Jemiriye Releases “Olúróunbí” Yoruba Folktale Reimagined As Afro-Fusion

Internationally acclaimed Afro-fusion artiste, Jemiriye on Friday releases Olúróunbí, a powerful new single and music video inspired by a traditional Yoruba folktale from Nigeria.

The track asks a timeless question with sharp contemporary resonance: What would you sacrifice to become everything the world expects you to be?

Rooted in Nigerian cultural heritage, Olúróunbí was recorded and produced across Paris and the United States, with its accompanying music video filmed in Bali, Indonesia. The song blends Jemiriye’s commanding vocals with Nigerian rhythms, indigenous Yoruba chants, live orchestral instrumentation and modern production.

“Olúróunbí takes me back to those village nights under the stars,” says Jemiriye. “As a child, I was drawn to the chant and rhythm. Growing older, I began to understand the weight of the story. It speaks to something deeply human—the desire for a better life, the pressure to prove ourselves and the danger of pursuing success without asking what it might cost us.”

In the folktale, Olurounbi longs for motherhood, prosperity and status. She strikes a bargain with a sacred Iroko tree, promising her unborn child in exchange for her wishes. When the time comes to honour the deal, prosperity turns to anguish.

Jemiriye uses the story as a mirror for modern life. “As a Black woman working to break barriers, I understand the pressure to over-promise, over-deliver and constantly prove your worth,” she says. “Olúróunbí is a reminder to stop chasing emptiness, protect your peace and refuse to trade your humanity for a seat at a table that demands everything from you.”

The refrain “Olurounbi o join join iroko join join!” carries the cadence of oral tradition into a contemporary Afro-fusion soundscape, making the work both culturally specific and globally accessible.