Internationally acclaimed Afro-fusion artiste, Jemiriye on Friday releases Olúróunbí, a strong new single and music video impressed by a standard Yoruba folktale from Nigeria.
The monitor asks a timeless query with sharp up to date resonance: What would you sacrifice to turn out to be the whole lot the world expects you to be?
Rooted in Nigerian cultural heritage, Olúróunbí was recorded and produced throughout Paris and the United States, with its accompanying music video filmed in Bali, Indonesia. The music blends Jemiriye’s commanding vocals with Nigerian rhythms, indigenous Yoruba chants, dwell orchestral instrumentation and fashionable manufacturing.
“Olúróunbí takes me back to those village nights under the stars,” says Jemiriye. “As a child, I was drawn to the chant and rhythm. Growing older, I began to understand the weight of the story. It speaks to something deeply human—the desire for a better life, the pressure to prove ourselves and the danger of pursuing success without asking what it might cost us.”
In the folktale, Olurounbi longs for motherhood, prosperity and standing. She strikes a discount with a sacred Iroko tree, promising her unborn youngster in alternate for her needs. When the time involves honour the deal, prosperity turns to anguish.
Jemiriye makes use of the story as a mirror for contemporary life. “As a Black woman working to break barriers, I understand the pressure to over-promise, over-deliver and constantly prove your worth,” she says. “Olúróunbí is a reminder to stop chasing emptiness, protect your peace and refuse to trade your humanity for a seat at a table that demands everything from you.”
The chorus “Olurounbi o join join iroko join join!” carries the cadence of oral custom into a recent Afro-fusion soundscape, making the work each culturally particular and globally accessible.
The music is produced by Dr Gregory McPherson. Listening and launch celebrations are deliberate in Paris, Los Angeles and Lagos.
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