Five Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast Episodes to Catch up On

Since its launch about four years ago, Afrobeats Intelligence has delivered candid and humorous conversations with artists, executives, and music industry creatives primarily in Nigerian music. Hosted by award-winning journalist and occasional music executive Joey Akan, the podcast, which evolved from a newsletter of the same name, has a treasure trove of over 50 interviews, spanning three seasons, two live shows, and a few lost files releases.

The fifth season of Afrobeats Intelligence is just around the corner. Presented by OkayAfrica, the podcast keeps its ethos of roving, captivating conversations, bringing our community and the wider audience firsthand access to the unfiltered stories of key players shaping the local growth and global appeal of Afrobeats.

Below are five essential episodes from the previous season to catch up on.

Tiwa Savage

Last year, Tiwa Savage released her most ambitious album, the R&B-heavy This One is Personal. As she said before its release on Afrobeats Intelligence, she didn’t “know for sure that this one is going to enter,” an indication that the singer has gotten more comfortable with marching in the direction of her instincts. The hour-long chat is arguably her most quintessential interview yet, packed with earnest truths, ranging from her successes as a pop superstar to her life as a mother. She shares experiences of being snubbed and mischaracterized by labels upon her return to Nigeria to chase music, with some doubting the potential efficacy of her afrobeats and R&B blend. Savage talks about the strain that being an artist can cause, particularly as a female artist in the Nigerian pop scene, and adds that she wouldn’t want her son to choose music as a professional path.

Donawon

Muyiwa ‘Donawon’ Awoniyi is one of the most effusive music executives around. Even just following him on social media, his outspokenness is evident, so it was only fitting that he had a lot to say when he sat on the couch opposite Akan. Best known for co-leading the management team for Nigerian singer Tems, Donawaon lays out how the origins of their working relationship, together with fellow co-manager Wale Davies, the unbreakable bond they’ve forged, and the heights they’re looking to scale, even beyond music. In usual fashion, he extends that conviction to his opinions on the music industry, weighing in on the value of streaming dollars and what crossing over truly means for Nigerian artists. The episode got a lot of people talking online shortly after its release, certifying Afrobeats Intelligence as a conversation starter.

Lojay

To hear Lojay speak on his Afrobeats Intelligence appearance is to get the feeling that he always says exactly what is on his mind. It’s unsurprising, considering his virtuosity at expressing complex emotional feelings in his music. The Nigerian singer shares how he got into music, from playing around in high school to taking a songwriting course, as well as how he honed his instincts as a song-maker. What really elevates the conversation is Lojay’s candid assessment of the Nigerian music terrain, particularly within the context of the industry’s outward-facing emphasis. Refusing to spare himself, he discusses his gripes with artists’ obsession with taking deals from major labels and distribution companies, arguing how it has led to a downplay of authenticity.

Timaya

Even though he’s not the most lauded OG from the mid-2000s to mid-2010s era, real ones know Timaya is an ultra-essential icon in Nigerian pop music. Speaking with Akan, there’s an endearing level of hyper-awareness that he’s created some of the greatest music by a Nigerian artist since the turn of the century. The Port Harcourt-raised singer details his resolve to pursue music as a career, which was considered a perilous path at the time. He discusses how he zagged from the center of Nigerian pop, which was dominated by an overt urban lean in sound and image, bringing a raw, authentic verve that immediately made him a standout artist. Timaya also shares strategic tidbits on how he’s found longevity in the game on his own terms.

Director Pink

Director Pink’s tasteful use of color in music videos has helped set her apart as one of the most distinct visual curators in Afrobeats. As the only video director featured on season four of Afrobeats Intelligence, Pink gives viewers an in-depth look at what it takes to helm a music video, particularly in a landscape where ideas have become more complex, and execution has broadened. She explains the importance of actually listening to the music, asking the right questions of artists, and understanding how sartorial and select cultural choices elevate the narrative of a video. Through the hour-long conversation, Pink speaks with the easy authority of a maestro who knows the value of her achievements and the possibilities of her future work.