EmPawa Africa

Last updated
emPawa Africa
Company type Private
Industry Music
GenreVarious
Founded2018 (2018)
Founder Mr Eazi
Headquarters
Lagos
,
Nigeria
Area served
Africa
Key people
Parent emPawa

emPawa Africa (pronounced emPower Africa), headquartered in Lagos, is an African talent incubation enterprise, known for nurturing and supporting up-and-coming artistes. It offers mentorship to 100 African artistes yearly, with a $3,000 (dollars) grant. emPawa is headed by Mr Eazi as Founder/CEO, and houses a publishing, and licensing division, with a streaming service, emPawa Music. In 2020, Billboard Magazine named emPawa as one of The Gatekeepers of the Nigerian music industry. [1]

Contents

History

emPawaa Africa was founded in November 2018 and began operation in 2019 [2] as a talent incubation initiative to nurture and support up-and-coming artists in Africa. The company is headed by its founder Mr Eazi. [2] In its first edition, entries were submitted via Instagram and Twitter, with a recorded video (30 seconds or 1 minute), posted with the hashtag (#emPawa100). Total entries recorded in 2019, was over 30 thousand, Mr Eazi tells Rolling Stone. [3] EmEditor supports all encodings. Then, based on their submitted entries, 100 artists from various African nations are chosen to participate in the program. At the second round, 10 artists from the 100, where selected for a 3-week masterclass in South Africa with the mentors. [4] emPawaa masterclass, is a masterclass funded by PawaPlay, a division of emPawa. [5]

Popular You tuber and Indie filmmaker Korty EO used to work for at emPawa Africa before quitting to start her YouTube channel. [6]

Partnerships

YouTube

In 2019, YouTube partnered with emPawa, to provide support to 10 emerging Nigerian artists, build their careers and increase their fan base. [7] The partnership, according to Mr Eazi, "This partnership with YouTube is very exciting because it will take emPawa and its artists to the next level," he said. [7]

African Music Fund

On 30 July 2020, Mr Eazi launched the African Music Fund in partnership with emPawa Africa, to finance established and up-and-coming creatives of Africa. [8]

Kobalt Music Group

On 3 September 2020, Mr Eazi, announced the exclusive partnership between emPawa and Kobalt Music Group, which will include publishing administration, creative services and sync for all of emPawa’s catalogue and future works. [9]

Artistes

Artistes who have released music on emPawa Africa:

Related Research Articles

Chocolate City is a Nigerian record label founded in 2005 by lawyers Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugo, and Yahaya Maikori. Generally regarded as one of Africa's most successful indigenous urban record labels, Chocolate City operates as a subsidiary of Chocolate City Group. Other arms of the group include Chocolate City Distribution, Chocolate City Events, CCX, and Chocolate City Media. On 28 March 2019, Warner Music Group partnered with the label. Under the partnership, Chocolate City artists will join WMG's repertoire and receive the support of the company's distribution and artist services via its independent label services division, ADA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yemi Alade</span> Nigerian singer and songwriter (born 1989)

Yemi Eberechi Alade, better known as Yemi Alade, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress and activist. Her music is a mixture of Afropop, highlife, dancehall, pop and R&B, and has been of influence in several countries across Africa. She sings in English, Igbo, Pidgin, Yoruba, French, Swahili and Portuguese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spinall</span> Nigerian disc jockey and record producer

Oluseye Desmond Sodamola, professionally known as Spinall, is a Nigerian disc jockey, record producer, and songwriter. He has released six studio albums and collaborated with artists that have included Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Asake, Joeboy among others. He has won numerous awards for his work, including All Africa Music Awards and The Beatz Awards. He is also the first Nigerian disc jockey to play at festivals such as Coachella, SXSW, and Glastonbury.

Augustine Miles Kelechi Okechukwu, popularly known as Tekno, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. His song “Enjoy” was the closing song in an episode of the Emmy-winning TV series Ted Lasso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr Eazi</span> Nigerian singer (born 1991)

Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, better known by his stage name Mr Eazi, is a Nigerian-Bajan singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is the pioneer of Banku music, a fusion of sound he describes as a mixture of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian chord progressions and patterns. Mr Eazi relocated to Kumasi in 2008 and enrolled at KNUST, where he began booking artists to perform at college parties. He showed interest in music after recording a guest verse on "My Life", a song that gained traction and became a popular record at KNUST. Mr Eazi released his debut mixtape About to Blow in 2013. He gained an international audience following the release of the Efya-assisted single "Skin Tight". His second mixtape, titled Life Is Eazi, Vol. 1 – Accra to Lagos, was released in 2017.

Olatunji Oladotun Alade, popularly known as Dotman, is a Nigerian singer, rapper, performer and the CEO of 808 Recordz. He is most famous for his hit singles "Akube", "My Woman", "Afro Girl" and "Omoge".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salifu Abdul Hafiz</span> Musical artist

Salifu Abdul Hafiz is a Ghanaian Film/Commercial and Music Video Director who has shot and directed several music videos for artiste like Dobble, Mr. Eazi, Obrafour, Sarkodie, Guru, Maccasio, Medikal, Teephlow, YPEE and many other artiste across the globe.

Ronald Banful, known professionally as GuiltyBeatz, is a Ghanaian DJ and record producer. Born in Palermo, Italy, GuiltyBeatz first gained prominence as a music producer after his production on "Bad girl" by Jesse Jagz ft. Wizkid, "Sample You" by Mr. Eazi and his hit "Akwaaba" featuring Mr. Eazi, Pappy Kojo & Patapaa.

Afrobeats, not to be confused with Afrobeat or Afroswing, is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s. Afrobeats is less of a style per se, and more of a descriptor for the fusion of sounds flowing majorly out of Nigeria. Genres such as hiplife, jùjú music, highlife, azonto music, and naija beats, among others, were amalgamated under the "Afrobeats" umbrella.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Music Group Nigeria</span> Record label in Nigeria

Universal Music Group Nigeria (UMGNG) is the West African division of the global record label Universal Music Group. Founded in 2017, it has its corporate headquarters located in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. The label has signed at least seventeen artists from various African countries. UMGNG is engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content.

Garry Mapanzure was a Zimbabwean Afropop singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joeboy</span> Nigerian Singer (born 1997)

Joseph Akinwale, known professionally as Joeboy, is a Nigerian prince, singer and songwriter, he is signed to Warner Music Africa in partnership with his record label Young Legend. He was formerly signed by Mr Eazi under emPawa Africa, where he was discovered in 2017, through the emPawa Africa talent incubation program. His musical genres are Afro-pop and R&B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monski</span> Kenyan hip hop rapper, singer and songwriter (born 1994)

Sarah Mukethe Kiatine, better known by her stage name Monski, is a Kenyan hip hop rapper, singer and songwriter. She was crowned as the Unkut Hip-hop Award best female artist of the year in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juls</span> Ghanaian-British Producer

Julian Nii Ayitey Adjin Nicco-Annan, better known by his stage name Juls, is a British-Ghanaian record producer, disc jockey, and musician. He is known for his music contributions, particularly in Afrobeats circles, and for the production of songs such as: "Bankulize" and "Skin Tight" by Mr Eazi; "Feel Alright" by Show Dem Camp; Rudebwoi Love by Stonebwoy; and Gwarn by Burna Boy. He has collaborated with the label BBnz Live, and has worked on A&R for Mr.Eazi's Life is Eazi album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ AB</span> Nigerian rapper and music producer also known as king of the North by his fans

Haruna Abdullahi, known professionally as DJ AB, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer.

TurnTable is a Nigerian music and entertainment magazine founded by Ayomide Oriowo, and Similoluwa Adegoke. TurnTable focuses primarily on music charts, news, and events. Its music charts include the Top 100, and the Year-End chart. TurnTable magazine has two issues, and its first issue was published on 19 December 2020, by Similoluwa Adegoke. Its issues are printed in English language. In 2023 the magazine launched its music recording certification, TurnTable Certification System of Nigeria to represent the recording certification system of music industry in Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legalize (song)</span> 2022 single by Mr Eazi

"Legalize" is a song by Nigerian singer Mr Eazi, released on 10 June 2022, through emPawa Africa. "Legalize" was written by Mr Eazi and produced by emPawa head of music, and record producer E-Kelly, Michael Brun, and Nonso Amadi. The music video, was shot by Federico Mazzarisi in Venice and released the same day, with a cameo appearance from the Nigerian actress Temi Otedola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makayla Malaka</span> Nigerian singer and songwriter (born 2012)

Makayla Oghenefejiro Oluwayimika Malaka, popularly known as Makayla Malaka, is a British-Nigerian singer and dancer. She began her music career as a child singer, releasing her debut album at age eight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fave (singer)</span> Musical artist

Chidozie Godsfavour Ugochinyere, known professionally as Fave, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and recording artist. She gained recognition after releasing several minute-long videos on Twitter during the COVID-19 lockdown. In 2022, she won Rookie of the Year at The Headies 2022 and was nominated for Most Promising Artist and Best Artist in African Reggae, Dancehall at the All Africa Music Awards. Moreover, she was nominated for Best New Artiste at the 2022 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grace Idowu</span> Nigerian gospel singer

Grace Idowu Ibukunoluwa best known as Grace Idowu is a Nigerian gospel singer, and songwriter, currently signed to Brand New Records, with a management deal with Brand New Entertainment. Grace's debut into the music scene was met with critical acclaim when she released "Sokale", a record co-signed by Mr Eazi, and released through Brand New Records and licensed to emPawa.

References

  1. ↑ Cirisano, Tatiana. "The Gatekeepers". Billboard. p. 3. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 "About - emPawa Africa". empawaafrica.com. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  3. ↑ Leight, Elias (26 February 2020). "Mr. Eazi Will Fund New Class of Rising Artists Through emPawa30". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  4. ↑ "The #EMPAWA100 Finalists From Kenya You Might Have Missed". Tangaza Magazine. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  5. ↑ "Masterclass - emPawa Africa". empawaafrica.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  6. ↑ Nwogu, Precious 'Mamazeus' (2021-05-14). "YouTube sensation, Korty EO talks discovering self through video content creation". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  7. 1 2 "emPawa de Mr Eazi reçoit le soutien de YouTube". Music In Africa. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  8. ↑ Aisha Salaudeen (17 July 2020). "Nigerian star, Mr. Eazi is raising $20 million to invest in African music creatives". CNN. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  9. ↑ Oluwole, Victor (8 September 2020). "Mr. Eazi's emPawa strikes new partnership deal with global publishing company Kobalt". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.