Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade (born July 19, 1991), professionally known as Mr Eazi, is a
Nigerian singer, songwriter, record executive, and entrepreneur. He is credited with pioneering “Banku music,” a unique fusion of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian chord progressions, which helped him rise to international fame.
Early life and education
- Background: Mr Eazi was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, into an entrepreneurial family. His mother was a businesswoman, while his father was a pilot who also operated a private aviation consultancy.
- Move to Ghana: At age 16, he moved to Kumasi, Ghana, to pursue higher education.
- University studies: He enrolled at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
- Harvard Business School: In June 2022, he graduated from Harvard University, where he completed a course in the business of entertainment, media, and sports.
Music career
- Early days: While at KNUST, he started a party and promotions company called Swagger Entertainment. He also began recording music, gaining campus recognition after featuring on a popular track.
- First mixtape: In 2013, he released his debut mixtape, About to Blow, which featured the singles “Pipi Dance” and “Bankulize”.
- Breakthrough singles: His career took off with the release of the dancehall-influenced single “Skin Tight” in 2015 and the hit single “Leg Over” in 2016.
- Life Is Eazi, Vol. 1 – Accra to Lagos: In 2017, he released his second mixtape, which pays tribute to the two cities that influenced his sound. The mixtape debuted at number four on the Billboard World Albums chart.
- International recognition: In 2019, he performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
- The Evil Genius: His debut solo album, The Evil Genius, was released in 2023, after being a decade in the making.
Entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropy
Mr Eazi is known for his sharp business acumen, which he has leveraged to create a successful portfolio of investments.
- emPawa Africa: In 2018, he founded this music talent incubation platform, which provides emerging African artists with funding, mentorship, and resources. Notable beneficiaries include Joeboy.
- Africa Music Fund: He launched this initiative to provide direct financial support to African artists, allowing them to retain control of their creative work.
- Zagadat Capital: His venture capital firm invests in tech, media, and entertainment startups across Africa, with investments in fintech, agritech, and gaming companies.
- BetPawa: He serves as the CEO of this online sports betting platform.
- PawaPay: This UK-based payment company targets Africa’s mobile money market and processed $1 billion in transactions in under four years.
- Other ventures: His business interests also include real estate, such as a housing estate he developed in Kigali, Rwanda, and a stake in the South African basketball club Cape Town Tigers.
Leave a Reply