In Africa?s fast-rising creative economy, where ideas often fade as quickly as they ignite, Darey and Deola Art Alade are building something that lasts.

As co-founders of Livespot360 and visionaries behind Entertainment Week Africa (EWA), they are turning creativity into structure, art into industry, and storytelling into systems that can scale.

Their journey is more than a business story. It is a reflection of what happens when creativity meets discipline, and when passion is paired with purpose.

For Deola, entrepreneurship began with the urge to turn raw energy into structured, measurable impact. ?My entrepreneurial journey has always been rooted in the desire to turn raw creative energy into structured, scalable impact,? she said.

?From my early days at Soul Muzik, I saw firsthand how creativity could fuel not just individual careers but entire industries if given the right infrastructure,? she explained. That belief became her guiding principle: creativity needs systems, vision needs structure, and bold ideas deserve launchpads that merge culture with commerce.

That conviction led to Livespot360, which has become one of Africa?s leading creative and entertainment agencies, and later to the creation of Entertainment Week Africa, designed to accelerate the continent?s creative growth.

For Darey, who began as an artist before evolving into a producer and strategist, the journey was shaped by experimentation and resilience.

?Livespot360 has evolved like the next verse in a song,? he said, ?shaped by listening to creators, technologists, and strategists.? The agency learned to blend imagination with execution, creating systems that transform ideas into industries.

The Risk That Changed Everything

Every creative revolution begins with a bold experiment. For Livespot360, that moment came with Love Like A Movie, their daring Valentine-themed concert that fused music, theatre, and spectacle in a way Nigeria had never seen.

?Launching Love Like A Movie was the moment that changed everything,? Darey recalled. ?It was bold, risky, and completely uncharted territory. At the time, no one had seen that level of immersive production in Nigeria, from flying acrobats, cinematic story arcs, and international headliners like Kelly Rowland and Ciara.?

He smiled as he remembered the doubts. ?We went all in financially, creatively, and emotionally. People thought we were crazy. But it wasn?t just about spectacle, it was a statement. It showed that Africans weren?t just ready for premium experiences; we deserved them.?

That risk became the foundation of a new standard for live entertainment. ?It proved that if we don?t build the future of African entertainment, no one will do it for us,? Darey said.

Behind every show, campaign, or event at Livespot360 is a process that treats storytelling as both an emotional and strategic act.

?At Livespot360, we treat storytelling as both an emotional journey and a strategic tool,? Darey said. ?Every production is approached like a composition with an intro, build-up, climax, and encore.?

But he knows creativity alone is not enough.

?Vision means nothing without systems. Innovation isn?t just about creativity, it?s about making creativity repeatable, trackable, and scalable. That?s why we?ve built platforms like LABSPOT to not only train talent but also measure long-term impact.?

Deola approaches it the same way. ?I don?t only show up as a creative,? she said. ?I lead with strategy, partnerships, and long-term thinking. I run the boardroom and execute with precision, always focused on turning big ideas into operational reality.?

Her time at Harvard helped refine that mindset. ?Harvard helped sharpen that mindset, teaching me how to translate vision into clarity and action,? she added.

?As a female entrepreneur, I?ve learned that success comes from owning your lane with intention, while also having the boldness to carve out new paths when the existing ones don?t serve your vision.?

Entertainment Week Africa 2025: Closing the Gap

Now, the duo are preparing for the next chapter with Entertainment Week Africa 2025 and its powerful theme, Close the Gap.

?The theme was born out of a clear-eyed look at the state of Africa?s creative economy,? Deola said.?African creativity is already dominating music charts, streaming platforms, and global fashion conversations. But beneath that success is an ecosystem struggling with limited access to capital, weak infrastructure, informal business practices, and knowledge gaps.?

For her, Close the Gap is both an invitation and a challenge.

?It?s a spotlight on the disconnect between raw talent and sustainable opportunity, and a blueprint for how to fix it. At EWA 2025, we?re asking: how do we move beyond just celebrating creative output and begin investing in the policies, capital, and systems that will unlock its full potential??

She continued, ?It?s about creating platforms where creativity is not just seen but supported, not just exported but owned.?

Over the years, Livespot360 has produced some of Africa?s biggest creative experiences, from award shows to global brand collaborations. Each one has taught them new lessons about storytelling, collaboration, and execution.

?Cultural fluency and global scalability are layers, not opposites,? Darey said. ?At EWA 2025, we will honour deep local nuance while building frameworks that can expand globally. AMVCA 2025 taught us the value of precision in storytelling, attention to detail in production, and the importance of emotional connection. Those lessons are embedded in EWA 2025 from how we curate panels to how we design stages.?

For the Art Alades, every project is a classroom, every mistake a case study. Their method is simple: learn fast, adapt faster, and build for longevity.

The Future of Africa?s Creative Economy

Deola believes the next decade will redefine how Africa monetises creativity.

?The next decade will be defined by ownership of stories, platforms, and value chains,? she said. ?Creatives are becoming founders. IP is becoming capital. Data is merging with design.?

EWA 2025 is their direct response to that shift. ?It?s a strategic platform designed to scale and spotlight African creativity on a global stage,? Deola said. ?Through cross-continental programming, tech integration, and talent pipelines like LABSPOT, EWA becomes the live expression of Livespot360?s vision, driving culture through creativity.?

For Deola, leadership in entertainment has also meant challenging norms and creating new ones. ?Navigating a male-dominated industry has never been easy,? she said. ?But I?ve always led with clarity, confidence, and a deep understanding that vision means nothing without structure.?

She adds, ?It?s not just about navigating a male-dominated space, it?s about knowing when to reshape it.?

That determination is reflected in how she mentors others. ?Through EWA 2025, the goal is to build lasting platforms that create jobs, train talent, and ignite a sense of ownership across Africa?s creative economy. If we get the infrastructure right, everything else will follow.?

?Together, the Art Alades have built more than a company. They have built an ecosystem. Livespot360 is no longer just an agency; it is a cultural engine driving ideas, campaigns, and conversations that are shaping Africa?s creative identity.?

?We?re working to build an industry where creativity isn?t just culture, it?s capital,? Deola said.

Darey summed up their approach clearly. ?Our strategy is simple but powerful,? he said. ?Build the structure behind the story, use technology to scale it, and deliver entertainment that moves people and markets.?

Their partnership shows what is possible when vision meets structure, when art meets business, and when African creativity stops asking for space and starts building its own stage.

Advice for the Next Generation

As Africa?s creative scene grows, the couple are keen to help young professionals approach it with both boldness and structure.

?Start bold, but build smart,? Darey advised. ?Creativity without structure is short-lived. Know your craft, but understand your market. Don?t just think about the next gig, think about the next decade. Find your voice, but also find your team. And most importantly, don?t wait for permission.?

He added, ?Platforms like Entertainment Week Africa exist to remind you that you?re not just a creative, you?re a creator of industries.?

?Deola agrees that Africa?s creative economy is not just about art; it is about economics. ?I want future African entrepreneurs to understand that creativity isn?t just expression,? she said. ?It?s a cornerstone of our economic growth. My hope is that EWA becomes a blueprint, something others can build on and evolve.?? (Business Insider Africa)

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