The Journal
Notes from the Afrobeats era and the systems behind the culture.
An archive of reflections, interviews, and field notes from the work of building culture at scale. Less hype, more infrastructure. Less headlines, more legacy.
December in Ghana: Culture, Scale, and the Work of Legacy
Yesterday, I joined Channel One TV in Accra for a conversation about Afro Nation, December in Ghana, and the work that follows moments of cultural growth.
When culture grows faster than structure, the task is not to slow culture down. The task is to build fast enough to hold it.
Legacy is not presence. It is what remains because something once passed through.
On Scale, Systems, and Why Talent Alone Isn’t Enough
Most artists don’t fail globally because of talent. They fail because the system around them is weak.
We celebrate breakout moments, viral records, sold-out shows, international co-signs and call that success. But moments are not systems. And moments, on their own, don’t last. Culture scales through planning, partnerships, and accountability, not hype.
Beyond Detty December: Creative Economy as Infrastructure
Detty December proved demand.
What it didn’t build was the system.
Beyond Detty December is an intentional conversation about what happens after the spotlight moves on — when attention fades, and only infrastructure determines what remains.
Dr King SMADE on 3Music TV: Afrobeats, Ghana, and Building Cultural Infrastructure
Dr King SMADE sits down with 3Music TV to discuss Afrobeats, Ghana’s role in the global movement, and why sustainable cultural infrastructure matters more than headlines.
Building Africa’s Creative Talent Pipeline: Lessons from Diaspora District Accra
A reflection on Diaspora District Accra, the role of creativity in education, and why building systems for Africa’s young creatives is now an economic necessity.
Martell’s Afrobeats End-of-Year Dinner and the People Who Built the Culture
A reflection on Martell’s Afrobeats end-of-year dinner, the people who have quietly built the culture, and the long work behind a global movement.
Most artists don’t fail globally because of talent. They fail because the system around them is weak.
We celebrate breakout moments, viral records, sold-out shows, international co-signs and call that success. But moments are not systems. And moments, on their own, don’t last. Culture scales through planning, partnerships, and accountability, not hype.