01
2009 · Breakthrough
D’banj Koko Concert — Indigo2
London, UK · Early venue proof
A major early proof point that Afrobeats belonged in serious UK venues, changing how artists, labels and audiences saw the market.
SMADE GROUP
From live culture to global cultural infrastructure.
SMADE Group builds, operates and partners on African culture-led platforms across live entertainment, events, cultural diplomacy, talent, partnerships and next-generation development.
Culture
Commerce
Community
Proof network
A working network across institutions, platforms, brands and global media.
Cultural platforms
Trusted by
As seen in
ForbesBBCThe GrammysOkayAfricaBillboardEbonyZBCEssenceCBS NewsFOX 2The VoiceSouthern African Times
Operating map
London
Lagos
Accra
Portimão
Kigali
Nairobi
Dubai
Riyadh
Barbados
Harare
Addis Ababa
Algiers
2026
Run for The Africa Centre
View work
2026
SMADE × Unity Cup
View work
2024–2025
2024–2025 Cultural & Diplomatic Missions
View work
How SMADE Group operates
Where culture becomes infrastructure.
SMADE Group works across live rooms, festival fields, brand partnerships, government tables, storytelling platforms and next-generation development.
01
Create cultural moments
Events, shows, festivals, content formats and cultural IP.
02
Build commercial partnerships
Connecting brands, talent, venues and audiences through credible cultural strategy.
03
Open institutional doors
Cultural missions, government engagement, tourism conversations and international access.
04
Develop the next generation
Academy, mentorship, leadership pathways and creative industry access.
Divisions
The SMADE Group ecosystem.
The group is structured around what culture needs to move: entertainment, live experiences, strategy, institutional access, storytelling and future talent.
01 · Operating division
SMADE Entertainment
The entertainment arm for live culture, storytelling, content, IP and artist-led cultural moments.
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02 · Operating division
SMADE Events
Owned cultural events, community experiences and flagship programming built to endure beyond a single night.
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03 · Operating division
SMADE Next Gen Academy
A development platform for emerging cultural leaders, creators and operators shaping the next era.
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SMADE Group platform
SMADE Agency
SMADE Group agency work for brand activations, talent partnerships, campaign strategy and cultural consulting rooted in credible access.
SMADE Group platform
SMADE Advisory
SMADE Group advisory work for cultural strategy, diaspora market entry and institutional partnerships.
SMADE Group platform
Cultural Missions
SMADE Group cultural diplomacy: government engagement, trade delegations and institutional access.
Personal brand
Dr. King SMADE
The personal brand of Dr. King SMADE for speaking, mentorship, thought leadership and founder advocacy.
Visual archive
Built in rooms where culture, capital and community meet.
Legacy proof
A group built from two decades of cultural execution.
Track record
SMADE Group carries a track record built across concerts, tours, festivals, diaspora communities, cultural missions and global partnerships — a founder-led vision now structured for legacy, succession and the next generation of cultural leadership.
21
Years of cultural work
2M+
Live audience reach
100+
Headline shows
18+
Cities worldwide
Founder proof
Founder origin
Dr. King SMADE’s journey began in grassroots diaspora rooms and grew into major concerts, festivals, tours and cultural diplomacy.
Platform proof
As a co-founder of Afro Nation and builder of major Afrobeats moments, the founder story proves SMADE’s ability to create platforms, not just events.
Group evolution
SMADE Group turns that founder vision into an institution: entertainment, events, agency, advisory, missions, Next Gen development and leadership beyond one individual.
Artist network
Arena & stadium voices
Wizkid · Davido · Burna Boy · Tiwa Savage · Asake · Rema
Continental headliners
D’banj · Yemi Alade · Diamond Platnumz · Stonebwoy · Sarkodie · Shatta Wale
Culture-shaping artists
Mr Eazi · Kizz Daniel · Adekunle Gold · Teni
Platforms & moments
Afro Nation Portugal
Afro Nation Americas
Afro Nation Ghana
Love Afrobeats Festival
Davido 30BG Tour
Yemi Alade Black Magic Tour
AFROREPUBLIK
Yam Carnival
Starboy Fest
Made in Lagos Tour
Davido at The O2
KNGDM
Culture, commerce and ownership in one platform.
A Pan-African and Caribbean cultural infrastructure platform connecting festivals, creative commerce, tourism, IP, talent, government partnerships and diaspora audiences.
Explore KNGDMFestivals & live experiences
Flagship culture-led moments that move audiences, cities, tourism and media attention.
Creative marketplace
A commercial layer for talent, creators, brands, food, fashion, merchandise and cultural products.
Tourism & destination strategy
Programming that turns cultural demand into measurable visitor economy value.
Government / city partnerships
Public-private cultural infrastructure built with local ownership and long-term benefit.
Brand & sponsor opportunities
Credible routes for partners to participate in culture with trust, relevance and measurable outcomes.
Data, IP & ownership
Audience intelligence, repeatable playbooks and assets that keep value in the ecosystem.
Event proof timeline
Moments that proved the infrastructure.
A compressed archive of shows, festivals and platform moments that shifted perception, opened doors and proved Afrobeats could move audiences, cities and markets.
02
2018 · Arena
AFROREPUBLIK ft Wizkid
The O₂, London · Arena-scale demand
A shutdown moment at The O₂ that centred Afrobeats inside British pop culture and set the tone for future arena residencies.
03
2019 · Festival
Afro Nation Portugal
Portimão, Portugal · Fans from 140+ countries
The inaugural Portugal edition drew a global diaspora audience and created a blueprint for Afrobeats destination festivals.
04
2021 · Arena residency
Wizkid — Made in Lagos UK Tour
The O₂, London · Sold-out arena run
A history-making O₂ run that sold out in minutes and raised the standard for Afrobeats production, curation and fan experience.
05
2021 · City festival
Yam Carnival
London, UK · Pan-diasporic festival
A pan-diasporic London festival uniting Black music, food and culture — proof that live moments can become wider cultural ecosystems.
Work with SMADE Group
Choose the route that fits the conversation.
Brand partnership
Campaigns, sponsorships, talent partnerships and cultural strategy.
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Government / cultural mission
Trade, tourism, diaspora engagement and institutional programmes.
Start enquiry
Event or festival opportunity
Owned formats, venue partnerships, programming and live platforms.
Start enquiry
Artist / talent enquiry
Bookings, development, collaborations and platform access.
Start enquiry
Speaking / founder booking
Keynotes, moderation, universities, brands and creative economy stages.
Start enquiry
KNGDM interest
Strategic partners, sponsors, governments, investors and city collaborators.
Start enquiry
Founder note
SMADE Group is built from a founder journey that began in community halls, student nights and grassroots promotion — and evolved into a wider mission: building platforms that help African culture travel, scale and endure.
Read the founder story →