Oluwatosin Ajibade, widely known as Mr. Eazi, is a Nigerian music star, songwriter, and influential entrepreneur. He was born on July 19, 1991, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and is of the Yoruba ethnic group. After relocating to Ghana at age 16 for his university education, he earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.
His early career was a blend of business and music. While in Ghana, he began promoting parties and booking artists, which led to him creating his own music. He developed a signature style called “Banku Music,” a unique fusion of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian chord progressions, which he introduced on his 2013 debut mixtape, About to Blow. His career breakthrough came with the 2015 single “Skin Tight,” which brought him international recognition.
Beyond his music career, Mr. Eazi is a prominent entrepreneur. In a recent podcast, he shared a story about losing millions of naira in a collapsed diesel supply business when he was 19, an experience that he credits with shaping his resilience. He has since built a diverse business portfolio, including his investment firm, Zagadat Capital, and co-founding the fintech company PawaPay.
His most notable venture is emPawa Africa, a talent incubation and music distribution platform he founded in 2018. The company is dedicated to nurturing and supporting African artists by providing grants, mentorship, and distribution services. It has been instrumental in helping to launch the careers of artists like Joeboy. Through emPawa, Mr. Eazi has made significant moves to acquire African music catalogues, aiming to keep intellectual property within the continent.
Mr. Eazi is celebrated not only for his musical contributions and role in popularizing Afrobeats globally but also for his business acumen. He is often described as a visionary who has created an ecosystem that empowers a new generation of African creators and entrepreneurs.
