Afrobeats Intelligence

In this episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Joey Akan sits down with rising DJ and cultural curator Aniko, one of the key figures shaping Lagos’ growing electronic music and rave scene. Known for her bi-monthly Group Therapy events, Aniko has built a community-driven movement that exists alongside, and sometimes outside of, the mainstream Afrobeats ecosystem. Aniko discusses:


Her journey from aspiring DJ to international touring artist


Building a name independently in a fast-changing music scene


Bridging Afrobeats, electronic music, and Lagos nightlife culture


Staying grounded while contributing to Africa’s evolving soundscape

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Substack: Afrobeats Intelligence

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Follow Aniko

Instagram: aniko.xyz

Web: aniko.live

Soundcloud: anikoxyzCreated 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.

In this episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Joey Akan sits down with rapper Wale for a candid conversation about identity, culture, and the global rise of Afrobeats. Raised in a Nigerian household in Washington, D.C., Wale reflects on how African music shaped his instincts as an artist long before Afrobeats became a global phenomenon. He discusses why he believed early on that African sounds would eventually dominate global pop, the key moments that accelerated the genre’s global breakthrough, and the importance of protecting local African music markets as the sound expands worldwide. Wale also shares personal reflections on visiting Nigeria for the first time as an adult and reconnecting with the culture that has always influenced his music. The conversation offers a thoughtful look at diaspora identity, musical evolution, and the future of African music on the world stage.

Follow Joey Akan for the latest coverage on African music culture and news.

Substack: Afrobeats Intelligence

Instagram: @joeyakan

Tik Tok: @joeyakan

Follow Wale:

Instagram: @wale

Facebook: Wale

Web: Everythingisalot

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.

In this season opener, Joey Akan sits down with the legendary, award-winning producer Sarz for an unfiltered deep dive into the mechanics of a hit record and the evolving DNA of African sound.

This episode of Afrobeats Intelligence is powered by OkayAfrica, the pulse of African culture, and sponsored by Martell.

Don't miss a beat of Season 5. Join the community by subscribing now and tell us your favorite Sarz-produced track in the comments!

Hosted by award-winning Nigerian journalist and music critic Joey Akan, Afrobeats Intelligence Season 5 dives deeper into the stories, systems, and sonic architecture shaping Afrobeats’ global takeover. 

Featuring conversations with Shallipopi, Wale, Sarz, Ladipoe, Kcee, Joshua Baraka, BOJ, Aniko, Dr. Sid, and more, Season 5 delivers sharper insights and bigger access to the artists, executives, and culture builders defining African music today. 

Presented by OkayAfrica and sponsored by Martell, this season expands the conversation around how Afrobeats really works from Lagos to London to the world.

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.