ÀROKÒ: The Songwriter Who Speaks in Symbols
Long before text messages bridged distance, the Yoruba people of south-west Nigeria communicated through àrokò—an ancient non-verbal system of symbolic communication. A cowrie shell, a feather, or a carefully placed knot on a cord traveled between hands, carrying profound messages that required no spoken words to be understood.
Today, Nigerian-born, Scotland-based songwriter Ahmed Olanrewaju Oladapo adopts this heritage under the moniker Àrokò. From the vibrant studios of Lagos to social care settings in Scotland, Ahmed turns raw emotion into music, offering a voice to those who struggle to speak.
"I've always thought in pictures first. A feeling arrives as an image, and my job is to find the words that fit it." — Ahmed Olanrewaju Oladapo (Àrokò)
From Lagos Studios to UK Stages
Ahmed began his independent songwriting journey in Lagos in 2020, crafting Afrobeats, Afro-fusion, and street-pop tracks in English, Yoruba, and Nigerian Pidgin. Imbued with traditional proverbs and storytelling, his work touches deeply on ambition, self-worth, and mental health.
His theatrical talent surfaced early in 2022 when he served as the songwriter for Lagos State University's convocation play—Femi Osofisan's Morountodun—writing the original track "Asake" alongside new Yoruba lyrics for select scenes.
Following his commercial release debut in November 2024, Ahmed rapidly emerged as a sought-after hitmaker, accumulating 12 commercial writing credits between 2024 and 2026 for artists like Dekoad, ROTTI, and Ego 4oreign:
- "PREORDER" (Dekoad): Surpassed 201,000+ Spotify streams and gained coverage from major music outlets Not JustOk and The Culture Custodian.
- "RAISE AM" (Dekoad): Reached 146,000+ Spotify streams.
- "Miliki": Written for Baron Inc. and performed live at Industry Night in Xscape, Manchester, on June 12, 2026.
His songs have featured on major Afrobeats curator playlists alongside industry powerhouses like Ayra Starr, Omah Lay, Patoranking, and Skepta, attracting massive listenership from Lagos to Nairobi and Accra.
The Àrokò Cards: Bridging Care & Communication
Alongside his thriving musical career, Ahmed has worked in healthcare and social care in Scotland since 2023. As a Support Practitioner with The Richmond Fellowship—supporting young adults with learning disabilities and autism—he recognized a recurring challenge: the frustration that occurs when individuals cannot find the words to express their emotions.
Connecting his artistic process with person-centered care, Ahmed developed the Àrokò Cards.
Àrokò Cards Overview
Details
Feelings (8 Cards)
Visual depictions of feelings such as happy, sad, worried, and calm.
Needs (3 Cards)
Clear prompts for essential needs: "I need help", "I need a break", and "I need quiet".
Open Expression (1 Card)
Marked "something else", acknowledging that feelings don't always fit into rigid boxes.
Adoption & Usage
Used professionally at Awojohnson Corporate Services Limited in the UK, as well as Early Bloomers Educational Services and Jordan Learning in Lagos.
Feelings Into Songs: The Creative Workshop
Ahmed took his innovation a step further by merging visual tools with songwriting. Through his workshop, Àrokò: Feelings Into Songs, participants choose cards representing their emotional state and collaboratively transform those emotions into original music.
This approach allows individuals who use little or no speech to actively co-create, sing, and express their personal narratives through music.
Key Achievements at a Glance
- 365,000+ total plays across platforms for his top co-written releases.
- Educational Background:
- Holds an MSc in Cyber Security from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, and a BSc in Statistics from FUNAAB.
- Community Leadership:
- Led the "From Idea to Impact" songwriting bootcamp for emerging Lagos creatives in 2025.
- Future Vision:
- Continuing to expand his catalogue with PRS for Music, co-writing with UK Afroswing and Afrobeats producers, and embedding Feelings Into Songs across Scottish arts and mental health institutions.
Through Àrokò, Ahmed Olanrewaju Oladapo carries an ancestral Yoruba practice into contemporary spaces—proving that even when words fail, music and symbols can always give voice to the heart.
