We don’t often get songs like Olu’s “Baby” in Africa, or anywhere in the world for that matter; A love song so layered and abstract, the interpretation is entirely open-ended. But that’s what we get when musicians get a bit too extra on the art part of being artists, trying to create something otherworldly.

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“Baby” begins with a percussion-heavy baseline that builds into a single guitar strum heard at intervals throughout the song. Olu seems to be reaching out to someone out of her reach and perhaps too occupied to hear her. Worried about the person and overwrought by the lack of response as she asks “Where are you going?” 

The mysterious feel tends towards a godlike reference for “Baby”; She wants to know where Baby is going, if Baby is coming back and if Baby’s stay on earth is pleasant. The lyrics and apprehensiveness heard at the start could be a reflection of the heaviness in her heart for fear of losing Baby, but the end of the song communicates a sense of calm. Perhaps she breaks free from this person or they return to her. Either way, the gist is she is content.

Maybe the godlike person she feels she’s losing is herself, and she finds her identity on the almost river-like flow on the last few seconds of the song. We may never find out, but we can enjoy the song below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/olu.watosin

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