Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has opened up about the early experiences that sparked his passion for music, revealing that his journey began in the church long before he became a household name.
Speaking during an appearance on the One54 Podcast, the singer said his earliest connection with music came from watching young people lead the church choir.
“I found my love for music in the church,” Gold recalled.
He said he often watched choir leaders and imagined himself occupying the same position.
“I wanted to be that guy so bad,” he said.
However, his ambition to lead the choir never materialised. According to the singer, two other boys continued to take the lead while he remained an observer.
“It never happened for me,” he recalled.
Rather than ending his interest in music, the experience became one of several early setbacks that he would encounter on his journey.
Rejection became part of the journey
Years later, Adekunle Gold experienced another disappointment when he auditioned for Project Fame.
He recalled hoping to impress acclaimed Nigerian producer and songwriter Cobhams Asuquo during the audition.
“I wanted Cobhams to like me,” he said.
Although Cobhams did not select him, Gold remembered receiving an important piece of encouragement: the producer told him that he liked his voice but that it was not what he was looking for at the time.
For Gold, that comment was enough to keep him moving.
“For a cool man to say he loved my voice, then, okay, maybe I actually have something,” he recalled.
The singer said rejection can either break a person or motivate them to improve.
“You can either crumble or go, you know what, it’s time to go to work,” he said.
For him, the response was to keep working on his craft.
How he got the name ‘Gold’
Adekunle Gold also revealed that his stage name was inspired by a church experience.
He traced the name to a youth conference he attended in 2008, where a preacher repeatedly used the phrase, “You can’t substitute brass for gold.”
The message apparently struck a chord with the young singer.
“I just got a nudge like, yeah, that’s your name. That’s it,” he recalled.
The moment eventually inspired the stage name that became associated with his music career.
‘Melodies are so powerful’
Beyond his personal journey, Gold spoke about what he believes makes music so powerful.
According to the singer, melodies can trigger memories and emotions, taking listeners back to specific people, places or periods of their lives.
“Melodies are so powerful,” he said.
He noted that music can communicate across language and cultural boundaries, often reaching emotions that words alone may not capture.
Referencing the late Nigerian music icon Fela Kuti, Gold recalled the belief that music carries a spiritual dimension.
“Fela even said, music is spiritual, don’t play with it,” he said.
Gold said he feels fortunate to create music capable of producing that kind of emotional connection with listeners.
“I’m just blessed to make songs that do that to people as well,” he added.
From his early days watching church choirs to facing rejection at auditions and eventually building a successful music career, Adekunle Gold’s story is one of persistence.
For an artiste whose journey began with a young boy dreaming of standing before a church choir, the path to becoming one of Nigeria’s recognised music stars has been shaped as much by setbacks as by success.
