ABUJA – Pioneering Nigerian music producer Derek Osonwa, known professionally as Dekumzy, has revealed he is not benefiting financially from the global Afrobeats explosion despite creating foundational hits that shaped the genre’s sound.

Speaking during an interview with journalists yesterday, Dekumzy acknowledged his significant contributions to Nigeria’s music industry, including producing iconic tracks like ‘Yori Yori’ by Bracket, ‘Strong and Mighty’ by Mr Raw, and ‘Holy Ghost Fire’ by Resonance.

“Well I am not cashing out on anything that I did in the past. I’ve learnt from my mistakes and am moving on,” Dekumzy candidly admitted when asked if he was benefiting from Afrobeats’ current commercial success.

The veteran producer, who engineered a distinctive sound bridging Afro-pop, highlife, and urban contemporary music, expressed no regrets about his career trajectory despite the lack of financial reward.

“If I were to go back in time I wouldn’t change any decision I made back then even if it hurts me at the end. Because those choices has shaped me today,” he stated.

Dekumzy’s production style, characterized by highlife guitars, orchestral depth, and soulful percussion, remains influential in contemporary Afrobeats despite his relative lack of recognition.

When asked how it feels to finally receive acknowledgment for pioneering the sound, he simply described it as “a great feeling.”

His signature approach to blending Igbo highlife with urban pop created a sonic identity that continues to influence today’s chart-topping artists.

Beyond music production, Dekumzy also demonstrated versatility through film soundtrack work, scoring movies including Gifted, A Million Tears, Chemistry, and Treasure.

His work on the soundtrack for the film “Uhuruchi” contributed to its African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) win.

When questioned about potentially returning to production to show the young cats how it’s done, Dekumzy showed humility in his response.

“Not sure showing them would be the word I’ll use but I’d say trying to recreate something new with the infusion as music trend has changed,” he said.