Nigerian singer, songwriter, and music executive, Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, popularly known in the entertainment industry as Mr. Eazi, has won the Young Entrepreneur Award at the 2024 African Prosperity Champions Award held at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra.
The award recognises Mr. Eazi’s drive to set up businesses on the continent and project Africa positively as a destination for foreign investors.
The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA) has equally noticed Mr. Eazi’s business initiatives, which have culminated in receiving the coveted Young Entrepreneur Award.
The founder of Banku Music record label expressed gratitude to the organisers, African Prosperity Network (APN), for the honour done to him. He also credited his alma mater, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he started his entrepreneurial journey.
“…that journey has taken me from tech to music, and it has been seven years of music, which has led me to represent Africa across the world and speak on Africa’s soft power,” he said.
“This is one of the first times that everywhere I go, people refuse to look at me as the entrepreneur that I am and just want to look at me as a musician and expect me to hold the mic and sing.
“Meanwhile, as young Africans, we refuse to be defined by labels. I am a creative entrepreneur, and I thank you so much for giving me this award. It is a reminder of the work we are doing and the work that is to be done, and Africa is the future whether anybody likes it or not,” he added.
Mr Eazi’s independent record label, Banku Music, serves as a platform for promoting emerging African artists. He is known for supporting and collaborating with other talents in the industry.
Mr Eazi has achieved international recognition for his contributions to the Afrobeat genre. He has collaborated with both African and international artists, contributing to the global popularity of Afrobeats.
He is also the brain behind the annual festival, Detty Rave, which brings the world home. Detty Rave brings together a diverse lineup of local and international artists, celebrating the vibrancy of African music and culture.
The festival contributes to the ongoing narrative of Africa’s influence on the global music stage.
Beyond its entertainment value, it has contributed to community engagements and development.
Detty Rave provides opportunities for local businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs to showcase their work, fostering a sense of community and empowerment.
The event was hosted by Kwame Sefa Kayi and Berla Mundi and was attended by high-profile dignitaries including President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, the President of Guayana H.E Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali, Secretary General Commonwealth Baroness Scotland, the Vice President of Ivory Coast, and the First Lady, H.E Rebecca Akufo-Addo.