Adejoké (Ah-day-jaw-keh)

 

 

Adejoké is a Washington, DC based Nigerian singer-songwriter. An accomplished international lawyer, she has forged a career in human rights and international criminal investigations. Yet music is never far from her heart. Writing songs since age 14, Adejoké melds the sonic styles of jazz, soul, gospel and R&B with her rich African heritage. Fusing her passion for social justice and music, Adejoké sings in DC's all-women social justice a cappella group, SongRise.The group uses its music to inspire social change. 

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Adejoké's introductory album is an aural journey which explores the essence of relationships and emotions. From Dem A Say with its pulsating reggae beat to Falling in Love Again, an R&B tinged gospel love song, this eponymous EP illustrates Adejoké's creativity and diversity as a singer-songwriter.

 

In Dem A Say the heroine laughs, tongue in cheek, at the busybodies who dissect every aspect of her relationship. Though playful, this song is an anthem for those whose relationships have withstood the constant scrutiny of “outsiders.” Contrast its rhythmic sound with the solemnity of Strongerand you enter into the realm of deeper emotions. Stronger boldly answers the question: “from where do we find the strength to leave abusive relationships?”  Written in the style of a letter to a former lover, Adejoké's determined voice soars in a ballad dedicated to survivors of domestic violence.

 

The exploration of a range of emotions continues through to A Long Timewhere the piano and guitar solos embody the torturous longing and abandonment felt by the protagonist at the absence of her lover. The emotions of gratitude  in the face of adversity are explored in Mo Du Pe (I'm Grateful). A truly pan-African song, Mo Du Pe is sung in Shona (a language from Zimbabwe, Southern Africa) and Yoruba (a West African language spoken in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo). Instrumentation used include the Kora (widely played in Mali, Senegal, Gambia, and Burkina Faso) and the djembe drum ( a staple African percussion instrument).

Falling in Love Again depicts a journey from doubt to surrender. The final song on the album, Take Me Lord, is also its oldest. Written in 2001, it chronicles a desire to do what is right in the ultimate spiritual relationship. This album inspires and makes you want to dance all at once. It represents an eclectic mix of styles and a variety of emotions embodied in one unique voice.