There are few names in African music that echo with the same quiet thunder as Don Jazzy. He is not merely a producer or a hitmaker, he is an architect of culture, a builder of bridges between sound and spirit. From the earliest days of Mo’Hits to the golden reign of Mavin Records, Don Jazzy has sculpted a movement that redefined the possibilities of African music. His fingerprints are on an entire generation’s soundtrack, from D’banj’s global rise to Tiwa Savage’s reign, from Rema’s celestial melodies to Ayra Starr’s unapologetic power. His studios have become sanctuaries where rhythm meets rebellion, where the dreams of Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan converge and rise to meet the world. For over two decades, he has remained a steady pulse in an ever-evolving industry, humble, humorous, yet fiercely visionary.
But beyond the music, Don Jazzy’s legacy is one of nation-building through art, a blueprint for African excellence that merges discipline with instinct. He has shown that power in music is not only in the charts but in the capacity to nurture, to give rise to others, to transform talent into legacy. In a world where fame burns fast and bright, Don Jazzy stands as a constellation, steady, timeless, and guiding. His work reminds us that the African sound is not a trend but a testimony of resilience, rhythm, and rebirth.
He is both maestro and mentor, mol and mystic, the sound of yesterday reimagined for tomorrow. The Don Jazzy Legacy is not just heard; it is felt, in every beat that dares to dream, in every artist who knows that Africa’s time is now, and forever.
OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Conducted by our Editor in Chief, Ms. Gwen Madiba and our Host, Ms. Chiamaka Offorjebe
The Don Jazzy Legacy
Rolling Stone Africa Cover Story
RSA: We’re honored to have you as our cover star this month, celebrating your personal legacy as well. You’ve built a foundation that has shaped the global sound and success of Afrobeats. When you look back, what was the vision that guided you, and how did it evolve over time?
DON JAZZY: The mandate has always been simple, I love music. It makes me happy, and I love creating music that makes people dance, smile, and forget their sorrows. Over time, that love turned into something much bigger than I ever imagined. I’ve been blessed by God, so I take my journey seriously, walking it one day at a time. My purpose now is to keep making music and to find new talents who can share their gifts with the world. That’s what fuels me.
RSA: You’ve helped launch some of the biggest names in African music. When you’re discovering or mentoring new talent, what do you look for beyond the music itself?
DON JAZZY: Beyond the music, I focus on the vessel, the person. I look at their personality, their hunger, their vision. At Mavin, we also pay attention to how well they’ll fit into our culture. You can’t always predict who will blow up, but sometimes you can feel when someone truly wants it. Many don’t realize how big their dreams can get until time unfolds.
RSA: You’re often called both a creator and an architect. You’ve built your own career while shaping others’. How do you balance being behind the scenes with being in the spotlight?
DON JAZZY: It became a necessity, you either evolve or fade away. The digital era made the world smaller, and I realized that being visible online helps my artists too. Coming from a generation where you had to physically visit TV and radio stations, I appreciate that I can now post a one-minute clip on Instagram and reach the world. So I leaned into visibility. I don’t actually love being in front of cameras, but it’s part of the job now.
RSA: Let’s talk about Mavin Records. It has become synonymous with excellence and innovation. What’s the secret behind its consistency?
DON JAZZY: It’s the people. My team is the best in the world. We learn from our artists’ experiences and keep things transparent. I wanted to build a label where artists feel like partners, not property. We don’t chase numbers or followers, we love growing artists from the ground up. Sometimes we sign talents with zero followers, help them craft their name, their sound, and we grow together. That bond creates loyalty and longevity.
RSA: That’s refreshing in an industry obsessed with numbers.
DON JAZZY: Exactly. We prefer to create that value ourselves, to help artists build their audience from scratch. Watching someone go from “no search results” to global headlines within hours of a launch is pure joy.
RSA: Afrobeats has become a global movement. What do you see next for the genre?
DON JAZZY: We’re still just getting started. Some people think it’s slowing down, but there’s so much great music from Africa the world hasn’t even discovered yet. Attention spans are shorter now, but that’s okay, new artists will keep emerging and pushing Afrobeats to the next level.
RSA: Let’s talk about resilience. What moment in your career tested you most, and how did you turn it into motivation?
DON JAZZY: Honestly, not much shakes me. I’m cut from a different cloth. When something goes wrong, I ask, “Can we fix it?” If yes, we fix it. If not, we move on. When Mo’Hits ended, I thought that was it. I almost packed up to move abroad. But friends encouraged me to stay and start again, and Mavin Records was born. Since then, I’ve learned not to let anything break me.
Even losing my mother two years ago was deeply painful, but life has to move on. You can’t stop. You fix what you can and keep going.
RSA: You’ve mentored so many producers and executives. How do you see the next generation continuing your legacy?
DON JAZZY: Many of them are doing amazing work. Take Andre Vibes, he produced Calm Down for Rema and Rush for Ayra Starr. He’s the son of Victor Waifu and has a great head on his shoulders. Producers like Sarz are even creating academies to train others. We’re doing better now because we’re accessible, younger talents can reach us easily. Afrobeats is in good hands.
RSA: Let’s have some fun, your top five Afrobeats songs of all time?
DON JAZZY: That’s tough! But I’d say:
- African Queen by 2Baba
- Ojuelegba by Wizkid
- Fall in Love by D’Banj
- Gongo Aso by 9ice
- Aye by Davido
RSA: And your top five albums?
DON JAZZY: Number one, Mushin 2 Mo’Hits, produced by me. Then Grass 2 Grace by 2Baba, Superstar by Wizkid, The Entertainer by D’Banj, and Aṣa’s debut album.
RSA: Finally, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to anyone dreaming of success like yours?
DON JAZZY: Success takes years. People see the results but not the process. It’s like compound interest, you keep putting in the work, and it grows over time. Post your work online; let people see it. Someone will notice. Most of what I wear, from my clothes to the art I buy, is made in Nigeria by people I discovered on social media. So keep creating, keep showing your work, and it will pay off.
Don Jazzy’s story is not just about beats or business, it’s about belief. His rhythm has become a mirror of Africa’s own pulse: unbreakable, evolving, and eternal. From the smoky studios of Lagos to the neon glow of global stages, he has carried with him the same philosophy that first ignited his journey, that music is a gift meant to be shared, multiplied, and passed on. He has built more than a label; he has built an ecosystem of dreams, a family bound not by contracts but by creative communion.
His legacy grows each time a young artist from the streets of Port Harcourt, Accra, or Nairobi dares to believe that their sound can echo beyond their borders. Don Jazzy has proven that power does not lie in dominance but in direction; in giving others the courage to rise.
The Don Jazzy legacy is, and will always be, a testament to the beauty of building, one song, one soul, and one generation at a time.
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