A reputed storyteller, poet, thinker and romantic, Ibejii’s essence is a fine balance of ‘Taiye Kehin,’ the physical and the transcendent, timeworn and timeless. Ibejii’s sound is a fine blend of African vibes and unique storytelling. Ibeji’s art utilises and is immersed in his Yoruba heritage.
Gonto recounts the victory of tiny masquerades in the face of a selfish big masquerade that will not let other voices rise. Gonto is Ibejii’s celebration of the ultimate victory of ordinary people over those who oppress and silence us.
The record is an attempt to capture the casual insensitivity of a government and also the eventual daring of a new generation whose defeat of fear makes confrontation inevitable. “Gonto” is an anthem that depicts any instance where the oppressed move to resist the lingering excesses of their oppressor(s), as seen in Nigeria and other parts of the world these past months (#EndSARS, BLM, #June12Protest, recent Twitter Ban.)
Gonto comes alive on stage as British/Nigerian Afro-soul singer, Ibejii released the official music video on the 25th of June. Starring some of Nollywood’s finest in its video – Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Christian Paul, Ruby Akubueze and Emmanuel Osahor – Gonto was shot live on stage at Terra Kulture Lagos, and features scenes from his upcoming, highly-anticipated movie.
Gonto is an afro-orchestral anthem that takes the listener on a journey that captures the insensitivity of the powerful but also the daring of a new generation of believers, making it an indigenous record very relevant to the times. Connect with Ibejii on socials @Ibejiimusic and stream Gonto below.
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