ABSTRACT: This paper explores a semiotic analysis of two recent Nigerian gospel Afrobeats (Afro-gospel) songs; "We Will Be Many" (by Sound of Salem) and "No turning Back II" (by Gaise Baba ft Lawrence Oyor). Using Peircean and Barthesian semiotic theoretical frameworks. The study examines how sonic, linguistic, visual, and performative signs produce theological meanings grounded in sacred/secular boundaries and participate in the cultural circulation of contemporary Nigerian Christianity. This study indicates that gospel Afrobeats functions as a symbolic space through which youth-oriented spiritual perceptions are played out and contested. Recent discourse on originality and the viral circulation of these tracks reveals ongoing scholarship over what counts as "sacred sound" in Nigeria's digital age.
KEYWORDS: Gospel Afrobeats, Semiotic Analysis, Peircean Semiotics, Nigerian Pentecostalism, Multimodal Discourse
Toluwalope Abosede Awolokun
Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State.
awolokun0242@pg.babcock.edu.ng
Mobolanle E. Sotunsa
Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State.
Sotunsam@babcock.edu.ng
F. Damilola Agboola
Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
agbooladamilolaf12@gmail.com
Paula Ibukun Idowu
Babcock University
ibkidowu@rocketmail.com