Abu Salam & Papi Ojo's "Gentleman" is a salute to Fela Kuti and dapper men worldwide
“It all began with Fela.”
Breakout artist Abu Salam channeled his inner Fela Kuti for an impressive entry into the afrobeats scene with his debut single, “Gentleman.” Inspired by the original Gentleman, a classic album gifted to the world by the aforementioned legendary Nigerian musician in 1973, Abu Salam sought out to rewrite the late artist’s lyrics to suit a modern audience. The final product narrates to us a transformational journey to success and the simultaneous pursuit of love along the way. The track was blessed with a feature from Papi Ojo, the 22-year-old dancer and choreographer widely known for his work with the likes of Janet Jackson, Rihanna, and Beyoncé.
In contrast to Fela who expresses his disdain for Africans abandoning traditional practices to assimilate to Westernized ideas of what a gentleman should embody, Abu Salam attempts to unionize the two worlds with a music video that serves as an homage to the dapper fashion era that took the internet by storm in the early 2010s. With tailored suits, bold colors, silver chains, and special cameos from Abu Salam’s fashion collective DeLaSape and pieces from NAIRA EGO HOME, a sustainable loungewear brand founded by his sister, Jennifer Abu, the music video was a beautiful visual experience from beginning to end.
Watch “Gentleman” below: