Asake

In August 2023, when Nigerian singer and songwriter Asake made his helicopter-landing entrance into London’s O2 Arena, he didn’t just make an epic moment; he echoed a historical pattern that is both inspiring and unsettling. His name joined a selective, illustrious list of African artists, including Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy, who have sold out one of the world’s most iconic venues. But as we relish in the glow of Asake’s astronomical rise to stardom—his albums making unprecedented debuts on international charts, his music echoing in the ears of millions globally—we must also pause to confront an uncomfortable truth. This …