Although he was born and raised in Ikotun, one of Lagos’ inner-city suburbs, Afrobeats singer and songwriter Adekunle Kosoko, aka Adekunle Gold, never let his upbringing hold him back. Instead, he transformed his childhood experiences into a powerful musical identity that now resonates with audiences worldwide. Freshly released his indigenous tune titled ‘Coco Money’, the 38-year-old artist opens up about what it means to grow up underexposed, yet deeply rooted and why authenticity remains his greatest asset. Writes OLAITAN GANIU.
Nothing happens by chance
“I’ve been thinking a lot about how our environment shapes us,” Gold begins. “The truth is, none of it is our fault. It is just what we were given. And somehow, we’re expected to conform or edit ourselves to fit a bigger picture. But what if the real power is in owning where we come from, as raw as it is?” He said philosophically.
Growing up in Ikotun, Adekunle didn’t have access to what many would call ‘global culture’. “I wasn’t raised on Hollywood movies. I only just started watching ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, ‘Twelve’, ‘Thirteen’, the kind of movies and TV shows people assume everyone has seen,” he says with a smile.
“Recently, I went to a friend’s wedding in Bayelsa. At the after party, the DJ started playing old classics and hip hop anthems, the kind of thing that usually gets the whole room singing along. I stood there, quietly aware that I didn’t know most of them.
“There was a time when that would have embarrassed me. But I didn’t feel that way. Because everything I was exposed to growing up, everything I watched, everything I listened to, formed me and I made gold out of it. Literally, maybe, I wouldn’t have turned out to be who I am today if I had been exposed to other things?”
My Yoruba rhythm
More than just pride in place, Adekunle Gold is vocal about his black origin especially his native Yoruba.
“I speak Yoruba fluently, and I carry it into my music with pride,” he says. “It is not just a language, it’s rhythm, emotion, culture. I grew up on Yoruba films, the deep ones, the funny ones. They shaped my storytelling, my sound, my voice.”
Despite his early limitations, he sees the expansion of his exposure as a gift, not a departure. “Now I have access to more. I’m watching and learning new things, and it’s expanding how I express myself. But my roots remain.”
Originality is the edge
Known as a cultural promoter, Adekunle Gold’s journey has always been about resilience. That resilience now powers his message to fans, especially young people trying to find themselves.
“Stop forming. You don’t have to prove anything. Be who you are. Grow, evolve but do it from a place of wholeness, not shame. There is space for your voice, your journey, your difference. That is your edge. That’s your magic. I’m just being who I am and I hope you’ll give yourself the freedom to do the same.”
