Over the weekend, Mr Eazi was honoured at the Africa Prosperity Champions Awards (APCAs).
Organised by the Africa Prosperity Network (APN), as part of the 2024 edition of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD), the maiden Africa Prosperity Champions Awards took place at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City on Friday, 26 January 2024.
The 2024 APCAs were under the distinguished patronage of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and several other dignitaries from across the African continent.
Second out of seven awards for the night, the Young Entrepreneur Award was received by Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, better known as Mr Eazi.
The Nigerian singer-songwriter, music executive and entrepreneur had his breakthrough in Ghana with songs like “Skin Tight”, “Bankulise”, “Sample You”, etc. 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, 32, is the founder of the popular talent incubation platform emPawa Africa, which annually offers mentorship to 100 African artists, with a US$3,000 grant.
Mr. Eazi owns shares in the South African basketball club, Cape Town Tigers, and in 2023, he unveiled his multi-million-dollar real estate project in Rwanda, East Africa.
With 16 tracks, October 2023’s The Evil Genius is Mr Eazi’s latest album.
On X, he celebrated the third collaboration with Angelique Kidjo.
“I’ve gone full circle, from watching “Wombo Lombo” on Goge Africa in Sango to co-writing and featuring on Mama’s album, ending up on the same song with her and Salif Keita, to now having the living legend on my album and shooting the video in Paris! WTF!! Broooo!!!” he said.
For the Africa Prosperity Champions Awards 2024, the first award category, the Social Infrastructure Award, went to Julius Mwale, Principal of Mwale Medical and Technology City (MMTC) in Kenya.
After Mr Eazi’s recognition as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year, the Nation Builder Award, the day’s third, was given to the President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, and presented by John Agyekum Kufuor, former President of the Republic of Ghana.
Professor Benedict Okechukwu Oramah picked up the Financial Leadership Award, next, which was presented by Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
The Global Africa Leadership Award went to Mohammed Irfaan Ali, the 9th President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
The sixth award, the Global Africa Champion Award, was given to Baroness Patricia Scotland of Asthal, the 6th Commonwealth Secretary-General, who also is the second Secretary-General from the Caribbean and the first woman to hold the post.
The final and seventh, the Industrialist of the Year Award, went to Mohamed M. Abou El Enein and was presented to him by Mr Ibrahim Mahama, founder, Engineer, and Planners, and CEO of Dzata Cement Ltd.
All the award recipients registered their pleasure to Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network, organisers of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) and Africa Prosperity Champions Awards (APCA), for the honour given to them.
They also pledged to continue in their various endeavours, spearheading the transformation agenda of the African continent, and in their unique sectors of activity, working to achieve the prosperity of Africans.
Sharing Stunning, Regal Video For “Òròkórò
Afropop superstar Mr Eazi shared the stunning, regal video for “Òròkórò,” featuring the undisputed queen of African music, Angelique Kidjo.
The visual, shot in Paris by director Thomas Leloup, is the latest drop from Mr. Eazi’s critically acclaimed 2023 album The Evil Genius. Among the most distinctive and unique album projects to emerge from Afrobeats, The Evil Genius has been praised by the likes of The Guardian, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Complex, CNN, The FADER and Rolling Stone since its October release via Eazi’s own emPawa Africa.
One of six tracks from The Evil Genius produced by Nigerian super producer Kel-P (Burna Boy, Wizkid), “Òròkórò” boasts one of the album’s most lush arrangements.
The track, which interpolates a lyric from Kidjo’s ‘90s-era classic “Wombo Lombo,” is sung largely in Yoruba, with Eazi and the five-time Grammy winner expressing deep and humble gratitude for their gifts in life. “I am saying: What God has done for me in secret can’t be quiet, you can see the love God has shown me,” Mr Eazi said.
The track was recorded between Kokrobite, Ghana and Ouidah, Benin, a city widely regarded as the birthplace and mecca of voodoo, as well as Angelique Kidjo’s hometown. “We finished it in a house on a lagoon in Ouidah. It’s a very spiritual place.” Mr Eazi said.
Òròkórò” is the fourth official video from The Evil Genius, following the previously released “Legalize”, “Chop Time, No Friend” and “Exit” (feat. Soweto Gospel Choir).
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