Hearing the first notes of string at the very beginning of “Forever Sweet” for the first time, while DOTTi The Deity warms up his vocals to join them, you are convinced you are about to meet a wedding every bit as wonderful as the one he describes in the song. In a song with so much to choose from, DOTTi’s delivery is a standout; the unique timbre of his voice adds a distinct cultural flavour to “Forever Sweet”, excellently blending into its language, melody and instrumentation. A match made in heaven. Drums are soon stirred into the mix, and as they are of the Yoruba talking drum variety, they turn what was shaping to be a soulful ballad into a percussive song, so when in a short while the chorus reappears, it is upbeat this time, dancy.
Over this colourful medley, DOTTi serenades his partner in the sweetest words and extols her with the highest accolades. Awelewa, beautiful skin. Eleyinju ege, beautiful eyes. But beyond these praises of ephemeral beauty is the promise of perpetual loyalty. He describes their love to be like the Eyele bird, known in Yoruba legend to be so loyal to its owner that it will not fly away when the house is burning. “Forever Sweet” is poetry set into song.
Its subject is clear; a love that intoxicates, that rages unbridled, that everlasts. The type of love that pulls two people to assemble their closest friends and God himself to bear witness as they commit themselves eternally to one another. It is no surprise that so many couples have chosen “Forever Sweet” for their inaugural couple’s dance, for somewhere in his impassioned lyrics and honeyed delivery, DOTTi can convey their honest affections to one another in a way they could never articulate or vocalise. Equally as important, its vibrant sonic setting, especially with the musicality of talking drums, sets the tone for a first dance that will be lively, and yet intimate.
“Forever sweet” is worming its way into the hearts of Nigerians. In a little over a year, the love song has been played on tiktok over 10 million times and garnered an impressive 3 million streams across all platforms, peaking at number 40 on Shazam’s Top 200 Nigeria, and topping Spotify’s Viral 50 Nigeria chart. More important than chart positions is its gradual fixation as a staple in Nigerian weddings.
DOTTi’s song will walk the hall of fame beside legendary Yoruba love songs of the past like Sunny Neji’s “Oruka”, Timi Dakolo’s “Iyawo Mi” and Tosin Martins’ “Olo Mi”. Sunny Neji proclaims with relief that oruka ti dowo na—the ring has met the finger and the bond of marriage is now forged; Timi Dakolo announces to his loved one that “I will love you forever”; Tosin Martins insists with finality that ko sohun ti o ya wa—nothing can separate us. These songs share with “Forever Sweet” not just romantic lyrics but the feeling of triumph, they describe a love that has overcome its obstacles and is now prepared to saunter into its happily ever after. For a young couple on their wedding day, this is the sentiment most ardent in the mind—this feeling we share now, how can we preserve it forever, through thick and thin? It is in keying into this that “Forever Sweet”, with its relatability and charm, becomes the greatest wedding song of our present time.
The ease of DOTTi’s performance on “Forever sweet” might leave you to wonder if this song was an unwitting godsend, but a look through his small but solid discography provides an answer to every doubt over his consistency. His body of work, “For You Knew Me” features songs that are stunningly beautiful
Written by Patrick Ezema
