How Raymond Dokpesi Helped Build Afrobeats – Dayo Adeneye

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Music executive Dayo Adeneye has opened up on the influence of late media mogul Raymond Dokpesi in shaping Afrobeats and Nigeria’s entertainment landscape, highlighting the pivotal role his media empire played in discovering and promoting young talents.

Speaking during an interview on With Chude, Adeneye credited Dokpesi as one of the foundational figures whose contributions helped lay the groundwork for what has become a global music movement.

 According to him, Dokpesi’s vision extended beyond broadcasting, as he actively created opportunities for creatives through his platforms.

Dokpesi was the founder of DAAR Communications, the parent company of Africa Independent Television and Raypower FM. 

These platforms, Adeneye noted, became instrumental in giving visibility to emerging artistes at a time when the Nigerian music industry was still finding its footing.

Reflecting on his experience working within Dokpesi’s media structure, Adeneye explained that the environment encouraged creativity and talent discovery. 

He emphasised that the availability of radio and television exposure at the time allowed industry stakeholders to nurture and promote upcoming acts who would later become household names.

One of the standout examples he mentioned was Daddy Showkey, a pioneer of the galala music genre, whose rise to fame was significantly supported by airplay and promotion from Dokpesi’s platforms.

 Adeneye described this as a clear testament to Dokpesi’s commitment to amplifying Nigerian voices and culture.

“Raymond Dokpesi played a significant role in what we enjoy today as Afrobeats and the entertainment industry,” Adeneye said, adding that the media mogul’s contributions helped shape the structure that modern artistes and executives now benefit from.

Dokpesi made history in 1994 when he launched Raypower FM, Nigeria’s first private FM radio station, breaking the government’s monopoly on broadcasting. 

Two years later, he established Africa Independent Television, further expanding private media ownership in the country. These milestones opened up new channels for music promotion, entertainment programming and cultural expression.

Adeneye himself is a key figure in the evolution of Nigerian music. He co-founded Kennis Music alongside Kenny Ogungbe in the late 1990s. The label became a powerhouse in the industry, nurturing talents such as 2Baba, Eedris Abdulkareem, Jaywon, Sir Shina Peters and Tony Tetuila.

Through Kennis Music and his broader contributions, Adeneye has also played a significant role in the industry’s growth, helping to shape the careers of several influential artistes who defined the sound of early Afrobeats.

Dokpesi passed away in May 2023 following a fall on a treadmill, bringing an end to a legacy that spanned decades in media and public life. 

However, as Adeneye’s reflections suggest, his impact continues to resonate within Nigeria’s entertainment industry, particularly in the success and global recognition of Afrobeats today.

The recognition of Dokpesi’s influence adds to ongoing conversations about the pioneers who helped build the foundation of Nigeria’s thriving music scene, reminding many of the importance of media support in transforming local talent into global stars.

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