AWAL has made its entry into West Africa with the appointment of Excel Joab as the Senior Manager of A&R and Artist Development for the region. 

In this pivotal role, Excel will be at the forefront of discovering and nurturing exceptional talent, contributing to AWAL's legacy of fostering groundbreaking artists. With a proven track record in the entertainment sector, Excel brings his wealth of expertise to lead AWAL's A&R and Artist Development efforts.

"I am thrilled to join the talented team at AWAL and contribute to the continued success of this innovative company," said Excel Joab. “We are at a point where African music has begun to take center stage in the global music scene, and AWAL is strategically placed to partner with the next generation of superstars to emerge from the region.”

Ben Akinbola, AWAL’s Head of Growth, added, “I couldn’t be more excited for Excel to hit the ground running with AWAL’s entry into Africa. We’re on a mission to partner with independent artists to tell stories that shape culture, and Africa’s impact on culture globally is undeniable. Excel’s experience and entrepreneurial mindset make him the perfect person to lead the charge for us.”

AWAL offers a modern approach to the traditional record company, providing artists all the resources and expertise of a global label, while allowing them to retain ownership and control of their music. With local offices around the world, AWAL’s services include global marketing and creative services, A&R, playlist and radio promotion, publicity, synch and brand partnerships, and access to real-time comprehensive music data and insights. 

With a mission to partner with independent artists to tell stories that shape culture, AWAL’s diverse roster ranges from rising artists to globally renowned acts, including Little Simz, JVKE, Laufey, deadmau5/kx5, Disclosure, Lil Peep, JPEGMAFIA, Maddie Zahm, Lauv, Young the Giant, SBTRKT, Jungle, mxmtoon, Tom Misch and more. AWAL also helped develop the careers of an impressive roster of alumni including Steve Lacy, Rex Orange County, FINNEAS, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, girl in red, Lizzy McAlpine, and Kim Petras, among others.  For further information on AWAL, please visit www.awal.com or connect on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.