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Afrobeats Intelligence presented by OkayAfrica

Afrobeats Intelligence is a weekly podcast and newsletter on African music curated by multi-award winning journalist, Joey Akan. It is published every Monday.

afrobeatsintelligence.substack.comSource feed ↗20 episodes

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Wale Was Never Given the Benefit of the Doubt

The US rap legend built the bridge to Nigeria while nobody was watching. Now Nigeria is watching, and it's not quite the same thing.

Mavo Wants You to Want Him First

Mavo was named to be famous, but trains to save lives. The result of that balancing act has made him the leader of a new creative generation.

Dr Sid Is Still On The Field

From backup dancer to Mo'Hits hitmaker to esports pioneer, Dr. Sid has always been building something larger than himself. The only surprise is how clearly he knew that from the start.

Sarz Believes in Destiny, As Long As He Controls It

Eighteen years into building modern Afrobeats from the drum up, the decorated producer is still negotiating the same question that started his career: who gets paid when the song works?

Excel Joab: The Man Who Reads the Room

Excel Joab came to music wanting to write about it. Eleven years later, he's one of the sharpest minds operating inside it.

Kcee: The King Who Stayed

The veteran pop star built hits, lost them, and came back with a genre. Twenty-six years in, he's still the one standing.

Ladipoe: The Price Is Never on the Tag

The Mavin Records rap star has done everything the right way. He's stuck to his guns, and tasted victory. But at what cost?

Wale Davies Wants To Die Empty

Whether winning in music as Tec, or hoisting BAFTAs, Wale Davis is racing against time to hollow himself.

Joshua Baraka: The Star Who Came to Ask Questions

The East African star is looking ahead, beyond hits and global dominance, into a future where intelligent machines come for human creativity.

Shallipopi: The Man Who Made the Clubs Sound Like Him

The Nigerian artist has solidified his position as a staple of African pop culture, weaving his unique artistic vision into Afrobeat's lifeline.

Cannabis, Carnality, & Christ: Inside Omah Lay’s Clarity of Mind"

Omah's sophomore lands with the hard-won wisdom of a depressive veteran learning to live beside his inner tormentors.

Afrobeats Created Its Own Grammy Trap

Every Grammy night, Afrobeats arrives with hope and leaves with the same question: whose game are we actually playing?

Wizkid, Fela, and the only metric that survives time

As Wizkid and Seun Kuti clash over Fela's legacy, the industry confronts an uncomfortable truth about greatness. Streams measure the moment, but only time reveals what endures.

I Spoke at Meta About Building This

From a Monday newsletter in Ajah to a panel at Meta EMEA: Notes on independent media, creative survival, and archiving culture in real time

CANEX Beats: Unlocking the Economic Power of African Music

I spent a week in Algeria, chasing African creative industry deals, Wizkid's awe-inspiring performance, fashion shows, and panels. Lots of panels.

The Audience Is Ready: Bring Afrobeats Orchestra Home

On Nov. 8, the Nigerian superstar will make history as the first African artist to headline Red Bull Symphonic in Brooklyn, with a full orchestra. Lagos deserves this too.

Kizz Daniel’s Uncle K: Lemon Chase Is a Bittersweet Triumph

Kizz Daniel, the Nigerian hitmaker who’s been bending the Afrobeats curve since his 2014 debut “Woju,” has always had a knack for bottling life’s fleeting joys and aches into earworm anthems.

400k+ Views, Industry Shifts, and Stories Still Worth Telling.

Gyakie, Joeboy, Timaya — Now Donawon… And We’re Still Just Getting Started.

Welcome to Season 4: New Energy, New Platform, Same Mission

We’re Back. Season 4 Is Here. And This Is Just the Beginning.

RSVP: Attend The New Season Listening Session

Hey family, be the first to check out the new season, in-person!