Lasun Alagbe
OBA: A Sonic Exploration of Oneness, Balance, and Awakening Through Neo-Afro Fusion
Multidisciplinary artist Olatunde Obajeun has announced the plans to release OBA — an innovative sonic project that reimagines traditional Yoruba folklore through a contemporary musical lens.
Titled after the guiding themes of Oneness, Balance, and Awakening, the project is a deep, immersive experience into what Obajeun describes as Neo-Afro Fusion—a distinct blend of ancestral rhythms and modern sonic textures.
Also a music producer and cinematographer, Obajeun had released two album – ‘The Known Stranger (2019) and Dust (2021). He also has to his credit several singles, including “O Mundo (feat. Rishab Prasanna, Djuena Tikuna & Olatunde Obajeun)
While the older works are largely rooted in highlife, pop and afro beat, OBA comes with a new sound. Particularly, Obajeun moves away from the afrobeats bug, saying the airwave is too saturated with it.
According to him, OBA is more than just an album. It is an artistic statement that fuses cultural heritage with experimental sound design. Through a thoughtful synthesis of indigenous storytelling and contemporary expression, Obajeun invites listeners on a journey that explores spiritual balance, cultural resonance, and creative renewal.
“There is a new sound I want to push out. Not afro or highlife but a fusion of all the older sounds. I want to push out something new from the old, something different. Our airwaves are saturated with afrobeats; so, I want people to hear something very different from what they are used to,” he explains.
With OBA, Obajeun continues to push the boundaries of African music, bridging the past and present in ways that are both thought-provoking and soul-stirring.