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The Female Executives Shaping the Future of Nigerian Music

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Photo: Instagram/@kekehammond

The global rise of Nigerian music has been driven not only by its artists but also by executives working behind the scenes, including women whose leadership is helping shape the industry’s growth. While artists are often the public faces of that success, executives negotiate deals, develop talent, build international partnerships and manage careers that keep the industry moving forward. Among them are women whose work continues to influence how Nigerian music is created, marketed and exported.

Here are some of the women working across different areas of the Nigerian music industry.

Temi Adeniji

Photo: Facebook

As Managing Director of Warner Music Africa and Senior Vice President, Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa and Special Projects at Warner Music Group, Temi Adeniji oversees the company’s operations across the region. During her time at Warner Music, she has helped drive the company’s expansion in Africa through investments and partnerships, including a majority stake in Africori and a strategic alliance with Chocolate City. She has also been involved in the international growth of African artists, with Warner Music supporting the global rise of CKay’s Love Nwantiti, one of the biggest Afrobeats crossover records in recent years. Her work spans business strategy, artist development and long-term growth across African markets.

Rima Tahini

Photo: Instagram/@rimouuune

Rima Tahini is Senior Vice President, A&R and Creatives at Mavin Global. She joined the company after working on Kupanda Capital’s investment in Mavin before moving into artist and repertoire (A&R), where she steadily rose through the ranks. Today, she leads Mavin’s A&R and creative teams, working closely with artists on music development, release planning and creative direction. During her time at the label, Mavin artists including Rema and Ayra Starr have expanded their global reach through international chart success, award nominations and collaborations, reflecting the label’s growing influence in the global music business.

Ronami Ogulu

Photo: Instagram/@r0nami

Ronami Ogulu is part of the executive team at Spaceship Collective, the company that manages Burna Boy’s career. Her responsibilities include business operations, partnerships and long-term strategy for the Grammy-winning artist. During her time with Spaceship Collective, the company has overseen a period of significant international growth for Burna Boy, including major performances, sold-out tours and expanded global partnerships.

Vanessa Amadi-Ogbonna

Photo: Instagram/@missamadi

Vanessa Amadi-Ogbonna is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of VA PR, a public relations agency with clients across music, television and entertainment. Over the years, she has worked with artists including Davido and Tiwa Savage, helping shape media campaigns and public communications around major career moments. Her agency was involved in the public relations campaign for Davido’s landmark concert at The O2 Arena in London, one of several projects that strengthened the international visibility of Nigerian music.

Princess Chizaram

Photo: Instagram/@theradiochef

Princess Chizaram, popularly known as TheRadioChef, is an A&R Manager at Sony Music West Africa. In her role, she oversees the portfolios of artists including Qing Madi, Mayorkun, Gyakie and Oladapo, working across artist development and creative direction. She also served as a judge on the MTN Best of the Street talent competition, where she evaluated emerging musicians. In 2023, she was named among TurnTable Charts’ 30 Under 30 Power Players in Nigerian Music, recognising young professionals contributing to the growth of the industry.

Elizabeth Sobowale

Photo: Instagram/@elizabeth_sho

Elizabeth Sobowale is the founder of The Other Agency and the manager of Afrobeats singer Adekunle Gold. She has overseen his career through major projects, including the Catch Me If You Can (2022) and Tequila Ever After (2023) album campaigns, helping shape both his artistic direction and commercial brand. Beyond artist management, she serves as Programme Director of the Creative Business Academy (CBA) for Africa, formerly known as the Music Business Academy for Africa. The academy trains emerging professionals across the creative industries and has partnered with organisations such as Spotify to deliver industry-focused programmes and masterclasses.

Keke Hammond

Photo: Instagram/@kekehammond

Keke Hammond is the Chief Operating Officer of Flytime Promotions and the Chief Executive Officer of Road14 Studios. At Flytime, she oversees the operational planning, sponsorships and commercial partnerships behind some of Nigeria’s biggest live music events. Her work has been central to the growth of Flytime Fest, which has expanded into a multi-day festival featuring Nigerian and international artists, including Davido, Asake, Rema and Central Cee. Through her leadership on the business and production side, she has helped strengthen one of Africa’s most established live entertainment platforms.

The success of Nigerian music is often measured by chart performance, sold-out concerts and international awards. Behind many of those achievements, however, are executives handling negotiations, partnerships, publicity, career planning and business strategy. As Nigerian music continues to reach new audiences around the world, the industry’s future will depend not only on the artists on stage but also on the executives making key decisions behind the scenes.

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Music

Omah Lay Brings Raw Emotion to Clean Bandit and Chlöe’s ‘Company’

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Photo: Instagram/@cleanbandit

Nigerian singer and songwriter Omah Lay has teamed up with British group Clean Bandit and American singer Chlöe on their new single, “Company.” Released on September 18, 2026, the song touches on loneliness, desire and the need for human connection, combining Clean Bandit’s electronic-pop sound with Chlöe’s R&B vocals and Omah Lay’s Afro-fusion style.

Omah Lay joins Chlöe on vocals, with Clean Bandit members Jack Patterson and Grace Chatto among the song’s contributors. “Company” centres on the desire to have someone around when being alone becomes difficult. Rather than focusing on money or material things, the song presents closeness and affection as what really matters.

Chlöe said she connected with the song when Clean Bandit first played it for her. According to the singer, its message reflects the feeling of wanting someone’s presence instead of being alone.

Photo: Instagram/@cleanbandit

The collaboration had been in the works for several years. Omah Lay first met Clean Bandit members Jack Patterson and Grace Chatto in 2022, when they worked on music at Patterson’s home. Chatto later said the group had spent about five years working with Nigerian artists and producers and had recorded several songs with Omah Lay before “Company” was completed.

The single also comes with a music video directed by Chatto and Patterson, with Patterson handling the editing. Filmed at a former state hospital site near Los Angeles, the video uses the location to reflect the song’s themes of isolation and connection. The dance sequences were created by choreographer, director and performance artist MaggZ.

Omah Lay said he liked the decision by Clean Bandit to direct the video themselves. For the British group, “Company” also marks the next phase of their music under their independent label, CB X. The song is expected to feature on Clean Bandit’s upcoming studio album, scheduled for 2027. It follows the label’s first release, ‘I Don’t Wanna Hurt You,’ a June collaboration with Biig Piig.

The release adds another international collaboration to Omah Lay’s catalogue, while giving Clean Bandit and Chlöe a chance to bring their different musical styles together.

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Rema Tackles Mixed Signals and Desire on New Single “Oh No”

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Photo: Instagram/@heisrema

Rema has released a new single, “Oh No,” a relationship-focused song about attraction, uncertainty and trying to understand where someone stands. The track was released on September 11, 2026, marking another solo release for the Nigerian singer.

On the song, Rema sings about a woman he remains attracted to even though he is unsure about her feelings and recent changes in behaviour. He wants her to stay close while questioning what may have changed between them and the influence of people around her.

The song also touches on how communication can become complicated in relationships. References to social media, late-night thoughts and shifts in behaviour add to Rema’s doubts about the woman’s intentions. His playful and flirtatious delivery keeps the subject from becoming overly serious.

Photo: Instagram/@heisrema

Jamaican producer Rvssian and London produced “Oh No,” reuniting Rvssian with Rema several years after their earlier collaboration, “Beamer (Bad Boys).” The new track combines Afropop and Caribbean sounds, drawing from dancehall, reggaeton and kompa-inspired rhythms.

Rvssian gives the song a dance-focused feel rather than a slow arrangement. Rema matches the pace with a melodic delivery and a recurring hook centred on his attraction to the woman.

The lyrics make it clear that Rema wants both physical and emotional closeness. He asks the woman to stay even as he struggles to understand the changes he sees in her. That uncertainty runs through the song without being resolved.

Photo: Instagram/@heisrema

Directed by Benji Allen, the video was shot on the streets of Los Angeles and features colourful brick background and intimate moments, including Rema shopping flowers for his love interest.

“Oh No” follows Rema’s August single, “TEA,” his first solo release of 2026.

With its lyrics and dance-driven production, “Oh No” presents romantic confusion through a mix of Afropop and Caribbean influences, bringing Rema and Rvssian together again.

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What Exactly Are Ayra Starr and ZAYN Singing About on “Heaven Baby”?

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Photo: Instagram

Ayra Starr and ZAYN take a softer musical direction on “Heaven Baby“, a romantic collaboration about the rush of falling deeply for someone and seeing that person as unusually special and attractive.

Released on August 14, 2026, the song appears as the 14th track on Ayra Starr’s third studio album, Starrgirl. Recent coverage describes the record as a piano-led pop and R&B ballad built around the voices of both singers.

Photo: Instagram/@ayrastarr

The song opens with Ayra Starr describing the immediate chemistry she feels towards the person she is addressing. Her lyrics suggest that the attraction does not remain at the level of a passing crush. Her feelings deepen as she begins to describe how much the person means to her and how difficult their absence would be.

The chorus takes that feeling further through references to heaven and angels. Ayra uses the imagery to express how highly she regards the person she is singing about.

Her lyrics also touch on the fear of losing that person, showing how quickly the attraction has grown into something deeper.

ZAYN’s verses focuses on how far he is willing to go for the person he loves, including the sacrifices he would make for the relationship. His willingness to do so reflects the song’s theme of intense devotion.

Photo: Instagram/@zayn

When their vocals meet again, the song feels like an exchange between two people who are equally invested. Ayra establishes the emotional intensity early, while ZAYN‘s section gives the record another voice within the same relationship.

Ayra Starr has also spoken positively about the record. During an appearance connected to the promotion of Starrgirl, she called “Heaven Baby” one of the best songs she had ever sung. She also praised ZAYN’s voice, describing it as both strong and vulnerable.

Unlike a song built around heartbreak, betrayal or a complicated romantic storyline, “Heaven Baby” stays with the early intensity of love. Its focus is the feeling of meeting someone who quickly becomes important and expressing that attachment without holding back.

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