Mr Eazi launches international exhibition of African art alongside new album

Afrobeats star Mr Eazi is set to launch his latest album alongside an international exhibition of African art that he has commissioned. 

According to The Art Newspaper, the album features songs that have been transformed into artworks by 13 artists from eight different African countries.

Among the artists involved are Dominique Zinkpe from Contonou, Edozie Anedu from Lagos, and Sesse Elangwe, a Cameroonian artist based in Texas. Elangwe’s artwork, titled “The Way I See It (2023),” incorporates headlines from Mr Eazi’s non-music career and personal life, including his work with Hugo Boss and partnership with Bet Pawa, a Ghanaian betting company.

The project is being funded by Choplife IP, Mr Eazi’s company that aims to invest in African culture. 

The idea for the exhibition, he said, came to him when he was feeling uninspired by his music and came across the work of Cotnou native Patricorel. This sparked his desire to collaborate with artists on his album, leading to the creation of a travelling exhibition. The exhibition will be held in Lagos, Accra, London and New York.

In addition to the exhibition, Mr Eazi, born Oluwatosin Ajibade, will be collaborating with Touria El Glaoui, the founding director of the contemporary African art fair 1-54, for the London leg of the exhibition. The exhibition will also serve as a listening party, with a focus on introducing the artwork to fans and the music industry. Mr Eazi has immersed himself in the African art scene while working on the project, collecting over 50 pieces and attending events such as the Cape Town Art Fair.

This unique collaboration between Mr. Eazi and African artists showcases the intersection of music and visual art, providing a platform for emerging African artists and celebrating African culture.