Nigeria: A-Q and Africori partner on artist incubator programme

The arrangement follows A-Q’s exit from Nigerian record label Chocolate City, where he was head of subsidiary imprint 100 Crowns. The deal will see the musician scout and provide funding for up-and-coming artists for the next 18 months.

“I had a wholesome experience at Chocolate City, and I’m happy to have been part of the label’s journey to profitability,” A-Q said. “I’m even more excited about my new business venture with Africori. I’m very passionate about discovering and nurturing talent.

"We are confident that the music incubator is what African artists need right now. We all know access to funds is very limited for young acts across the continent.”

Founded in 2009 by Yoel Kenan, Africori is one of the biggest digital music distribution companies in sub-Saharan Africa and has worked with more than 6 500 artists and 700 labels, including majors and independents. With offices in Johannesburg, London and Lagos, the company also provides music rights management and artist development services.

“I am very excited to be partnering with A-Q on discovering and nurturing a new wave of talented and soon to be very successful artists from the continent,” Kenan said.

A-Q’s Africori partnership forms part of his efforts to empower upcoming acts. He also joins a growing list of Nigerian acts who have announced programmes for emerging artists, such as Mr Eazi who in 2019 launched the emPawa Africa accelerator for promising African artists.

As co-founder of 100 Crowns, A-Q was responsible for driving rapper Blaqbones’ career. Earlier this year, A-Q also launched the #MonsterVerse rap challenge, a social media hip hop campaign to highlight undiscovered acts.

Born Gilbert Bani in Abia State, A-Q’s most recent projects include God’s Engineering and The Live Report, a joint-EP with MI Abaga.