Mysterious, eclectic, and enigmatic, Ibejii, the storyteller, uses folklore, metaphor, and vernacular to deliver tales of love and loss with a keen sensitivity. Solidly rooted in the old values of his Yoruba heritage, renowned for its high incidence of twins and musical giants, London-born, Nigerian singer, Ibejii wears his unusual birth and musical roots as a badge of authenticity, a mastery of sound and emotion, which is summarily what his latest, Gonto is. Gonto is the first single off Ibejii’s forthcoming fifth project to be released later this year.
Rich in metaphor, the hugely orchestral Gonto, inspired by the actions of Nigerian youths during the endSARS protests, is an out of body experience that takes the listener on a journey that at once captures the casual insensitivity of the powerful but also the daring of a new generation of believers whose defeat of fear make confrontation inevitable.
Starring some of Nollywood’s finest – Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Christian Paul, Ruby Akubueze and Emmanuel Osahor – Gonto was shot live on stage at Terra Kulture, Lagos and features scenes from the yet to be announced and highly-anticipated movie by Ibejii.
Over a sweeping fusion of echoing keys and heavy drums punctuating Ibejii’s words, Gonto is an anthem that speaks to any instance where the oppressed move to resist the lingering excesses of oppressors, as seen in Nigeria and other parts of the world these past months.
Among other things like its nod to Ibejii’s depth-filled vocals and affinity for music with meaning, Gonto is, in a way, a celebration of courage and looming freedom.