Mr Eazi on Africa’s Music Economy: Why Afrobeats is Game Changer

[Mr Eazi/The Guardian Nigeria]

By Kinyua Mwangi

Subscribe and Download Exclusive DJ Mixes on MDUNDO

Nigerian crooner Mr Eazi acknowledges the power of Afrobeats in Africa’s music industry and he is of the opinion that it will unlock the continent’s creative economy. 
Speaking recently at the Los Angeles 2023 Milken Global Conference, Mr Eazi said Naija music has the capacity to fund the African creative space. 
He spoke alongside EbonyLife Group CEO Mo Abudu, Prince Jacon Osinachi, co-founder of AfrofutureDAO and Laolu Senbanjo, a visual artist.
The ‘Wena’ hitmaker emphasised that Afrobeats is the next frontier for expanding and igniting the local creative economy.
The Nigerian artist-cum-entrepreneur stated that music from the continent contributes to the export of African goods to other countries and shapes global culture in addition to boosting the economy.
Mr Eazi claims that by doing this, Afrobeats fosters opportunities for cross-cultural interaction while preserving our history.
His sentiments were in line with the conference’s ‘Africa: Next Frontier for the Creative Economy’ theme. 
Tofino Capital co-founder Aubrey Hruby moderated the debate bringing creatives from every corner of the world.
Mr. Eazi also discussed the obstacles that the African music industry faces, such as infrastructural and equity challenges that hurdle investment.
He says that for the African creative economy to materialize, African artists must view themselves as start-ups and invest more in their intellectual property. 
The ‘Legalise’ singer opined that intellectual property is one method to develop a thriving economy for the African music business.
Already, he is running Choplife Soundsystem, a brand-new pan-African music ensemble, with the intention of giving soundsystem culture a contemporary, African spin.