Gemma Ofili shows off her Sonic Dexterity on Sophomore EP “A Journey of Love”

Love remains a dominant topic in discourse. Philosophers, preachers and prophets, have written theses on it, sang about it and theorised around it, yet the topic can never be discussed exhaustively.

Regularly, people are looking for new ways to explore this. Nigerian alternative recording artist Gemma Ofili has slowly but steadily carved a niche for herself, treading a path less taken – in an ecosystem where the spotlight beams primarily on Afrobeats, she goes against the grain, belting out evocative lyrics from the perspective of an R&B, soul-focused singer-songwriter. Her debut EP, Through My Skin (released in October 2020), dwelt on romance across its five tracks, albeit from an introspective standpoint. The streams didn’t necessarily stack up – it’s always going to be tough competing with a Made In Lagos or even a Celia on New Music Fridays – but the plaudits poured in, and with appearances at events like The Althome: An Acoustic Evening, The Showcase Festival, Jazz & Dance Concert With Bex, Dwin The Stoic Live At Muson and (recently) Felabration, the 35-year-old has gained an intimate and fiercely loyal following in Lagos’ alternative music circuit.

Ofili’s sophomore project, A Journey Of Love, debuted on Monday December 2, 2024. With a runtime of nearly 24 minutes, it features production input from Rhaffy, 6ixxBeats, and Kellan Odj.

“Open Your Mind”, she croons urgently on the EP’s percussion-heavy opening track, managing to admonish without sounding too preachy as she enjoins her listeners to take shots in the dark and leaps of faith as they entertain the prospects of searching for love again after previously failed attempts at romance.

The beat progression of this beat gives it a Hip-Hop feeling, with the kind of instrumentation that is fertile ground for a rapper to drop a slick sixteen bars. When you stumble on the “Orekelewa” refrain, you tend to think this track might have been curated for a girl yet the overall theme of the song appeals to both genders.

“Backstory” sees Ofili hand in colourful backing vocals as she sings about self-forgiveness, moving on from past mistakes, and embracing future light. The tempo switches sonically and thematically on “Nakupenda,” where Agape gives way to Eros. Our protagonist wants just as much bodily contact as she wants to be at the receiving end of warm thoughts, and the track holds the kind of rhythmic space that would make for an electrifying live performance.

“Love Dey Carry Me Go” runs with a theme that we know all too well: finding heart-tugging passion in the most unexpected of places. “Iye o, this is not my bus-top”, Ofili sings with a tinge of irony, resigning to fate as she surrenders to a crude variant of love she didn’t see coming.

The upbeat “Taboo Love” alludes to old Bible passages about stolen waters, and the lyrics would resonate with Nigeria’s millennial demographic: picture a Lagos married man breaking his vows in a restroom located on the Lagos Mainland, or a lead chorister in a Catholic cathedral harbouring a huge crush on the officiating priest.

“Love’s Gone” adds a slightly darker dimension to the journey, as Ofili muses over the dying embers of a relationship in rueful soprano. The EP’s poignant closing track, “You Should Be Here,” is a dirge to a departed lover – she had to deal with a devastating event in 2019 – but it’s easily applicable in as many instances of loss as listeners may find themselves facing.

In A Journey Of Love, Ofili reaches out for new dimensions of her artistry, almost ditching the acoustic sensitivity of her debut; it’s less guitar, more drums, more sax, more pomp. The lyricism is more condensed, compared to the ponderosity of Through My Skin, with a lot more musicianship at play in these new records.

Armed with melody, tasteful vocals and a huge sense of optimism, this soloist has experienced a journey of healing, she is eager to tell the world about it, and with emotive hooks, she draws you in to hear her out. It’s hard to tell where she will take her sound next, but the alluring and authentic feel of her music invites you to evaluate your emotions, to take stock, to practise self-affirmations, and if you are up for it, maybe even fall in love.