On the night of November 23rd, at the Royal Festival Hall in London Adekunle Gold delivered a performance that felt like a return to his musical origins. Joined by the Guildhall Session Orchestra he transformed his recently released album titled Fuji into a sweeping symphonic experience. The night marked the closing of the EFG London Jazz Festival and it became a celebration of culture memory and artistic intention.
A Deliberate Return to Roots
Fuji arrived in October as Adekunle Gold’s sixth studio album and was immediately described by the singer as one of his most personal projects. The title Fuji speaks to the Yoruba musical style that shaped his childhood but also expresses a deeper message. Adekunle Gold revealed that the name holds an additional meaning Finding Uncharted Journeys Inside. This dual identity reflects the album’s structure which blends Fuji Apala soul and Afropop into a warm nostalgic and spiritually aware body of work.
Translating Fuji to Orchestral Scale
Performing Fuji with the Guildhall Session Orchestra turned the Royal Festival Hall into a living canvas. Instead of simply adding instrumental layers Adekunle Gold and the orchestra rebuilt the songs from the ground up. Strings brass woodwinds and subtle percussion carried the rhythms of his Yoruba influences while allowing each lyric to shine with clarity.
The orchestra created room for breath and emotion. Every song felt like a conversation between the raw pulse of Fuji and the refined colours of classical instrumentation.
Fuji Takes Centre Stage
The heart of the night belonged to the songs from Fuji. The programme balanced crowd favourites and deeper cuts. When Many People arrived the room sang back every line. The orchestral reading expanded the song without losing its heartbeat. At other moments songs like Sade and Damn Delilah were allowed to bloom in long sustained passages that highlighted Adekunle Gold’s storytelling. These were not simply band plus strings versions. They were arranged moments that re imagined familiar songs so that listeners could hear them again as if for the first time
Storytelling Through Performance
With an absolutely beautiful setlist arrangement, Adekunle Gold used the space between songs to share memories express gratitude and explain the personal meaning behind Fuji. These storytelling moments created an intimate bond with the audience. They also positioned the orchestra not just as accompaniment but as a partner in carrying the message of heritage and identity. The setlist went thus; Big Fish, Sade, Orente, Pami, Something Different, Okay, AG Baby, Pretty Girl, Don Corleone, Bobo, Obimmo, Pick Up, My Life, 5 Star, Sinner, Damn Delilah, My Love Is the Same, Believe, Lailo, Simile, Ire, Coco Money, Rodo, Ogaranya, Only God Can Save Me, Party No Dey Stop, High, Many People
A Fusion That Elevates
The production remained clean balanced and intentional. Sound mixing allowed both the orchestra and Adekunle Gold’s vocals to sit comfortably without one overshadowing the other. Lighting followed the emotional shifts of the night supporting moments of stillness and moments of triumph.
Adekunle Gold performing “High” W/ Davido with a 50-piece orchestra in London last night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/smhgX8bxa3
— HYPETRIBE (@hypetribeng) November 24, 2025
The fusion of Fuji with orchestral music was handled with sensitivity. The essence of the traditional sound remained front and centre while the orchestra added texture and emotional richness.
A Cultural and Artistic Statement
The performance felt like a declaration that Nigerian traditional music belongs on the world’s grandest stages. Adekunle Gold used Fuji not only as an album concept but as a cultural offering reimagined through orchestral artistry. The level of craftsmanship and artistic mastery required to pull off such a feat isn’t one possessed by many.
Conclusion
As the final notes faded in the Royal Festival Hall the audience witnessed more than a concert. They experienced a transformation. Adekunle Gold presented Fuji in its fullest form deeply rooted in Yoruba culture beautifully expanded by orchestral expression and emotionally honest from start to finish.
It was a night that honoured the past, embraced the present and pointed toward a future where genres blend seamlessly, and stories travel farther than ever.