Nigerian Afrobeats hitmaker, Orezi, has extended his publishing partnership with Downtown Music Publishing Africa — a move that reinforces both parties’ commitment to supporting African creators with global reach and long-term value.
This announcement comes shortly after Downtown Music Publishing Africa’s recent rebrand, which marks a renewed focus on empowering African talent with real infrastructure, creative support, and transparent rights management.
Under the terms of the extended deal, Downtown will continue to administer Orezi’s full catalogue of songs — including fan favourites such as Rihanna, Booty Bounce, and Shuperu (Remix) featuring Davido — as well as future compositions. That includes his latest track Start to Dance (Remix), featuring Ugandan star Rema Namakula, which is now streaming across all major platforms.
Orezi, born Esegine Allen, is a longstanding figure in the Nigerian music scene. With a career spanning over a decade and more than 100 million streams to his name, he has built a reputation for delivering infectious blends of Afrobeats, dancehall, and high-energy rhythms. His work has seen collaborations with notable African artists such as Wizkid, Flavour, Teni, and Timaya — cementing his status as a trendsetter and genre pioneer.
Commenting on the renewed partnership, Downtown Music Publishing Africa’s A&R Manager, Kefiloe Molefe, said, “Extending our partnership with Orezi was a no-brainer. His artistic vision, commercial appeal, and dedication reflect exactly what we stand for — nurturing creators with long-term potential, not just chasing trends. We’re proud to support him in this next chapter.”
The renewed agreement highlights Downtown’s broader ambitions across the continent. As a division of Downtown Music Holdings, the company continues to expand its footprint in Africa, working with local creators to maintain ownership of their work, improve royalty transparency, and scale their music globally.
For Orezi, this partnership goes beyond contracts. “Downtown isn’t just about paperwork — they’ve always been about people, purpose, and potential,” he shared. “They’ve understood my vision from the beginning and supported the journey. This next phase is about growth, reaching new ears, and staying true to who I am. I’m just getting started.”
As African music continues to shape the global soundscape, this collaboration underscores the power of strategic partnerships that prioritise both local authenticity and international opportunity. With artists like Orezi at the forefront, backed by companies committed to ethical and impactful rights management, the future of African music looks brighter than ever.
