Well, at this point we can all agree that Afrobeats to the world is no longer a wish but a reality and with this realization a lot of things come into play.
Our producers and artists are going around the world spreading this gospel, shutting down stadiums, winning awards and getting endorsements from all corners of the world. But as we celebrate our stars we should not forget those who have helped to shape this culture in their various capacities in media, social media, business, tech and the rest.
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Below are the individuals who are shaping the identity of Afrobeats in today’s pop culture scene.
1 Joey Akan
He is Nigerian is a multi-award-winning journalist, writer, A&R, Media Consultant and Podcaster. He is the founder of Afrobeats Intelligence. Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast is a podcast spin-off of the popular music newsletter, Afrobeats Intelligence. It’s focused on African music and the sprawling ecosystem that inspires and supports creativity from Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and more. Hosted by Joey Akan, the podcast explores the intersection of art, humanity and processes that give birth to African sonic excellence. Expansive interviews, the most informed and diverse views, and a snapshot into the soul of an industry pushing for global success. They dig into the past, the present and the future, democratizing the core of African music.
He was inducted into the Recording Academy class of 2023.
2 Motolani Alake
Motolani Olusegun Alake, known professionally as Motolani Alake, is a Nigerian lawyer, music executive, entrepreneur, public speaker, podcast host, and TV host, who has also been a pop culture commentator, and journalist. He was the Editor-In-Chief at Pulse Nigeria from March 2022 to December 2022. On 19 August 2022, Alake was recruited by the International Committee AFRIMA, in association with the African Union to join the All Africa Music Awards as one of its jury members for West Africa. He currently serves as the chart manager for Nigeria’s TurnTable Top Afro-Pop Songs chart.
3 Gracey Mae
She is a London-based Nigerian multifaceted entertainment journalist and the UK’s Number 1 Female Afrobeats Host. She is also a music executive, publicist, writer and artist manager. She has over the years worked with several artists such as Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Olamide, D’Banj, Yemi Alade, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, and Mr Eazi, to the new cats dominating the charts Tems, Ckay, Rema, Fireboy DML, Kizz Daniel, Adekunle Gold, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr, Oxlade and a host of others.
She is a member of the Grammy, Brits, BET and MOBO Voting Academy.
4 Godwin Tom
He is a Nigerian entertainment business executive, talent manager, author, public speaker and the Managing Director of Sony Music Publishing Nigeria. He is also the founder of Music Business Academy For Africa. He has been able to work with artists such as MI, Wizkid, Waje, Davido, Rooftop MCs, and many others over the years.
5 Kwadwo Sheldon
Bernard Kwadwo Amoafo, also known as Kwadwo Sheldon is a Ghanaian YouTube personality and content creator. His contents take on the latest social, sports, entertainment, cultural, and news trends happening in Ghana, Africa, and beyond. He strives to produce engaging content that resonates with the youthful and vibrant audience.
He was featured in Avance Media’s 50 Most Influential Young Ghanaians in 2020 and 2021 for his work in media.
6 Dolapo Amusat
He is a Nigerian Data analyst and creative industry expert. He is the founder of WeTalkSound (WTS), a 360-degree creative agency with an extensive client list that includes artists Teni, Victony, Reminisce, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), Joeboy, and record labels Aristokrat Records and EMPIRE. Dolapo, who works for Google as a Product Marketer as well, is in an exceptional position at the nexus of the tech and artistic industries.
He has provided a platform for a group of up-and-coming creatives with WeTalkSound. Over the years, collaborations have been cultivated through initiatives like the LOFN album series, Camp Nova, and Insert Nights. Dolapo has established a network of creatives inside the WTS community, fostering development and cooperation within Africa’s creative sector. He was also inducted into the Recording Academy class of 2023.
7 Adesope Olajide
He is a Nigerian media personality, radio and television personality, talk show host, event host and podcaster. He has been in the media industry for over 20 years and has worked for several media organizations, including The Beat London 103.6FM, Yanga TV, and Factory78 TV. The Afrobeats Podcast is a weekly podcast that discusses all things Afrobeats, from the latest music releases to the biggest news in the industry. Adesope interviews some of the biggest names in Afrobeats, including Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, and Tiwa Savage. He also talks to industry insiders, such as record label executives and music journalists, to get their insights on the state of Afrobeats.
The Afrobeats Podcast has been praised for its insightful interviews and its in-depth coverage of the Afrobeats scene. It has been featured in several publications, including OkayAfrica, Pulse Nigeria, and The Guardian.
8 Emotion Kontrolla
He is a Ghanaian-Nigerian music critic, YouTuber, and social media personality. He is known for his videos on African music and culture. He has over 44,000 subscribers on YouTube, and he started the Emotion Kontrolla YouTube channel in 2018. His videos quickly gained popularity, and he is now one of the most popular African music critics on YouTube. He is known for his honest and insightful reviews of African music, and he is not afraid to call out artists for their bad music. He is also known for his funny and entertaining videos, and he often uses humour to make his points.
In addition to his YouTube channel, he is also a savvy social media personality and he is known for his witty and insightful tweets. He is sure to continue to grow in popularity in the years to come.
These are some of the individuals propagating the goodness of Afrobeats around the world with a hope for more to come in the earnest of time.
