Content is Africa’s new crude, D’Banj says as his platform secures equity deal

D’Banj has hailed an Afreximbank subsidiary’s equity investment in his creative platform, CREAM, as a historic moment for Africa’s creative economy.

Afrobeats icon Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’Banj, has described a new equity investment in his creative platform, CREAM, as a historic moment for Africa’s creative economy.

The investment was made by CANEX Creations Incorporated, a subsidiary of the African Export-Import Bank, P.M. News reported. The agreement was signed on November 6 during CANEX WKND 2026 at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos.

“As I have always said, content is the new crude. This is beyond a deal signing. It is history being made: Africa’s creativity becomes Africa’s capital,” D’Banj said.

CREAM was founded in 2016 in partnership with MTN Nigeria and the Bank of Industry, and it now has over seven million subscribers. Under the partnership, Cinq Music Group will sign and develop 10 artists discovered through the platform.

Osahon Akpata, Chief Executive Officer of CANEX Creations, said, “We expect our investment to accelerate its growth, connect more African talent with audiences and unlock greater commercial value from African creativity.”