Afrobeats Intelligence

Tems’ manager Donawon reveals how he built her career without clout, co-signs, or major label deals — just conviction, systems, and spirit.


Listen Later

In this revealing episode of Afrobeats Intelligence, Joey Akan sits down with the elusive strategist behind Tems, one of Afrobeats’ most powerful voices. From spiritual practices to music industry frameworks, Donawon shares how he helped turn a misunderstood talent into a global force.

Before the Grammy buzz, the Drake feature, and the Coachella stage, there was just a $500 bet and a belief.

“If this fails, I’ll give you everything I have,” he told Tems.And then he built a team. A system. A legacy.

Across this unfiltered conversation, Donawon breaks down:

  • Why he walked away from gospel rap — and how that failure gave him purpose

  • Why he built Faceless Management — and stayed in the shadows on purpose

  • The system that scaled Tems’ career beyond algorithms or virality

  • Why he fasts every month and lets faith guide business

  • What’s next for the movement — including artists like Nsikak, Naya Akanji, and a new wave of Nigerian talent

  • How rising stars like Rema, Fireboy DML, and Ayra Starr represent both inspiration and warning signs in today’s industry

    “Clout is for visibility. But conviction is what makes artists timeless.”“The artist is the fruit. But the tree? That’s where the real work happens.”

    Whether you’re a fan of Tems’ soulful R&B, an aspiring manager, or someone studying the Afrobeats industry from the inside, this episode is a blueprint for building greatness without shortcuts.

    Watch this if you’re building a team, launching a label, or dreaming of a music career. It’s long-term thinking for a short-term world.

    Timecodes:

    1. 4:55 - 5:50 {Managing Afrobeats artistes} 

    2. 7:50 - 8:52 {External influences} 

    3. 10:30 - 11:25 {Afrobeats as a collective?} 

    4. 13:18 - 14:32 {Information/educational gap} 

    5. 17:58 - 18:38 {Ownership and cataloguing} 

    6. 22:40 - 23:49 {Conversion of the Afrobeats to the world movement} 

    7. 27:30 - 28:41 {Choosing the artiste} 

    8. 29:33 - 30:30 {Choosing the artiste 2} 

    9. 33:46 - 34:54 {Management model vs Company model Nonso Amadi experience} 

    10. 35:00 - 36:12 {Management model vs Company model 2} 

    11. 36:25 - 37:30 {Manager - Artiste relationship} 

    12. 41:41 - 42:43 {Music as a business vs Music as a brand} 

    13. 58:40 - 59:48 {Managing Omah lay/Clarity of mind}

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      Afrobeats IntelligenceBy Joey Akan/OkayAfrica

      • 4.9
      • 4.9
      • 4.9
      • 4.9
      • 4.9

      4.9

      32 ratings


      More shows like Afrobeats Intelligence

      View all
      The China in Africa Podcast by The China-Global South Project

      The China in Africa Podcast

      204 Listeners

      90s Baby Show by 90s Baby Show

      90s Baby Show

      115 Listeners

      The Breakfast Club by iHeartPodcasts

      The Breakfast Club

      14,235 Listeners

      I Said What I Said by The Carousel Network

      I Said What I Said

      885 Listeners

      The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

      The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

      7,698 Listeners

      On Purpose with Jay Shetty by iHeartPodcasts

      On Purpose with Jay Shetty

      26,988 Listeners

      Juice WRLD death conspiracy theory by Carsen

      Juice WRLD death conspiracy theory

      141 Listeners

      234 Essential by Global Village

      234 Essential

      58 Listeners

      The Uncut Podcast by The Uncut Podcast

      The Uncut Podcast

      380 Listeners

      The Joe Budden Podcast by The Joe Budden Network

      The Joe Budden Podcast

      10,256 Listeners

      Tea With Tay Podcast by Eggcorn Digital

      Tea With Tay Podcast

      168 Listeners

      The HonestBunch Podcast by Glitch Africa

      The HonestBunch Podcast

      99 Listeners

      DJ Jester by thisisjester@me.com

      DJ Jester

      40 Listeners

      Loose Talk by Global Village

      Loose Talk

      47 Listeners

      Afropolitan by Afropolitan

      Afropolitan

      3 Listeners