Damilola Akinwunmi

Damilola Dapper Akinwunmi
Born
Damilola Joseph Akinwunmi

August 1994 (age 31–32)
Southwestern Nigeria
Other namesDapper, Dapper Damm
EducationUniversity of Lagos (BSc Sociology)
OccupationsMusic executive, entrepreneur
Years active2014–present
OrganizationDapper Group
Known forFounder and CEO of Dapper Group; development of Nigerian street-pop artists
Notable workTrench Symphony, Trench Fest, Hue Visual Platform, Banger Only Productions

Damilola "Dapper" Akinwunmi (born August 1994), is a Nigerian music executive and entrepreneur.[1] He is the founder and chief executive officer of Dapper Group, a music and entertainment company based in Lagos, Nigeria.[2][3]

Under his leadership, Dapper Music & Entertainment, the group's flagship label, emerged as one of the leading Nigerian-owned record labels in terms of streaming market share in 2024.[4]

Early life and education

He later attended the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. During an academic strike in 2012, he began exploring opportunities in music management and media, which later led to his entry into the professional music industry.[5]

Career

Early management (2014–2016)

Akinwunmi began his professional career in 2014 as an artist manager. He is credited with discovering and managing the Nigerian artist Dotman, helping guide the artist to mainstream recognition. During this period he also worked with other performers, including Koker (singer).[6]

Temple Management Company (2016–2018)

Between 2016 and 2018, Akinwunmi worked as a talent representative at Temple Management Company, a Lagos-based entertainment agency. In this role he managed or worked with artists such as Iyanya, and producers including Tee-Y Mix and Adey.

Founding of Dapper Group (2018–present)

In 2018 he founded Dapper Group, which later expanded into a multi-division entertainment company involved in music distribution, publishing, live events, and film production. The company operates several subsidiaries including Dvpper Digital, Dapper Music & Entertainment, Dapper Live, Dapper Films, and S94 Publishing.[7]

Through Dapper Music, Akinwunmi has worked with several Nigerian artists including Ice Prince, Seyi Vibez, Shallipopi, T.I Blaze, Balloranking, TML Vibez, Rybeena, Lasmid, Cazulee, BNXN, Kashcoming, and Bhadboi OML.[8][9][10]

Projects and initiatives

Akinwunmi has launched several music and creative industry initiatives through Dapper Group.[11]

Trench Symphony

Trench Symphony (2025) is a signature live concert series produced by Dapper Live, designed to explore the intersection of Street-pop, Fuji music, live orchestration, and operatic arrangements. As a cultural experiment in Nigeria, the project reimagines indigenous Nigerian sounds through a theatrical and orchestral lens, contributing to a broader conversation around the evolution and global perception of contemporary African music. The series also marked a major milestone by breaking the Guinness World Record for the Largest Orchestra for an Afrobeats Concert.[12][13]

Banger Only Productions (BOP)

Launched in 2025, Banger Only Productions (BOP) is a production-focused division that provides management, branding, and royalty administration services for music producers.[14]

Hue Visual Platform

The Hue platform is a minimalist live performance series created to highlight African artists in intimate acoustic settings that emphasize vocal performance rather than elaborate stage production.[15]

Trench Fest

Trench Fest is a touring concert franchise that brought large-scale music events to cities such as Ibadan and Lagos, focusing on artists emerging from Nigeria's street-pop scene.[16]

Giddy Girls

Giddy Girls is an all-female teen vocal collective introduced in 2025 that provides professional background vocals on several commercial music releases.[17]

Awards and recognition

  • Executive of the Year (2023) – TurnTable Charts Power List[7]
  • Executive of the Quarter (Q1 2023) – TurnTable Charts
  • Top 30 Music Executives in Nigeria – TurnTable Power List (2023, 2024, 2025)
  • Dapper Group surpassing 1 billion total music streams by Q3 2024[18]

References

  1. ↑ https://businessday.ng/bd-weekender/article/how-dapper-ceo-forges-creative-business-synergies-for-nigerian-music-stars/
  2. ↑ "Dapper Group Announces New Leadership, Launches Various Subsidiaries". www.turntablecharts.com.
  3. ↑ Amos, Kobor (November 12, 2023). "Damilola Akinwunmi is leading a revolution in Afrobeats with Dapper Music". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria.
  4. ↑ Reporter, Our (July 28, 2019). "Akinwunmi raises bar on music distribution". Nigerian Tribune.
  5. ↑ "Akinwunmi Damilola". Music In Africa. September 25, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Dapper Music Leads as Top Nigerian-Owned Record Label in 2024 Market Share Report". November 6, 2024.
  7. 1 2 "The 2023 Power List: Top 30 Music Executives in Nigeria". www.turntablecharts.com.
  8. ↑ Omenye, Alex (September 3, 2025). "DAPPER Collaborates With Yaadman and Bhadboi OML on "Blessings (Kura)"".
  9. ↑ Ihekire, Chinonso (July 21, 2021). "Rexxie taps Dapper as executive producer for star-studded debut album 'A True Champion,' featuring BNXN". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria.
  10. ↑ Ihekire, Chinonso (November 22, 2022). "Seyi Vibez's Dapper-produced debut album 'Billion Dollar Baby' earns critical acclaim". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria.
  11. ↑ Idowu, Omotoyosi (November 11, 2025). "Dapper Music and Entertainment unveils initiative to empower African music producers". Premium Times – via Premium Times.
  12. ↑ "Executive of the Quarter, Damilola "Dapper" Akinwunmi: How 'Trenches Diddy' is Winning Digitally". www.turntablecharts.com.
  13. ↑ "Street meets opera at Dapper Live's Trench Symphony". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. September 6, 2025.
  14. ↑ Diamond, Maria (November 15, 2025). "Dapper music unveils BOP". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria.
  15. ↑ Diamond, Maria (March 14, 2026). "Dapper Live sets Guinness World Record for largest orchestra, creates defining cultural moment". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria.
  16. ↑ Akinsanmi, 'Sola (April 12, 2024). "Trench Fest: Shutdown in Ibadan". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria.
  17. ↑ Ojo, Tomiwo (October 21, 2025). "From the classroom to Afrobeats stardom: Dapper Music unveils Giddy Girls, the teen vocal group behind Burna Boy's 'Higher,' TML Vibez's 'Amiri'". The NET. Lagos, Nigeria.
  18. ↑ https://businessday.ng/life-arts/article/dapper-music-leads-nigerias-music-streaming-market-report/
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