Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold says his family comes before everything, even his music career. He revealed that he would rather fail as a musician than as a husband or father.
Speaking on the NotJustOk podcast, the Orente crooner said his daughter motivates him to work harder and give her a better life than he had.
“All I want is to do more for my daughter because I can’t let her experience the kind of life I grew up living. It has to be better, and that’s why I’m working hard,” he said.
Adekunle Gold added that his wife, Simi, and their daughter, Adejare, are the center of his life. He explained that his song My Love Is The Same came from his resolve to be a better father.
“My family is my focus. I don’t joke with them. I can afford to be a failed musician, not a failed father or a man. That’s non-negotiable for me,” he said.
Grief and Growth Shaped His New Album
The 38-year-old singer also shared the story behind his upcoming Fuji album, set for release on October 3.
In a recent Instagram post, Adekunle Gold said the project reflects his life experiences — including lessons, victories, grief, and fatherhood. One of the songs, Simile, came from the pain of losing his father in 2019.
At the time, he struggled with grief even as his manager urged him to return to work. He said he couldn’t celebrate an invitation to write for Beyoncé’s Lion King project because of the sadness he felt.
His breakthrough came when he returned to his small home studio and poured his emotions into Simile — a Yoruba word meaning “rest on me” or “lean on me.”
Adekunle Gold described the song as an honest reflection of his pain and search for peace. Though Beyoncé’s team once considered it, the track never made the final cut. It stayed unreleased for years until his longtime collaborator Michael replayed it during a 2024 studio session. That moment, he said, reminded him of its depth and convinced him to include it in his new album.
Fuji will be Adekunle Gold’s sixth studio album, following Tequila Ever After, released in 2023.
