‘I was constantly overlooked’ — Adekunle Gold recounts past struggles

Adekunle Gold, the Nigerian highlife singer, has recounted how he was rejected on numerous occasions in the past.

The music star was reflecting on his past struggles and career strides in a chat with TheCable Lifestyle.

Gold said he was constantly overlooked and disrespected in the past, adding that it was not a pleasant experience for him at the time.

“…worked so hard to push myself and my creativity…I actually can’t count the amount of no’s I got. The feeling of being constantly overlooked, undercooked, disrespected and maligned is not a pleasant one,” he said.

He also recalled that “not long too long ago,” he had not enough money on him to give his fans craving to get his attention.

“There were days where the fans were plenty but the pocket was very empty and this wasn’t too long ago,” he continued.

The singer also opened up on dealing with inherent bottlenecks in the music industry, saying such makes transparency difficult.

“I am going to be as transparent with you as I possibly can, even though this industry makes it difficult to be and your worth is measured based on how much you can package,” he said.

The musician said in spite of the odds, he remains grateful for what he has been able to achieve. He also enjoined those bracing similar experiences not to give up.

“I am particularly thankful for the journey. I know that our world celebrates the destination but I am learning daily that life really is about how we journey,” he added.

“Don’t let anyone cheat you out of a struggle or a hard experience, ma fi ago alago sise, don’t let social nonsense rush your process. Struggle, cry, feel the depths of your pain. Feel it!  It’s only then that you are able to recognise when times are good.”