Afrobeats icon TEKNO has formed a groundbreaking new joint venture between his Cartel Music label and emPawa Africa, ushering in this new musical era with “Wayo,” his first single of 2024. The deal sees Tekno joining emPawa Africa, the innovative independent music company founded by Mr Eazi, as an investor and partner.
Written and produced by Tekno and Grammy-nominated hitmaker ShugaVybz, “Wayo” is driven by infectious percussion, hypnotic synths, and lush guitar arrangements, and held together by Tekno’s enchanting vocal performance and captivating storytelling. “Wayo” — which means to “scam” or deceive someone in Nigerian slang — sees Tekno reassuring his lover of his pure intentions and undying devotion to her, making sure to let her know, “I no come do wayo.”
The glorious new offering also comes with a cinematic music video set against the vibrant city of Lagos, and starring Tekno and Nollywood sensation Uzoamaka Aniunoh as a couple navigating the highs and lows of their relationship.
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Directed by Forbes 30 Under 30 filmmaker Dammy Twitch, who has also worked with the likes of Davido, Yung Bleu, and DaBaby, the “Wayo” music video brings to life a heartfelt narrative of love, resilience, and forgiveness, beautifully complementing the song’s resonant lyrics and rhythm. Taking viewers on a vivid journey through the bustling streets of Lagos Island, the video captures the essence of the city’s pulsating spirit and dating culture, with the visuals emphasizing the themes of love and forgiveness, showing how Tekno and his lover overcome their relationship challenges.
The game-changing collaboration between Tekno and emPawa Africa will see Tekno’s Cartel Music imprint releasing some exciting new music via emPawa Africa, with Tekno set to become an investor in emPawa in its next capital call round. He joins Grammy-winning music producer Michaël Brun among those who have invested in the innovative, African-owned label services company founded by Mr Eazi in 2018. emPawa Africa has been at the forefront of discovering and nurturing emerging talent across the African continent, providing budding artists with the resources, training, and tools necessary for global success, working with artists such as Joeboy, Major League DJz, Fave, King Promise, Minz and DJ Neptune, among others.
“With this deal with Tekno and Cartel Music, we are ushering in a new phase of emPawa,” Mr Eazi says. “This phase will see us partnering with African artists at different stages of their careers who want to maintain financial and creative freedom, yet move from talent for hire to equity participation. It’s a first-of-its-kind deal for afrobeats.”
“This strategic alliance with Empawa promises to be a game-changer for the African music industry and a beacon of opportunity for artists,” adds Tekno. “We look forward to seeing how this partnership will catalyze the growth of emPawa Africa, its artists, and the broader African music ecosystem.”
ABOUT TEKNO
With over 2.5 billion streams and over 20 million social media followers, award-winning Nigerian artist, songwriter, and producer Tekno is one of African music’s most crucial voices. Since 2015, Tekno has consistently captivated global audiences with essential afropop classics including “Duro,” “Pana” and “Skeletun,” earning critical acclaim from tastemakers such as Billboard and Rolling Stone, as well as high praise from international stars like Drake and Sir Elton John, with Billie Eilish even declaring Tekno as her “favorite artist ever.” Tekno has also collaborated with pop royalty including Ciara and Beyoncé.
Tekno‘s prowess extends beyond his vocal talents, as his production and songwriting skills have significantly shaped the rise of afrobeats worldwide. He penned and produced Davido‘s global hit “If” and “Won’t Be Late” by Swae Lee and Drake, both of which achieved RIAA Gold certification. Kizz Daniel’s “Buga,” which Tekno co-wrote and is a featured vocalist on, was the most streamed afrobeats track of 2022, hitting No. 1 worldwide on Shazam. His impressive list of achievements includes an MTV Africa Music Award, and two Headies Awards (Nigeria’s GRAMMY equivalent), as well as a BET Award nomination. In 2023, his infectious hit single “Enjoy” was featured as the closing song in a Season 3 episode of the hit Apple TV series Ted Lasso. His latest album is 2023’s The More The Better.
TEKNO NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES
June 7 – Toronto @ Danforth Music Hall
June 8 – Montreal @ Mural Festival
June 13 – New York City @Irving Plaza
June 15 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
