Afrobeats singer Adekunle Gold has said that ageing should be seen as an advantage rather than a setback, noting that his perspective on life and success has changed over the years.
Gold made the remark while reflecting on his 39th birthday in a recent interview with The Nation. The Lagos-born artiste said birthdays once caused him anxiety because he felt pressured to meet certain expectations.
“There was a time when birthdays used to scare me. I used to feel like time was tapping me on the shoulder, asking what I had to show for myself,” he said.
He explained that he previously believed progress had a deadline but said his outlook has shifted with age.
“I thought progress had a deadline, though there was a point where you either arrived or you didn’t. But this year felt calm,” he added.
Speaking after the release of his sixth studio album, Fuji, Gold dismissed claims that the project represented the peak of his career. He said he does not believe in the idea of having a peak.
“One thing I know for sure is that I don’t have a peak. I feel like I’ve unlocked something, a new person, a new purpose,” he said.
Gold, who rose to prominence over a decade ago with his song Sade, said his confidence is built on lessons learned over time and criticised what he described as society’s tendency to place rigid timelines on success.
Meanwhile, veteran musician Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba or 2Face, has said there are aspects of his past he wishes he could change.
The singer made the comments during a recent episode of the Mic On podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye. 2Baba spoke about regret and the emotional weight of past experiences.
“There are so many things I wish I could rewind and do better. As a human being, there are times when some things go too much and it will get to you. My bullet-proof vest don weak now,” he said in Pidgin English.
During the same conversation, he addressed an incident involving his wife, Natasha Osawaru, and his arrest in London in October 2025, admitting that he reacted in anger.
“I was angry that day. It was an unfortunate incident,” he said.
2Baba also weighed in on ongoing comparisons between Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and singer Wizkid, rejecting the comparison.
“It’s disrespectful to Fela, and at the same time unfair to Wizkid,” he said.
The comments follows criticism by Seun Kuti, Fela’s son, who in January accused some fans of repeatedly invoking his father’s name in music arguments.
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award on January 31, 2026, becoming the first African artiste to receive the honour. The award was accepted on his behalf by his children Yeni, Femi and Kunle Kuti at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.
