Temple Management signs deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation

Temple Music has also partnered with Roc Nation, the label headed by American rapper Jay-Z. The partnership deal will have Roc Nation responsible for worldwide distribution of music from Temple Music’s artists.

So far Temple Music has signed over a half-dozen acts including singers Jeff Akoh, 9ice and Bisola Aiyeola. Producers Adey and Tee-Y Mix as well as DJ Jimmy Jatt are also signed to the label.

To mark the launch of the label, the song ‘Water + Fire’ has been released by Jeff Akoh and Bisola with production handled by Tee-Y Mix. Akoh, who won the MTN Project Fame singing competition, has been announced as the first of Temple Music’s artists to release an album. His album Lokoja comes out on 29 August, and will feature production from Tee-Y Mix, DJ Coublon, Cobhams Asuquo and others.

Temple Management has emerged a major player in African music industry, setting up in Nigeria and Kenya, partnering with a South African digital firm and signing on several of the continent’s stars, including Blinky Bill and Iyanya. “With the launch of Temple Music,” said group chief executive Idris Olorunimbe, “we are now positioned as a uniquely Pan-African label. We will coordinate releases to synchronise in unison from Lagos to Lesotho and from Nairobi to Niamey.”

“This is something we have been excited about for a long time,” said managing director Temple East Africa Troy White about the global distribution deal. “We have joined forces with Roc Nation who are already doing it big and we will keep pushing to make beautiful music.