At the lavish wedding of Mr Eazi and Temi Otedola on September 6, 2025, Nigeria’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, stunned guests by revealing that Mr Eazi “…has businesses in 18 countries in Africa,” promising that “…in the next few years we will take a back seat and call you the richest people on earth.”
That remark sets the stage: what are these businesses, and which ones are publicly known?
Publicly Known Ventures: Mapping the Empire
1. emPawa Africa
Founded in 2018, launched in 2019, this talent incubation platform grants support annually to emerging African artists and includes publishing and licensing wings. It has become one of Africa’s key talent accelerators.
2. Zagadat Capital
Established in 2022, this investment fund backs a host of African startups, including emPawa Africa, BetPawa, Ruka Hair, Decagon, Apata, Turf, Choplife Limited, Eden Life, Paisa, and Shoobs.
3. PawaPay
Co-founded in 2021, this fintech platform processed over $1 billion in transactions within four years and raised millions in seed funding, cementing its position as a major player in Africa’s digital payments sector.
4. BetPawa
Mr Eazi serves as CEO. This betting company secured a multi-million-dollar sponsorship deal with the Ghana Premier League, placing it at the center of African sports entertainment.
5. Choplife Gaming & Choplife.ci
Eazi’s personal gaming brands operate across multiple African countries, including Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda, and Benin. His first fully-owned brand, Choplife.ci, launched in 2025 in Côte d’Ivoire, offering sports betting and casino experiences while emphasizing responsible gaming.
6. Real Estate in Rwanda
Mr Eazi owns a housing estate in Kigali valued at billions of naira, further diversifying his portfolio.
7. Sports Investments
He holds stakes in the Cape Town Tigers (South African basketball), Rayon Sports FC (Rwanda), and has also invested in rising athletes across Africa, including boxing and mixed martial arts.
8. ChopLife SoundSystem & “Disney of Africa” Ambition
Through his “ChopLife” umbrella, Mr Eazi launched the ChopLife SoundSystem live tour with DJ Edu. Inspired by his studies at Harvard Business School, he aspires to build “the Disney of Africa”—a single brand encapsulating African entertainment.
What About the 18 Countries?
The combined footprint of these ventures already spans at least 10 countries:
- Choplife Gaming: Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda, Benin
- emPawa Africa: Pan-African presence in talent development
- Zagadat Capital: Investments across Africa
- Real Estate: Rwanda
- Sports Investments: South Africa, Rwanda
- PawaPay: UK-based but with African operations
- Choplife.ci: Côte d’Ivoire
That still leaves gaps in identifying businesses active in the other countries Dangote referenced. These may include startup investments, regional offices, or informal holdings yet to be made public.
The Hidden Portfolio: Speculative Possibilities
Beyond the publicly visible ventures, it is highly possible that Mr Eazi has:
- Additional fintech or payment platforms across francophone and anglophone Africa.
- Choplife expansions into festivals, streaming, and digital entertainment.
- Educational or philanthropic projects, particularly in education and sports.
- Early-stage investments in agri-tech, healthtech, or renewable energy.
Final Thoughts
Dangote’s revelation about Mr Eazi’s reach is not an exaggeration—it highlights how much remains unseen. Mr Eazi’s portfolio spans music, fintech, gaming, real estate, and sports, but the less-visible ventures may well be what extend his influence across 18 African countries.
This is more than music. Mr Eazi is quietly building a continental empire, proving that the “Banku Music” star is also one of Africa’s boldest entrepreneurs.