The Struggler’s Anthem: Asake’s ‘Sunshine’ and the Painful Road to Greatness

By Ibrahim Kegbegbe

Success is not a gift handed out freely; it is earned through relentless struggle. This is the stark reality that Nigerian artist Asake captures in the song and visuals of Sunshine. The song is not just a rhythmic melody; it is a profound reflection on the hardship that precedes success, the solitude of ambition, and the paradox of shared prosperity.

At the heart of Sunshine is the reminder that no one wakes up wealthy without effort. Asake references Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, emphasizing that those who dream of financial success like him cannot achieve it through mere wishes. Rather, wealth and achievement come through struggle, persistence, and an unwavering focus on the goal. “Ease comes after stress,” Asake’s lyrics suggest—a truth that many successful individuals understand too well.

The Loneliness of the Hustle

The music video paints an even deeper picture of this reality. Asake stands alone, walking along the endless stretch of a beach, a powerful metaphor for the journey of life. The vastness of the ocean signifies the boundless challenges that one must navigate, and his solitary presence on the shore symbolizes the reality that, in the pursuit of greatness, one often walks alone.

Success is a lonely road. It is filled with self-doubt, failures, and silent struggles that only the dreamer understands. Asake’s solitude in the video speaks volumes: those who rise to greatness often do so singlehandedly. The same people who stand alone in the storm of struggle will later find themselves surrounded by friends, family, and admirers when success arrives.

This is one of life’s greatest paradoxes. When the battle for success is ongoing, few stand by the hustler’s side. But when the rewards start flowing, those who never experienced the struggle will happily partake in the benefits. The loneliness of the beach transforms into the crowd of celebration once success is achieved—but the pain of the journey remains with the individual who walked that road.

The Shoreline of Determination

The imagery of Asake at the edge of the ocean serves as an important lesson. The waves constantly roll in and recede—just as challenges come and go in life. But the key to success is to remain standing, unwavering like the shoreline itself.

Many people dream of success, but not everyone is willing to struggle for it. Some give up at the first sign of difficulty, while others wait for miracles. However, life does not reward the passive. Only those who continue to push forward, despite exhaustion, frustration, and setbacks, will eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Asake’s Sunshine is a song of reality. It is an anthem for every struggling individual trying to break through in business, music, academics, or any field of endeavor. It tells us that the path to success is lonely, challenging, and sometimes unfair. But it also reminds us that persistence leads to reward.

Keep Struggling Until the Sun Shines

In the end, the message of Sunshine is clear—struggle is inevitable, but it is also temporary. The beach, endless as it seems, is not meant to swallow us. Rather, it reminds us that no matter how vast the challenges, we must keep pushing forward. There is ease after stress. There is light after darkness. And for those who refuse to quit, the sun will eventually shine.