fans with witty, surreal photo edits. But music had always been his heartbeat. Inspired by highlife, juju, and Afropop, he merged his design skills with melodies, sketching the foundation of a career that would later blossom into global acclaim.
His breakout came in 2015 with Sade—a highlife cover of One Direction’s “Story of My Life.” The track not only showcased his honeyed vocals and lyrical depth but also established him as a fresh, authentic voice in Nigeria’s soundscape. Shortly after, Adekunle signed with Olamide’s YBNL Nation, where he released his debut album Gold in 2016. The project shot to number 7 on the Billboard World Albums chart, proving his artistry was built for more than just local acclaim.

Since then, Adekunle has reinvented himself with every project, refusing to be boxed into one genre. About 30 (2018) deepened his sonic palette, Afro Pop, Vol. 1 (2020) expanded his global reach, while Catch Me If You Can (2022) displayed his collaborative spirit, featuring stars like Davido and Lucky Daye. In 2023, his first project under Def Jam Recordings, Tequila Ever After, cemented him as a world-class Afrobeats ambassador.

Now, fans eagerly await his upcoming album Fuji, set for release on October 3, 2025—a nod to his Yoruba roots and an indication that Adekunle’s artistry still has many chapters left to unfold.

Beyond music, Adekunle’s life has been deeply shaped by personal battles and triumphs. In 2019, he married fellow singer Simi, his longtime partner of five years, in what fans still regard as one of Afrobeats’ most celebrated love stories. The couple welcomed their daughter, Deja, in May 2020, further endearing Adekunle to fans who admire his devotion to family.
In July 2022, Adekunle made a brave revelation about living with sickle cell disease, a lifelong battle that has fueled both his resilience and his artistry. His hit 5 Star became a rallying anthem for perseverance, and through the Adekunle Gold Foundation, he has since championed advocacy and awareness for sickle cell warriors worldwide.

Adekunle’s brilliance has not gone unnoticed. From winning Best New Act at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards to securing the Headies Award for Best Alternative Song (Sade) in 2016, his trophy shelf continues to grow. He has bagged the City People Entertainment Award for Album of the Year, the IARA Award for Best African Music Artist, and in 2023, he won Headies’ coveted Songwriter of the Year award. Most recently, in 2024, he claimed the TurnTable Music Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music in Film, with contributions to Book of Clarence and Christmas in Lagos.

What makes Adekunle Gold remarkable is not just his music but his relentless pursuit of reinvention. From designing the YBNL logo before his fame to blending Fuji, Afropop, and RnB into irresistible hits like High, Party No Dey Stop, and Omo Eko, Adekunle has proven that creativity has no boundaries.

As he prepares to unveil Fuji this October, the world waits to see what the next phase of AG Baby’s evolution will bring. But one thing is clear: Adekunle Gold has transcended from a boy with Photoshop dreams of a man shaping Afrobeats’ global destiny.

And in his own words from a recent single, it is indeed “the life he chose.”