A song about betrayal that makes you want to dance is an unusual thing, and that contrast is the whole idea behind “Ólekú.” Lagos Afrobeat artist Sayralex released it on September 18th, and he built it around the hurt of trust being broken by someone close, then turned that experience into energy and rhythm. In his own words, betrayal may hurt, but it does not have to break you. The song is about refusing to be defined by it and finding the energy to keep moving.
The groove is incredible here, which is not surprising, honestly, given the talent behind the song. These are musicians channeling what makes this genre so incredible, working at the renowned Sambol Studio in Lagos. If someone introduces me to a song by saying it’s inspired by Fela Kuti, I’m going to set high expectations for deeply soulful music, and “Ólekú” clears them with flying colors, quite literally, because it is a very colorful song.
Producer Akindimeji Samuel Onasanya shaped the track around a strong, groove-driven Afrobeat foundation, and it was released through Sambol Production Company. Sayralex sings in Yoruba, which gives the song a cultural identity and a natural rhythmic quality, while keeping the emotional message direct. Beyond Fela Kuti, the influences he names are Hugh Masekela, the Lijadu Sisters and Angélique Kidjo, but the stated goal is to build on those artists and not imitate them, leaving room for Sayralex and Onasanya to develop a contemporary sound of their own.
The production aim was to keep things simple, getting the balance right between rhythm, vocal expression and emotion so that the performance feels genuine and the production supports the story without getting in its way.
There are no confirmed live dates yet, though Sayralex and his team say they are exploring opportunities to bring the song to audiences in person. For now, “Ólekú” is an easy recommendation for Afrobeat fans.