Globe-hopping cultural icon calls Dunwoody home!
Twenty years ago, Nigerian native Audu Maikori was an attorney in Lagos when he decided to take on the tall order of shaping African music by supporting and fostering young stars. He teamed with two partners and launched the Afrobeats label Chocolate City to attract and nurture young talent. Since its inception, the project has achieved a global reach and found a solid footing in the U.S. Maikori has also found a home here, settling in Dunwoody with his wife and 18-month-old daughter. He shares his journey below.
How did you come to live in Dunwoody?
I was born and raised in Nigeria, where for a long time there were a lot of issues around human rights abuses and ethno-religious crises. I didn’t feel safe anymore, and that’s what brought me to the States around 2016 to see a friend. I was in Buckhead for about a year before moving to New York, but when COVID came, that was not the place to be. Atlanta felt like home, so I took the leap and bought a place in Dunwoody in August 2020. I love that it’s so convenient to travel from here. And there’s a very diverse community as well.
What inspired you to launch Chocolate City?
In my first career as a lawyer, it was clear that the arts and the creative sector needed to be promoted and funded properly. You can’t do it by charity; you need a proper team who understands contracts and intellectual property. So it was natural as a lawyer to ask, “Who owns the rights to this song? How do I license it?” We saw the way management and promotion were run in Nigeria, and many were not being represented. So we created Chocolate City.
Who are some of the artists you’ve successfully supported?
This year, Young Jonn released his debut album, which entered the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats chart with five tracks. Also this year, CKay’s 2019 track “Love Nwantiti,” originally published by Chocolate City, made history as the first African song to achieve eight times platinum certification in the U.S.
Describe your role with Chocolate City now.
I work with the record label, an agency that handles distribution and a publishing company. I’m also now heading the film part of the business to build a film infrastructure in the Caribbean so we can increase the productions coming from there. We’re also training and equipping a population of skilled professionals who understand how to do it. Film infrastructure is the biggest collaborative you can have, with film scores, makeup and design, sets and more. It’s a space where young people can be engaged in what’s important to them and tell their own stories. So I do a lot of work in the Caribbean, but the business literally takes me around the globe to places like Ghana, the U.K. and the Middle East.
What’s your next project?
In 2025, we’re launching the Chocolate City Music Founders Fund to support the next generation of entertainment entrepreneurs, with a focus on women. We’re trying to get to $2 million. When I started with my partners, we did not have any funding; I used the earnings from my legal services to fund the company. But having weathered the storm, I believe it’s our duty to give back.
When you aren’t working, where are you hanging out?
One of my favorite restaurants is Mission + Market in Buckhead. In Sandy Springs, I like the ambience and the bar service at The Select. I also like Buckhead Village: It has a slew of restaurants and shopping with a very cool village feel.
CHOCOLATE CITY
chocolatecitymusic.com
@choccitymusic
