Nigerian artist and filmmaker Godwin has announced his debut album, Atonement, set for release on October 10, 2025 via Sony Music/Columbia France/STUDIO41 GmbH Frankfurt.
Alongside the announcement, he released the album’s title track, Atonement, with an official music video and launched the album presave.
The track carries the core storytelling of the album and sets the stage for the full-length album project. Written around themes of love and forgiveness, and built on a sample sung by Godwin’s late mother’s choir, Atonement captures the personal and spiritual essence of the record.
Godwin explains: “The song expresses the sentiment of forgiveness towards those who have wronged us: to truly love someone, it’s necessary to let go of past hurts.”
The official video, self-directed by Godwin and shot in his home city of Kaduna, features the very choir sampled in the track—the same choir in which his late mother once sang. Intimate and deeply symbolic, the visuals highlight Godwin’s ability to merge music and film into a single emotional experience.
Fans can also discover more of Godwin’s own words in a video he shared on social media, reflecting on the meaning behind Atonement – watch here.
Atonement and this album announcement represents the culmination of Godwin’s path so far, a journey that has steadily expanded his artistic voice. His COLORSxSTUDIOS debut with Home first introduced him internationally, while Abeke with German AAA producers team KITSCHKRIEG revealed his versatility.
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Each release has built toward this debut album, praised by outlets such as Clash Magazine, 1883 Magazine, BBC 1Xtra, and COLORSxSTUDIOS. This announcement comes as his fanbase rapidly expands, now approaching 600K followers on TikTok.
PRE-SAVE THE ALBUM HERE
WATCH MUSIC VIDEO HERE:
ABOUT GODWIN
Godwin Gaza Josiah, simply known as Godwin, is a multifaceted creative with interests in music and film. He began as a filmmaker alongside his cousins, founding the Variety-endorsed film collective The Critics Company in 2015. He has directed a film in collaboration with Morgan Freeman’s production company Revelation Entertainment and has been mentored by acclaimed filmmakers such as JJ Abrams, Taika Waititi, and Kemi Adetiba.
Hailing from the often-overlooked city of Kaduna (Nigeria), Godwin brings an authentic energy to the music scene, fusing rich cultural influences with deep emotional experiences. His music, closely tied to visual arts, draws from genres such as Soul, R&B, and Afrobeat. Influenced by Labbi Siffre (“an exceptional writer, able to make the most complex words really simple”), Aretha Franklin (“My dad put her in my head as a child, and it did something to my voice just trying to sing to her songs”), and Labrinth (“His music transcends traditional genres, and as a black man, he breaks free from expected norms”), Godwin has forged a unique creative path.
In the realm of music, Godwin stands apart as a gifted artist crafting soulful songs that defy expectations often tied to Nigerian artists in the Afrobeats era. His proposition ventures into uncharted territories, offering a refreshing departure from the anticipated norm. His music is more than a collection of songs; it is an anthology of shared experiences, a reflection of resilience, and an invitation to embrace the journey with open hearts and ears.
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