Adekunle Gold - My Life

What this video is

Released in December 2016 as a visual companion to Adekunle Gold's debut album GOLD (YBNL Nation), 'My Life' arrives at a pivotal moment in the global Afrobeats expansion. The video's deliberate embrace of old-school Yoruba aesthetics — warm tones, communal celebration, and traditional fashion — positions it as a counter-narrative to the more westernized production values creeping into Nigerian pop. It reflects…

Why it matters

A key artifact of the mid-2010s Urban-Highlife renaissance in Nigeria. The video codifies the visual language of the genre: warm Lagos light, community-centered staging, traditional fabric alongside streetwear, and performance-rooted storytelling. It demonstrates how YBNL-era artists used music…

The director

Ani James, known professionally as AJE, is a Nigerian cinematographer, director, and visual storyteller. He founded AJE Filmworks in Lagos in 2006. The company produces award-winning music videos, feature films, commercials, and documentaries. James is rated…