New York born, but raised in Nigeria by strict religious parents, Kuku uses his voice and guitar along with a team to deliver what he describes as “The Irreligious Gospel of Adebola Kuku.” Mixing Western African instruments as well as varying between English and the native language of southwestern Nigeria, Kuku brings together a core group of “Mongezi Ntaka/g, Jordan Ringo/b, Jean-emmanuel Fatna/prc, Hilaire/b and various guests to serve as his framework for his message of trying to be “moral without religion.”
Musically, there is much to offer, as pieces such as “Waya” (with guest drummer Tony Allen) mix lithe lines with complex rhythms that take you to the Gold Coast of Africa, while his rich voice feels like a balm here and on “Owo.” The rich textures and melding sounds range from American blues and folk to complex yet accessible hues, as he sings a love song to Africa on “Africa Jomi Loju.” Theologically, while claiming to be “irreligious,” he comes across as King David the Psalmist on “Evil Doers” and “Is It All A Game” as he asks the God that he doesn’t quite believe in “Where Are you when the evil doers are at work?”
He makes many references to God, but if there is not God, how can there be a truly objective way of judging “good” or “evil.” True, religion done poorly, especially a poor religion, can do much evil, but to claim that “there is no correlation between morality and religion” begs the question to give examples of “irreligious” groups helping the poor, the disabled, giving women and slaves rights & freedoms, building hospitals, etc through the centuries. Not to mention the works of irreligious people like Amin, Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot. It sounds like that KuKu is sincere in his search for truth, and as the Author of truth said, “You will find Me, if you seek Me with all of your heart.” Hopefully, his collection of Psalms may not necessarily be “religious,” but relational to the one true God. It’s a journey worth following.