Nigerian Afro-Fuji artiste Bluwhale is preparing to delve deeper into his personal world with an anticipated music project that explores themes of love, family, past experiences and life stories.
The emerging artiste, who describes his sound as a fusion of Fuji and contemporary Afrobeats, stated that his forthcoming body of work will be part of his endeavour to convey his narrative through music.
Bluwhale has indicated that fans should expect premium music and new unfiltered sounds as he continues with a steady release schedule and visual content.
“Fans should expect premium music back-to-back contents and new unfiltered sounds from me. Back-to-back,” he said.
One of the songs connected to the project is “ABEFE”, a deeply personal record inspired by his family. According to Bluwhale, he wrote the song specifically for his wife and daughter with the title taken from his daughter’s name.
“ABEFE is a song I wrote for my wife and my daughter. Her name is ABEFE,” he said. While “ABEFE” draws from his family life, another song, “THOMAS PARTEY”, takes listeners into a different chapter of his story.
Bluwhale said the song reflects on his former lifestyle and his experiences as a self-described “badboy”, explaining that there is a much larger story behind the record.
“THOMAS PARTEY is me reflecting on my old lifestyle. Badboy. It is a long story that I am trying to use music to tell, single by single,” he said.
Rather than presenting his music as entertainment detached from his experiences, Bluwhale stated that he wants his records to document different aspects of his life and allow listeners to gradually understand the person behind the music.
This approach also aligns with his Afro-Fuji identity, which he says draws from the music of some of the most influential traditional and contemporary Nigerian acts who influenced him while growing up in Abeokuta.
The artiste cites the late Ayinla Omowura, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Sefiu Alao, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal and Saheed Osupa as major influences, alongside artists such as Sunny Neji, Paul PlayDairo, Lagbaja, Eedris Abdulkareem and Olamide.
He describes the sound as ‘Afro Fuji’ comparing his approach to late Fuji legend Chief Sikiru Ayinde Barrister performing on modern Afrobeats production while retaining the musical composition and delivery of Ayinla Omowura.
Bluwhale states that the combination of these influences has helped him develop a sound that draws from Fuji while embracing the possibilities of modern Afrobeats. For the artiste, however, the project is not simply about experimenting with established sounds. He insists originality remains central to his identity and that his music must remain an authentic representation of himself.
“My music and sound is me and I’m my music,” he said.
Bluwhale also sees his current releases as the beginning of a much larger plan for his career. He aims to move from being an emerging artiste to becoming a creator of opportunities for other talents.
“I want to help people fulfill their dreams and teach them how to live it,” Bluwhale said.
For now, the artiste is concentrating on his music with “ABEFE”, “THOMAS PARTEY” and the anticipated project offering different sides of the story he wants to tell through his Afro-Fuji sound.
Within the next five years, he plans to establish a record label that will provide a platform for what he describes as the “next generation of superstars” across various areas of art and entertainment.
