BEHIND THE STITCH: ALANI
June 21, 2024
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There are songs that you listen to, and then there are songs that you feel. Songs that reach out, wrap themselves around your heart, and make you believe in love all over again. Adekunle Gold’s “Obimo” is one of those songs. Released just in time for Valentine’s Day on February 12, 2024, it is more than just a melody-hit is a love letter, a confession, a promise.
From the moment the first note plays, Obimo demands your heart’s full attention. The title itself, translating to My Heart in Igbo, sets the tone for a song steeped in affection. With a voice drenched in warmth, Adekunle Gold sings: “If I never see you, mi o ba le jeun, mi o ba le sun.” In Yoruba, it means, “If I haven’t seen you, I can’t eat nor sleep.” It’s that all-consuming kind of love–the type that makes food tasteless and sleep impossible when the one you love is far away.
He calls his lover sugar–a sweetness he refuses to give up, even though the doctor has warned him to watch his intake. Something must take a man to heaven, he sings, surrendering completely to love’s intoxicating grip. She has taken over his body, mind, and soul, and in return, he pleads–Don’t ever deceive me. Don’t ever break my heart. Because for you, I would give anything.
The production by Ragee is rich and textured, laced with subtle gàn gán (talking drum) beats towards the end, like a heartbeat quickening at the thought of someone you adore.
From the very first listen, fans knew Obimo was something special.
One fan on X says; “Adekunle Gold’s ‘Obimo’ is another timeless tune like ‘Ogaranya.’ Songs like this never get old. Songs that speak to your heart, inner being, and soul. Songwriting, melodies, and delivery–flawless.”
Another listener expressed nostalgia, saying; “I personally like it. I like how I can hear a little of the AG from his ‘Sade’ and ‘Ready’ era with the Yoruba lyrics. His old self and Afro-pop eras might have finally blended…”
And then, of course, there’s the pure, unfiltered appreciation; “Adekunle Gold is a certified lover boy at this point. ‘Obimo’ is pure vibes–smooth vocals, and a melody that just melts stress away.”
If the song itself feels like home, the video is the front door flung open, welcoming you inside. Shot with warmth and intimacy, the visual tells the story of love in its simplest, most beautiful moments. Three different couples, each expressing affection in ways that remind you what love is supposed to feel like. The warm embrace after a long day. The laughter shared in quiet moments. The touch that says, I see you. I choose you. Every single day.
And then, there’s Tobé and Martica Nwigwe–the perfect embodiment of love that feels easy and effortless. In one of the most tender moments of the video, Martica sits behind Tobé, gently plaiting his hair. Their children are there too and they’re all dressed in coordinated mint green outfits, a color that has become Tobé’s signature. The entire family, from the mint green pants to the Reebok shoes, moves as one–a reflection of Tobé’s identity, his partnership with Reebok, and the unity that defines his family. Even the song’s cover art belongs to them, cementing the Nwigwes as the heartbeat of this visual love story.
With Obimo, Adekunle Gold has given us something to hold onto. Something to add to every lover’s playlist, to send as a song dedication, to play on repeat while thinking of the one person who makes your world feel right. This is the magic of Obimo–a song that doesn’t just play in the background but settles deep within you. It’s a song for the lovers who can’t go a day without hearing each other’s voices. For the ones who sneak glances across the room and smile because their heart still skips a beat. For the ones who hold hands and never let go.
Adekunle Gold has done it again, crafting a love song that isn’t just heard but felt. And this Valentine’s season, Obimo is the melody every heart needs.
