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Afrobeats Intelligence

Joey Akan/OkayAfrica

Created and hosted by award-winning Nigerian journalist Joey Akan, Afrobeats Intelligence is the podcast extension of the popular music newsletter, Afrobeats Intelligence. Presented by OkayAfrica and sponsored by premium cognac brand Martell, Afrobeats Intelligence explores the intersection of art, humanity, and the processes that give birth to African sonic excellence.

Through eclectic interviews that spotlight creativity from Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and beyond, Joey invites listeners every other Friday to take a snapshot into the soul of an industry pushing toward global greatness. Together, we examine the past, present, and future of African music, democratizing access to the ideas, people, and movements shaping its evolution.


Follow Joey's Substack: https://afrobeatsintelligence.substack.com

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  • 21 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 1 hr 5 min
  • English

Episodes 21

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  • July 17 · 1 hr 3 min

    MAVO on Escaladizzy, Building His Own Lane & What It Means to Lead a New Generation

    In this episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Joey Akan sits down with rising Afrobeats artist MAVO, the optometrist turned pop star who has quietly built one of the most distinctive creative identities in Nigerian music. MAVO breaks down the origin of his self-created vocabulary, the feeling-first philosophy behind records like Tumo Weto, Escaladizzy, Use Me, and Mofe, and how he balanced optometry school with building his music career. He opens up about creating music that feels authentic rather than forced, why simplicity is his greatest creative weapon, how his team built Killer Brother Records from the ground up, and why faith remains at the center of everything he does. MAVO also reflects on becoming one of the leading voices of a new generation, navigating success, protecting his creativity from social media, and why he believes fans should want the music before he gives it to them. Follow Joey Akan for the latest coverage on African music culture and news. Substack: Afrobeats Intelligence Instagram: @joeyakan Tik Tok: @joeyakan X: @joeyakan Follow MAVO Instagram: Mavoswago Tik Tok: Mavo X: @mavoswago Created and hosted by award-winning Nigerian journalist and music critic Joey Akan, Afrobeats Intelligence is presented by OkayAfrica, a division of AREYA MEDIA INC, and is sponsored by Martell. Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Jul 25, 2025 · 52 min

    Peruzzi on Losing His Mom, Industry, Making “Assurance” & “Risky” w Davido | Afrobeats Intelligence

    In this unfiltered episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, award-winning host Joey Akan sits down with Peruzzi, the DMW star and songwriting mastermind behind some of Afrobeats’ biggest records. From penning classics like 2Baba’s “Amaka” and Davido’s “Assurance” and “Risky,” to shaping his own standout tracks like “Majesty,” “Gunshot,” and “Southy Love” with Fireboy DML, Peruzzi pulls back the curtain on the creative highs, industry pressure, and internal battles that shaped his sound — and nearly broke him. Peruzzi opens up about the moment he realized he was no longer making music from the heart. Though his Huncho Vibes and Rum & Boogie eras produced fan-favorite tracks and expanded his global fanbase, he admits he got lost in the amapiano wave and the financial rush that followed. Chasing chart-toppers and chasing trends began to cloud the original voice that made him special. The fans were dancing. The streams were climbing. But deep down, the music no longer felt like him. In an era of algorithm-driven creativity, Peruzzi shares what it means to disconnect, go silent, and rediscover your core. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Jul 18, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min

    Director Pink On Creating Afrobeats’ Most Watched Music Videos | Afrobeats Intelligence

    In this candid episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Joey Akan sits down with Director Pink—the award-winning creative force behind some of Afrobeats' most visually stunning and culturally defining music videos. Known for her storytelling precision, Pink has shaped the visual language of global Nigerian music through her work with artists like Asake, Ayra Starr, Fireboy DML, Joeboy, Ruger, and BNXN. From early hustle in Lagos to directing viral hits like “Sability”, “Bandana”, and “Lonely At The Top,” Director Pink opens up about her journey as a woman in a male-dominated industry, dealing with ego in the creative space, and setting the standard for international Afrobeats visuals. She unpacks how music video budgets are changing, why treatment writing is an artform, and how directors are finally getting global recognition for storytelling. She shares thoughts on cross-cultural collaboration (UK, France, and South Africa), and how she balances the commercial and emotional demands of the creative process. Whether you’re in New York, London, Toronto, Paris, or Accra, this episode offers an insider’s look at the vision behind Afrobeats’ most memorable visuals—and what it takes to lead as both artist and strategist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Jul 11, 2025 · 1 hr 16 min

    Lanre Masha on Global Deals, Artist Breakouts & Afrobeats Money | Afrobeats Intelligence

    In this insightful episode of Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast, host Joey Akan sits down with Lanre Marsha, Director of West Africa for The Orchard, a global music distribution powerhouse. Lanre pulls back the curtain on the Nigerian music industry, offering a masterclass on navigating its challenges and opportunities with integrity and strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Jul 4, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min

    Ruger on Making Blown Boy Ru, Getting Co-Signed by Wizkid & His New Label | Afrobeats Intelligence

    What does it take to bounce back and build from scratch? In this new episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Joey Akan sits with Nigerian dancehall star Ruger—the artist behind hits like Asiwaju, Girlfriend, and Toma Toma—to break down his evolution from viral sensation to label boss. Fresh off launching his label Blown Boy Entertainment and releasing his new album Blown Boy Ru, Ruger opens up about heartbreak, hate, and healing. He talks about sneaking out to study Dancehall, learning to write in Patois, and how songs like "Warning" and "Make Way" reflect his truth. He shares what it was like leaving his former label, facing doubters who said he’d fall off, and how Wizkid’s tweet gave him the push to keep going, he says after dropping "Toma Toma" with Tiwa Savage. Now running his own show, Ruger reflects on artist development, mental discipline, and why his next signee “has to be better than me.” He also breaks down his joint project with BNXN (Buju)—Romeo Must Die—and how collaboration showed a new side of him. Whether you're a fan of Afrobeats, Dancehall, or the business behind the music, this conversation cuts deep—streaming from Lagos to London, Toronto to Houston, wherever the African sound resonates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Jun 27, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min

    Young Jonn on Life After Grief, Building Hits, TikTok Charts & World Tours | Afrobeats Intelligence

    “Olamide taught me work ethic.” In this captivating episode of Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast, host Joey Akan sits down with Nigerian sensation Young Jonn, the hitmaker who transitioned from a prolific producer to a chart-topping artist. Known for bangers like “Dada” and his game-changing work with YBNL, Young Jonn shares the raw journey behind his music and his rise to global stages. Young Jonn opens up about his vibrant personality and early stage performances (0:00–7:00), recounting his first-ever show (5:05–6:07). He details his emotional switch from producer to artist, sparked by the loss of his mother (6:47–11:56), and how manager Isioma pushed him to drop “Dada” (10:30–11:58). He reflects on settling into his new artistic identity (12:00–16:45) and his musical roots, from church to abandoning football dreams (16:45–21:30, 20:10–21:30). Young Jonn dives into his producer come-up, meeting Olamide, and crafting “Story for the Gods” (21:31–31:46, 23:45–26:43), sharing hustle lessons from Olamide (27:25–29:00). He breaks down his fast-paced production style that reshaped Nigerian music (31:50–37:02, 31:50–33:36), his growth with Chocolate City (37:33–46:00), and the global reach of Afrobeats through his performances in Europe and the US (46:00–end). Join Joey Akan and Young Jonn for an inspiring deep dive into creativity, resilience, and the pulse of Afrobeats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes