BIOGRAPHY: DON JAZZY
NAME: Michael Collins Ajereh
KNOWN AS: Don Jazzy
BORN: November 26, 1982, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
ROLE: Record producer, music executive, entrepreneur
LEGACY: Architect of the modern Afrobeats industry
EARLY LIFE & FORMATION
Born in Umuahia and raised in the creative crucible of Ajegunle, Lagos, Michael Collins Ajereh’s path was shaped by rhythm and hustle. A self-taught musician, he mastered multiple instruments by ear, developing an intuitive sense of melody and arrangement. His professional journey began not in Nigeria, but in London, where he worked at a recording studio, a period of technical refinement that would later define his polished, crossover-ready sound.
THE MO’ HITS REVOLUTION
Returning to Nigeria, Don Jazzy partnered with childhood friend D’Banj to form Mo’ Hits Records in 2004. As the label’s chief producer, he engineered a new sonic template for Nigerian pop-clean, percussive, irresistibly melodic-that dominated airwaves for nearly a decade. Hits like “Tongolo,” “Fall in Love,” and the continental anthem “Oliver Twist” carried his signature: crisp drums, vibrant synths, and that iconic producer tag, “It’s Don Jazzy again!” Mo’ Hits was more than a label; it was a cultural movement, and Jazzy was its quiet, bespectacled mastermind.
THE MAVIN BLUEPRINT
When Mo’ Hits dissolved in 2012, many wrote his epitaph as a hitmaker. Instead, Don Jazzy unveiled his true vision: Mavin Records. Launched on May 8, 2012, Mavin was conceived not as another star vehicle, but as a talent ecosystem. With the manifesto-like single “Dorobucci,” he introduced a roster built for longevity, not just hits.
At Mavin, Jazzy redefined the role of a music executive. He became a curator, a patient builder, and a brand architect. He discovered Rema via an Instagram freestyle and shaped his moody, genre-fluid identity. He recognized Ayra Starr’s star power from covers on YouTube. He provided the infrastructure for Tiwa Savage’s reign and nurtured Korede Bello, Di’Ja, Ladipoe, Crayon, and others each artist distinct, yet unmistakably Mavin.
THE GLOBAL TURN
Don Jazzy’s strategic patience culminated in historic breakthroughs. In 2024, he secured a landmark $600 million investment from Universal Music Group, valuing Mavin as a global entertainment powerhouse. This deal was preceded by the seismic success of “Calm Down” by Rema featuring Selena Gomez, a record-shattering, culture-crossing hit that topped charts from Lagos to Los Angeles. The track wasn’t just a song; it was proof of concept for Jazzy’s model of artist development with global ambition.
BEYOND THE BOARDROOM
Despite his corporate stature, Don Jazzy maintains a disarmingly relatable public persona. On social media, he is playful, philanthropic, and deeply connected to fans, a “Big Mavin” who never acts too big. This balance of boardroom sharpness and street-level authenticity has made him one of Nigeria’s most trusted and admired cultural figures.
PHILOSOPHY & INFLUENCE
Don Jazzy’s career represents a fundamental shift in African music: from opportunistic hit-making to institutional craftsmanship. He proved that sustainable success lies not in chasing trends, but in building systems—systems that identify, nurture, and magnify unique voices. His legacy is etched not only in songs but in structures: the label as a talent sanctuary, the producer as a brand, the executive as an ecosystem engineer.
Today, as the head of Mavin Records, Don Jazzy no longer just makes beats. He builds blueprints. From Ajegunle to global dominance, his journey embodies a simple, powerful truth: in the economy of modern Afrobeats, the ultimate instrument is institution-building itself.
Mavin Records And Sacem Launch Cross-Border Songwriting Initiative AFROCROISER
Mavin Records, the French Embassy in Nigeria, and French authors’ society Sacem have jointly announced the launch of AFROCROISER, a Franco-Nigerian songwriting camp. The initiative is designed to foster collaboration between composers from the two countries through a week-long creative residency.
The first edition of AFROCROISER is scheduled to take place from January 18 to 25, 2026, at Mavin Records Studios in Lagos. The camp will bring together a selected group of French and Nigerian songwriters for an intensive period of co-writing and musical exchange, with the goal of generating new material for potential release.
