DONJAZZY, THE UNDISPUTABLE KING OF AFRICAN ENTERTAINMENT

 

Happy Birthday Don Jazzy #Supremo, sir.

You are the undisputable King and Godfather of African Entertainment.

Hitherto before you took African entertainment by storm, Africans were miming American Music in every corner from school, to play ground, down to the farm and in the corner of their rooms.

American musicians were like demi-gods or rather aliens from another planet and seeing them in African soil either on a mere vjsit or performing could cause a stampede that will cost many lives.

The art was like what is not possible on the continent of Africa until you and your friends came back from UK to form MO’HITS Records with you superintending over the record label as the CEO and producer of the Record Label.

You went ahead to produce hits songs for Dbang, Wande Coal,  D’Prince, Dr Sid and K-Switch. This was the beginning of revolution in African music industry. The hits songs that focused on telling African story with African genre became hits instantly and gradually Africans started realizing that they can actually write their own story in their language and culture.

You simply broke the jinx and introduced yourself as the Supreme leader of entertainment in Africa.

Having gotten the attention of the entire Africa and the world in general with great music under MO’HITS and created many stars that became household names across African and role models it was then inevitable for you to go solo to fully showcase yourself and help to nurture future talents that were lining up on social media, in your office, through your relations etc begging for an opportunity to showcase their musica talent with the boss himself even if its for just 1hour with you in studio.

Consequently, you formed MAVIN RECORDS, which is undisputably the biggest record label in Africa. As usual, new lucky stars were accepted and signed into your label like Tiwa Savage, Reekado Banks Inyanya, Korede Bello, Di’Ja and instantly their songs became hits.

I remember I was in Canada when you released DOROBUCHI featuring every member of MAVIN records. The song was such a hit that Canadians and Americans did not believe the song, the video, the choreographing were all orchestrated in Nigeria.

Infact, DoroBuchi launched Nigerian music fully into mainstream global music beyond any other music made previously. It was like announcing to the world that Nigerian/African music has come of age and should henceforth not be taking for granted anymore.

One thing people have not taken time to realise is the fact that you as an average Igbo man, very detribalised opened your doors to talents irrespective of tribe, a complete departure from what other so called record labels like YBNL that only have strictly Yorubas accepted and signed into their label. Your focus was always on talent and not where the person comes from.

This is the reason while your record label has flourished and has continued to dominate the entire Africa with collaborations with big American brands like Universal Records buying a major stake in Mavin Records in 2024.

Today, you already have Global Super stars in Rema, Ayra Star in your record label, with Rema Song “ CALM DOWN” breaking every record possible on the planet with 1.2Billion views on Youtube. No other song from Africa has gotten close. It’s a statement of whom you are in the global entertainment scene and what MAVI Records represents.

These are people you picked and signed them when no one even knew anything about them and made them stars with hit upon hits and sold out concerts across the globe.

Once again, Happy Birthday to you sir, as we wish you long life, good health and more great music for the entire globe.

Anayo Ekeanya, Former SA To Senator Stella Oduah, writes from Dubai.

#MAVIN

#Supremo

#DonJazzy