At a time when global entertainment is turning its gaze more deliberately toward Africa, few figures have done more to shape how the continent presents itself—and profits from that attention—than Deola and Darey Art Alade. As co-founders of Livespot360, they have moved beyond the realm of performance and production into something more structural: building platforms, experiences and intellectual property that position African creativity at the centre of global cultural exchange.
Deola Art Alade, a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, approaches the work with the precision of an architect, focused on systems that allow culture to scale. Darey Art Alade, a multi-platinum recording artist turned creative executive, brings a complementary instinct for translation—turning local energy into globally resonant experiences. Together, their portfolio spans high-impact productions such as The Real Housewives of Lagos, the Fenty Beauty Lagos launch, and global activations for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, alongside industry-shaping platforms like Entertainment Week Africa and Detty December Fest.
In this conversation, they reflect on the shifting balance of power in global entertainment, the economic stakes of African-owned intellectual property, and why the next phase of the industry will be defined not just by visibility, but by ownership, infrastructure and long-term cultural capital.
Over the years, you’ve both evolved from creatives into executives shaping major cultural experiences like The Real Housewives of Lagos , the Fenty Beauty Lagos launch, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever global activations, Entertainment Week Africa, and Detty December Fest through Livespot360. At this stage in your journey, how do you each define what you actually do within the entertainment scene?
Deola: I view my role as that of a cultural architect. Having begun my career in a more purely creative capacity, I now focus on developing the foundational infrastructure required for culture to scale sustainably. At Livespot360, that has meant building something that goes far beyond a single service — an integrated creative company where production, experiential, digital, advertising, and entertainment all work as one. I shifted from isolated, high-profile moments to the creation of robust experiences that enable African stories, talent, and intellectual property to flourish domestically while achieving meaningful global reach, all within commercially viable and culturally authentic frameworks.
Darey: For me, it’s cultural translation, bridging creative vision with precise execution to create experiences that resonate deeply and transcend borders. As Chief Creative Officer at Livespot360, I am responsible for shaping the overarching vision and strategic direction of our initiatives, from large-scale festivals to high-profile global collaborations. At its core, however, my work centers on crafting transformative moments that redefine perceptions of Africa, elevating our creative standards, expanding what is considered possible, and authentically capturing our distinctive energy. This pursuit of meaningful cultural impact remains the driving force behind my contributions.
In a landscape where global entertainment brands are increasingly looking at Africa, what do you see as the competitive advantage of African‑led experiences and events?
Deola: African-led experiences are built on storytelling that draws from living cultures, complex histories, and oral traditions that have been passed down and are still evolving. This depth gives the creativity of our events a distinctiveness from any other. When we build from that foundation, what we produce sets a reference point for the world. Global brands are waking up to that, and audiences feel it every time they walk into a space where the culture is the experience, not just the setting.
Darey: We are at an inflection point where the world’s attention is on Africa in a way that has never been quite so concentrated or so commercially serious. Global brands are allocating budget to this market because they’re seeing the returns in audience loyalty, in cultural credibility, in the kind of organic reach that money alone can’t buy. This is a reflection of how much influence African creativity is having on global culture right now. The competitive advantage of African-led experiences is that they sit at the center of that moment. Everything from the music, the fashion, the storytelling is moving outward from this continent, and the experiences built here carry that momentum with them.
Looking at the broader industry today — from music and festivals to content creation, IP, and brand partnerships — where do you see the greatest unmet opportunities for African creatives and executives?
Deola: The most significant opportunity remains ownership, particularly equity in intellectual property, control over distribution channels, and effective cross-border monetization. While African talent is world-class, we still lack robust frameworks to secure long-term value from our creations. There is also substantial potential in developing premium, scalable experiential IP—festivals, summits, and cultural convenings capable of achieving global scale while remaining deeply rooted in African identity. The future belongs to those who build enduring assets rather than transient moments.
Darey: The greatest opportunities lie at the intersection of disciplines: where music converges with film, where live experiences integrate gaming and immersive technology, and where storytelling becomes truly multidimensional. These convergences represent the next frontier for narrative innovation. However, the missing piece in much of this conversation is talent development. Initiatives such as LABSPOT demonstrate the transformative impact of intentional mentorship, accelerating raw potential into globally competitive professionals. Additionally, this is why we created EWA Creative Connect — to connect senior leaders across global entertainment, media, and investment with Africa’s most influential creative innovators, fostering the kind of partnerships that actually move the needle. We held the inaugural edition in Los Angeles during Grammys weekend earlier this year, and another in London, and there are many more editions to come. The industry requires far more deliberate investment in nurturing the next generation of leaders, and we intend to lead that charge.
When people talk about the impact of your work five or ten years from now, what do you hope they say about how you influenced the industry?
Deola: I hope it will be said that Livespot360 played a pivotal role in formalizing and elevating Africa’s creative economy, transforming it from a collection of events into a network of high-performing platforms that set new industry standards and expanded access. I also hope it will be said that we helped demonstrate what an African-owned, fully integrated creative company could look like when built with genuine ambition and discipline. If our efforts contribute to greater representation of women in executive leadership, wider global circulation of African IP, and more resilient institutional structures across the sector, that would constitute a meaningful, lasting impact.
Darey: I would like it to be recognized that we expanded the global perception of what African creativity can achieve, and that we normalized African-led experiences commanding center stage on the world platform with confidence and authority. If our work inspires a new generation of creatives to think ambitiously, to own their narratives fully, and to execute at the highest international standards, then we will have fulfilled our core purpose.
As executives deeply embedded in the field, what initiatives, experiences, or business directions are you currently focused on that signal where the industry is headed next?
Deola: The work we are most focused on right now is building a cultural IP that outlasts any single moment. Entertainment Week Africa sits at the heart of that. It brings the global entertainment industry to African soil to do business, and that matters because for too long those conversations have happened everywhere but here. The next phase of this industry will be owned by those who can hold creative vision, business strategy, and technology in the same hand. That is what we are building toward.
Darey: People want to feel like they are inside something, not watching it happen. That appetite is growing and everything we are building is to respond to it. Detty December Fest is a product of that thinking. The response in its first year last year was a clear signal that the world is ready — artists flying in, diaspora coming home, and an energy in Lagos that reminded everyone why this city is the center of it all. Beyond the festivals, what drives me right now is investing in the people behind the culture. That’s why we’re hosting EWA Creative Connect in different cities around the world, strategically bringing together global investors and key decision-makers to invest in Africa’s creative economy.
Who is Darey?
Darey is a multi-platinum recording artist, visionary cultural architect, and entertainment executive whose influence spans music, live experiences, television, and global culture. A member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (IATAS), the organization behind the International Emmy Awards, Darey operates at the intersection of creativity, business, and culture, shaping Africa’s narrative on the global stage. As Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Livespot360, he has produced and led high-impact cultural moments in partnership with Amazon, Netflix, Disney, Meta, Fenty, and the NBA, including The Real Housewives of Lagos, the Fenty Beauty Lagos launch, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever activations,
The Voice Nigeria Season 3, Entertainment Week Africa, Detty December Fest, and Livespot X Festival. His productions have consistently redefined Africa’s creative standards, delivering world-class experiences that resonate globally.
A trailblazer in music, Darey has shared stages with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Usher, Ciara, Cardi B, and Lionel Richie, bridging African artistry with the global music industry. He first gained continental recognition as the first Nigerian artist to achieve pan-African fame through reality TV, as runner-up on Project Fame South Africa, and has since built a career spanning chart-topping albums, iconic music collaborations, radio and television broadcasting, and cultural event production.
Beyond performance, Darey is a platform builder and mentor. Through LABSPOT, the talent and career development arm of Livespot360, he has nurtured a generation of African creatives, producers, and strategists who now power the continent’s creative economy. His work has engaged global audiences alongside world leaders and cultural icons, from hosting landmark events with Bill Clinton, George W. Bush Jr., and François Hollande to attending the 2026 Grammy Awards—further cementing his status as a global cultural influencer.
Darey continues to push creative boundaries as he explores film projects across genres including psychological drama, neo-noir, and magical realism, all while advancing his mission to spotlight African excellence through innovation, storytelling, and immersive experiences
Who is Deola?
Deola is a creative powerhouse, culture shaper, and serial entrepreneur at the forefront of Africa’s creative economy. A Member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (International Emmy Awards), she maintains an active presence within global industry convenings, including the 2026 GRAMMY Awards, she is Co-founder and Group CEO of Livespot360, one of Africa’s leading 360-degree entertainment and experience companies operating at the intersection of entertainment, culture, business, media, and technology.
With over two decades of experience, Deola has led and produced some of the continent’s most defining cultural moments and globally resonant productions. Her work spans premium television, live experiences, brand activations, and cultural IP, including The Real Housewives of Lagos, The Voice Nigeria Season 3, Amazon’s LOL: Last One Laughing Nigeria, the Fenty Beauty Lagos launch, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever activations, Entertainment Week Africa, and Detty December Fest. Through Livespot360, she has crafted high-impact experiences and storytelling for global brands such as Amazon, Netflix, Meta, Adidas, Disney, Microsoft, and more, bridging African audiences with the world while shaping how African culture is experienced globally.
Beyond production and business leadership, Deola is deeply committed to building platforms that expand access, authorship, and influence for African creatives, particularly women. She is the founder and host of the Women Driving Culture Luncheon, an intimate, high-level convening that brings together influential women across fashion, film, media, beauty, technology, policy, and business to foster collaboration, mentorship, and long-term cultural impact. Supported by Livespot360 alongside partners including Moët & Chandon, M·A·C Cosmetics, and Estée Lauder, the initiative reflects Deola’s commitment to intentional, female-led leadership and systems-level change.
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