Abimbola Ibirogba’s Pen Is Brilliant On Wonu’s Soldier

By Chinonso Ihekire

Words and melodies often clash which makes music is a battlefield of emotion, as several elements merge to form something greater than the sum of their parts. Some songs are triumphant, while others are wrought with quiet devastation. Soldier, Wonu’s 2024 single, falls into the latter category as mid-tempo, drum-driven Afropop record that carries the weight of love lost. Setting the tone of the record with his own is Abimbola Ibirogba, the songwriter who crafts the song’s emotional landscape with deft precision. His ability to distill heartache into evocative lyrics transforms Soldier into a sweet-sounding, resonant record.

Wonu’s tone is not one of rage, but of resignation. Her voice glides over the percussive arrangement, steady although heavy with loss. Soldier is about the aftermath of the war of love, the silence after the storm, the weight of battles fought in vain. Abimbola’s writing captures this perfectly, turning grand declarations into something more subtle and intimate. He chooses the words carefully, letting them cut in the way only understated truths can.

The song’s structure reflects this sense of controlled sorrow. Although layered over a vibrant instrumental, the verses unfold like a quiet confession, each line revealing another layer of disappointment, another moment replayed in the mind. There is no excess here, just a lean, deliberate lyricism that understands when to press forward and when to let a thought hang in the air. Then comes the chorus, swelling just enough to remind the listener that loss is not passive; it demands to be felt. 

Abimbola’s brilliance lies in his ability to create tension and restraint in the lyrics. Where another songwriter might have opted for complex wordplay, he understands that simplicity, when wielded correctly, can be just as powerful. The lyrics of Soldier do not need embellishment. Their strength is in their honesty, in the way they resonate with anyone who has ever walked away from love with the sting of battle scars. 

Yet, this is not a song drowning in despair. There is a quiet dignity in Wonu’s delivery, and Abimbola’s writing allows for this balance. The heartbreak is real, but so is the understanding that life moves forward. The rhythmic pulse of the drums and the steady pacing of the melody suggests that while the pain is undeniable, so too is resilience. 

The synergy between songwriter and artist is evident. Abimbola’s words fit Wonu’s voice like a second skin, giving her the space to stretch into the song’s emotions without feeling confined by them. She inhabits the song, turning every lyric into a lived experience. This is the mark of great songwriting: creating words that feel true as much as they sound good.

On Soldier, Abimbola Ibirogba once again proves why he is a songwriter of rare finesse. He understands that music, at its best, is about making people feel a story in their bones. As the Nigerian music scene continues to evolve, Abimbola’s pen remains a force, shaping the way emotions are translated into melody, one lyric at a time.