Chocolate City Music Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Announcement of Nutrybe Academy and Chocolate City Music Founders Fund

Following the success of their first BET Awards activation in partnership with, Afr!Ca Haus, Chocolate City Music is commencing its 20th anniversary with two forward-looking initiatives: the Nutrybe Academy and The Chocolate City Music Founders Fund. Celebrating two decades of musical excellence in August, Africa’s esteemed label aims to use this monumental milestone, to foster the lives and careers.

Chocolate City Music’s 20th Anniversary celebrations kicked off this past weekend with Afr!Ca Haus and BET Africa on June 29th in the Hollywood Hills. Taking place against the electrifying backdrop of BET Experience weekend, the event united Africans, Caribbeans, and Blacks throughout the diaspora to celebrate Black Music Month. 

This powerhouse, invite-only event was attended by influential executives and creatives across the Creative Economy and Business Sectors, including Music, Film, TV, Fashion, Arts, Visual Arts, Gaming, Business, and Politics. Over 400 guests attended the event, the celebration was graced by notable figures such as Reggae artist YG Marley who performed at the BET Awards with Lauryn Hill, R&B artist Eric Bellinger, CEO of the Shaderoom, Angela Nwandu, Rapper Papoose, Comedian Michael Blackson, Rashad Bilal, Troy Millings of Earn Your Leisure, and many more.

Images from the event can be found HERE.

The label will continue off the heels of Afr!Ca Haus by launching two new initiatives. First, with The Nigeria based initiative, Nutrybe Academy, which plans to nurture talent across various creative and executive roles within the music industry, including producers, creative directors, and legal experts. The goal is to propel the African music genre forward, offering a foundation for future success. Nutrybe invites interested participants to apply via a Google form HERE. Ten individuals will be selected and paired with mentors who will guide them throughout the program.

Next, The Chocolate City Music Founders Fund, scheduled to officially launch in the first quarter of 2025, dedicated to supporting and empowering the next generation of entertainment entrepreneurs, with a strong emphasis on female entrepreneurs. By providing financial backing and resources, the Founders Fund aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship within the entertainment industry.. The initial phase of the fund will allocate up to a quarter of a million dollars, with plans to expand in subsequent phases. The Founders Fund is available for applicants around the world. 

“Our Founders fund is engineered towards providing opportunities for young people and companies wishing to enter the creative space,” says Co-founder of Chocolate City Music, Paul Okeugo. “Chocolate City has itself benefitted from a lot of support in its years of growth.. it is important for us to give back to our community and help drive more success amongst our young entrepreneurs.” he concludes.

Maikori draws from his own inspiring journey to fuel his passion for fostering new talent. In 1997, Audu and his university friends initiated bi-weekly raves at the University of Jos, an endeavor that eventually evolved into Chocolate City. Under his visionary leadership, Chocolate City transformed into a 360-degree entertainment company, reshaping Nigeria’s music and entertainment landscape.

Chocolate City Group encompasses a music label, a distribution company, a management consulting firm, and a marketing agency. It has been instrumental in shaping and promoting the Afrobeats genre, significantly contributing to the global recognition and popularity of African music. Audu’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication have established Chocolate City as a multifaceted entertainment powerhouse.

These 20th anniversary initiatives underscore Chocolate City’s commitment to investing in the future of African music and entrepreneurs, and empowering the next generation of industry leaders. As the premier Pan African label, Chocolate City Music plans to expand these opportunities to a global scale in the future.

For more information, please visit: https://chocolatecitymusic.com/

About Chocolate City

Founded in Nigeria in 2005 by Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugo, and Yahaya Maikori, Chocolate City Music stands as a beacon of success in Africa’s urban music landscape. With artists like Blaq Bonez, Young Jonn and Candy Bleakz, the label plays a vital role in shaping and championing the Afrobeats genre. Renowned for nurturing producers into superstars, such as CKay with his hit “Love Nwantiti,” Chocolate City Music contributes significantly to the global prominence of African music.