Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold returns to his roots on Friday with the release of his sixth album, “Fuji”, which he described as a tribute to the ancestral sounds of his home country.

“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.

Gold, also known as AG Baby, gained fame in Nigeria in 2014 after he covered a song by popular boy band One Direction.

Since then, he has signed with American label Def Jam Recordings and has collaborated on the track “Falling Up” with funk legend Nile Rodgers and musician Pharrell Williams.

Spreading culture

Gold invites listeners to delve deep into the latest album, an emotional journey inspired by significant events from his life.

“I talk about my grief when I lost my father. I talk about my love life, my daughter, about being a family man,” he explained.

While Gold lives in the United States, he said his “heart is in Lagos”.

“I’m spreading the culture, talking about my heritage, talking about tradition,” he said.

However, challenges persist in Nigeria, where nearly 60 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line

“There have been steps in the right direction,” Gold said as he expressed hope for the future of his country.

“It is not enough for the government to do everything,” he added, calling on people to “do what we can as citizens”.

Committed to the fight against sickle cell disease, which he has lived with his entire life, Gold launched a foundation this year to fund treatment and support local charities.

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Lara George is a Nigerian gospel singer, songwriter, and producer whose powerful voice and timeless songs have made her one of the most respected figures in African gospel music. Based in the United States, she continues to influence gospel music worldwide through her artistry, leadership, and devotion to worship.

Early Life and Education

Lara George was born into a music-loving family in Lagos State, Nigeria. Her passion for singing was evident from an early age, and she nurtured her talent while growing up in Lagos. She later studied Architecture at the University of Lagos, where she also began to actively pursue her passion for gospel music.

Musical Career and Breakthrough

George rose to prominence as a member of the inspirational music group Kush, active in the early 2000s. The group, made up of gospel-influenced young artists, became popular for its innovative fusion of gospel, hip hop, and contemporary African sounds. Though the group disbanded, it laid the foundation for George’s successful solo career.

Her debut solo album, Forever in My Heart (2008), included the breakout hit “Ijoba Orun.” The song quickly became a gospel anthem in Nigeria, sung in churches and concerts across Africa and beyond. Its success established Lara George as one of the leading gospel voices of her generation.

Following this, she released other notable projects, including Higher (2012), Love Nwantintin (2014), and The Best of Lara George (2017), showcasing her versatility and consistency as a gospel artist.

Achievements and Recognition

Over the years, Lara George has earned numerous accolades. She won Best Female Gospel Artiste at the 2012 Africa Gospel Music Awards, among other honors.

Beyond her music, George has contributed to the industry through leadership. She serves as the Vice President of SoForte Entertainment Distribution Ltd., a pioneering Nigerian company focused on strengthening music distribution across Africa.

In 2021, her global impact was further recognized when she was invited to join the Recording Academy (organizers of the Grammy Awards) as a Voting Member, affirming her status as an international gospel voice.

Personal Life

Lara George is married to Gbenga George, an accomplished legal practitioner. Together they have two children. The family resides in Alpharetta, Georgia, United States, where George balances her family life with her music career and industry work.

Legacy and Influence

Lara George’s music blends heartfelt worship with contemporary gospel sounds, inspiring believers and non-believers alike. Songs like Ijoba Orun remain evergreen classics, while her career continues to highlight the global reach of Nigerian gospel music.

Through her voice, leadership, and consistency, Lara George has left an indelible mark on gospel music, both in Nigeria and internationally.

Sources

Vanguard Nigeria – Lara George: Life as a Gospel Singer (2018)

Africa Gospel Music Awards – Winners List 2012

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Umaru Abdulrahman Dikko (31 December 1936 – 1 July 2014) was a Nigerian politician, statesman, and diplomat, remembered for his role in Nigeria’s Second Republic and for being at the center of one of the most dramatic kidnapping plots in modern African history.

Early Life and Education

Umaru Dikko was born in Wamba, in present-day Nasarawa State, Nigeria. He received his early education locally before moving abroad for further studies. He later studied in London, where he trained as an engineer and developed a deep interest in politics. His time in the United Kingdom exposed him to political organization and parliamentary democracy, which would influence his later career in Nigerian politics.

Political Career in the Second Republic

Dikko’s political rise came during the civilian administration of President Shehu Shagari (1979–1983). He served as Minister of Transport, where he oversaw Nigeria’s transport infrastructure and spearheaded initiatives aimed at improving the nation’s roads and ports.

One of his most high-profile assignments was leading the Presidential Task Force on Rice, established to address food shortages and stabilize rice supply in Nigeria. Although controversial, the task force cemented Dikko’s reputation as one of the most powerful and visible figures in Shagari’s government.

The Dikko Affair (1984)

Umaru Dikko’s name is most indelibly linked to the extraordinary Dikko Affair, an attempted kidnapping that captured global attention.

After the December 1983 military coup that toppled Shagari’s government, Dikko fled into exile in London. On 5 July 1984, agents allegedly linked to Nigeria’s new military rulers, working with foreign collaborators, abducted him outside his London home. He was drugged and placed in a wooden crate intended to be flown back to Nigeria.

The plan relied on the crate being treated as diplomatic baggage, which would have exempted it from customs inspection. However, British authorities at Stansted Airport noticed irregularities: the crate lacked the required diplomatic labeling and accompanying paperwork. Customs officials forced it open and discovered Dikko unconscious but alive inside, alongside a Nigerian doctor who had sedated him.

The plot’s exposure led to a major diplomatic crisis between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Several individuals were arrested and convicted in the UK, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were severely strained for years.

Later Political Involvement

Despite the shadow of the failed abduction, Dikko remained active in politics. He returned to Nigeria after years in exile and became a founding member of the United Democratic Party (UDP) during the political transition of the 1990s. In the Fourth Republic, he remained an influential elder statesman, offering counsel within political circles though never regaining the prominence he had during the Shagari years.

Death and Legacy

Umaru Dikko died on 1 July 2014 in London at the age of 77. He was later buried in Abuja, Nigeria.

His legacy is complex: on one hand, he was a powerful minister during Nigeria’s Second Republic who played a role in shaping policies on transport and food supply; on the other, his name is forever tied to the Dikko Affair, one of the most bizarre and high-profile kidnapping attempts in international history.

Dikko remains a symbol of both the promise and turbulence of Nigeria’s post-independence political history.

Sources

Meredith, Martin. The State of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence. London: Free Press, 2005.

Maier, Karl. This House Has Fallen: Nigeria in Crisis. London: Penguin Books, 2000.

BBC News Archives, “The Dikko Affair” (1984 reports).

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