Inside Temple Vol. 1 EP — 'Bajeola' and 'Dance'

Temple Vol. 1 is a two-pack project (EP) – “Bajeola (DJ Edit)” & “Dance”, released on January 24, 2023. These two records are both heavily influenced by Amapiano and Afrobeats, one leaning more into Amapiano and the other leaning more toward Afrobeats. These records were written and composed by Temple T and produced by Queen Halima (Victoria Ogechukwu Egbogu) & DJ Amash.

Bajeola leans more to Amapiano with a soft, soulful undertone – calm, jazz-influenced chords that bring emotional depth to the record. It starts with piercing drum patterns and a piano line that slowly builds into a climax — and then begins to release tension as the bass drops. The two (drum and piano chord) flow together naturally as the track progresses. This is the structure that is built for this record.

Temple T, rather than singing conventionally as the lead vocal, sampled her own voice, which resulted in a rhythmic and melodic vocal texture woven into the instrumental. Bajeola, the title of the record, is a traditional Yoruba name and abstract idea that means “one who is spoilt with success, or riches”.

However, in the context of this song, Bajeola seems to be a person— you see, the core lyrical hook, “Mo ti n jabo o Bajeola ah ah ah ah”, which is repetitive and used as an instrument as discussed earlier, can be translated as, “I’m falling o Bajeola, ah ah ah ah”. This simple yet effective lyricism displays the act of being overwhelmed by the love of a love interest. The repetition of “ah ah ah ah” at the end of the sentence serves as both catharsis and the downbeat/pulse of the track.

Listeners may call it a great late-night groove for hopeless romantics staying up, mesmerising a love interest, while others may call it an introspective club jam perfect for dancing with your romantic partner. Bajeola is a peaceful track with beats that keep your body moving.

Dance leans more to Afrobeats built with bounces at the core, with amapiano swing layered on top. Dance can be described as an interactive/communal track made specifically for live audiences. With its catchy drum pattern and unforgettable whistle motif, together with the repetitive vocal chant that provokes a response from listeners, it’s proven to be a great track to encounter in clubs, raves or any dance floor.

The lyricism is a mix of Pidgin and Yoruba, both languages popularly spoken by Nigerians. The central refrain, “if you no go dance ko lo le o, dance!” can be translated roughly as “if you’re not here to dance, go home”, with the expectation from live audience will respond by chanting “dance!” as the beat drops. It is a track that demands movement from the audience, a very energetic record that contributes to the jolly vibe of the EP.

Temple Vol. 1 is an outstanding EP to bring intense emotions to the dance floor, and by the sound of it, you can tell that Temple T was able to successfully carry out the mission; she’s an excellent artist who will make a great impact in the club culture.