Nigerian Afro-pop musician Adekunle Gold has vowed to deliver a ‘crazy’ performance during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs at BK Arena on Friday, May 24. The ‘AG Baby’ hit maker said this on Wednesday night, May 22, after touching down in at Kigali International Airport. Adekunle’s return to Kigali follows his 2021 Movember Fest performance, where he captivated thousands of revelers at Canal Olympia Rebero. He is also the only foreign musician to perform at the 2024 BAL playoffs. Speaking to The New Times upon arrival at the airport, the artiste said that he always wanted to return to Rwanda before promising his fans a ‘great performance.’ “If you came to the last performance that I did, you know it was energetic. This time, there's even a lot more songs, so it's going to be crazy. I just want to have fun, man,” Adekunle said in an interview. Another thing, the artiste said, Rwanda is one of the countries that are doing big in economy and innovation, urging more nations to learn from the country’s development journey. “Before I landed, I was just talking to my friend about how exciting it is to know that Rwanda is one of the countries that are doing good in economy, innovation and everything. So, yeah, I hope that more African countries learn from whatever amazing things that you guys are doing,” said Adekunle. BAL playoffs will, besides Adekunle, feature performances by other local acts, including The Ben, Chris Eazy, Ish Kevin, Kevin Kade, Ariel Wayz, Kivumbi King, Bwiza, Ishami Talent, Inganzi Ngari cultural troupe and Kenny Sol. The playoffs opening game will see Libya’s Al Ahly Ly go up against South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers before holders Al Ahly (Egypt) take on FUS Rabat (Morocco) who finished at the top of the inaugural Kalahari Conference. Real name Adekunle Kosoko, Adekunle Gold is a Nigerian highlife singer, songwriter and graphic designer who gained widespread attention after releasing the 2015 hit single Sade, a highlife cover of One Direction’s Story of My Life. The 36-year old singer, who is a member of the famous Kosoko royal family of Lagos, is married to Simi, one of the best female artistes in Africa. Songs like ‘AG Baby’, ‘It is what It Is, ‘Okay’ and ‘Something Different’ made him a household name in the world of music. In 2015, he signed a record deal with YBNL Nation and released his debut studio album ‘Gold,’ which debuted at number 7 on the Billboard World Albums charts.
