DR. KING SMADE • JOURNAL

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.

Explore Journal Interviews & Conversations Culture & Commentary
Afrobeats Creative Economy African Diaspora Culture & Legacy
Archive
Context over clout
Field Notes
Festivals • policy • partnerships
Authority
Built from lived work
Dr. King SMADE
Journal, not a blog.
A record of the rooms, the work, and what it takes to make culture last.
Featured
December in Ghana: Culture, Scale, and the Work of Legacy
Culture & Creative Economy, African Cultural Infrastructure, Media & Interviews
Afro Nation, Detty December, Ghana, Channel One TV, African Creative Economy, Cultural Infrastructure, Culture & Legacy, Festivals & Live Music, Diaspora Culture, Systems & Scale, Cultural Leadership
December in Ghana: Culture, Scale, and the Work of Legacy
Culture & Creative Economy, African Cultural Infrastructure, Media & Interviews
Afro Nation, Detty December, Ghana, Channel One TV, African Creative Economy, Cultural Infrastructure, Culture & Legacy, Festivals & Live Music, Diaspora Culture, Systems & Scale, Cultural Leadership

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.

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Culture & Creative Economy, African Cultural Infrastructure, Media & Interviews
Afro Nation, Detty December, Ghana, Channel One TV, African Creative Economy, Cultural Infrastructure, Culture & Legacy, Festivals & Live Music, Diaspora Culture, Systems & Scale, Cultural Leadership
On Scale, Systems, and Why Talent Alone Isn’t Enough
Journal, Creative Economy, Infrastructure & Touring
Creative Infrastructure, Global Scaling, Touring, Ecosystems, Cultural Economy, Artists, Promoters, Venues, Media & Platforms, Africa, Diaspora
On Scale, Systems, and Why Talent Alone Isn’t Enough
Journal, Creative Economy, Infrastructure & Touring
Creative Infrastructure, Global Scaling, Touring, Ecosystems, Cultural Economy, Artists, Promoters, Venues, Media & Platforms, Africa, Diaspora

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.

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Journal, Creative Economy, Infrastructure & Touring
Creative Infrastructure, Global Scaling, Touring, Ecosystems, Cultural Economy, Artists, Promoters, Venues, Media & Platforms, Africa, Diaspora
Beyond Detty December: Creative Economy as Infrastructure
Cultural Infrastructure
Cultural Infrastructure, Creative Economy, African Creative Economy, Diaspora & Development, Detty December, Diaspora Investment, Ownership & Governance
Beyond Detty December: Creative Economy as Infrastructure
Cultural Infrastructure
Cultural Infrastructure, Creative Economy, African Creative Economy, Diaspora & Development, Detty December, Diaspora Investment, Ownership & Governance

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.

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Cultural Infrastructure
Cultural Infrastructure, Creative Economy, African Creative Economy, Diaspora & Development, Detty December, Diaspora Investment, Ownership & Governance
Dr King SMADE on 3Music TV: Afrobeats, Ghana, and Building Cultural Infrastructure
Interviews & Conversations
Afrobeats, 3Music TV, Ghana, Detty December, African Creative Economy, Diaspora, Music & Culture
Dr King SMADE on 3Music TV: Afrobeats, Ghana, and Building Cultural Infrastructure
Interviews & Conversations
Afrobeats, 3Music TV, Ghana, Detty December, African Creative Economy, Diaspora, Music & Culture

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.

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Interviews & Conversations
Afrobeats, 3Music TV, Ghana, Detty December, African Creative Economy, Diaspora, Music & Culture
Building Africa’s Creative Talent Pipeline: Lessons from Diaspora District Accra
Culture & Commentary
Creative Talent Pipeline, Creativity in Education, Cultural Infrastructure, Creative Economy, Africa, Ghana, African Diaspora, Diaspora District
Building Africa’s Creative Talent Pipeline: Lessons from Diaspora District Accra
Culture & Commentary
Creative Talent Pipeline, Creativity in Education, Cultural Infrastructure, Creative Economy, Africa, Ghana, African Diaspora, Diaspora District

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.

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Culture & Commentary
Creative Talent Pipeline, Creativity in Education, Cultural Infrastructure, Creative Economy, Africa, Ghana, African Diaspora, Diaspora District
On Scale, Systems, and Why Talent Alone Isn’t Enough
Journal, Creative Economy, Infrastructure & Touring Korrine Sky Journal, Creative Economy, Infrastructure & Touring Korrine Sky

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.

Read More