Born in Nigeria, Emmanuel Eze-Ogwa, known professionally as Don Gz, is an emerging Afrobeat artist based in Wales. His music journey has been shaped by culture, community, and a desire to connect people through sound. Growing up, Don Gz was heavily influenced by gospel music and African legends such as Brenda Fassie. Alongside his brother and cousin, he began writing songs at an early age, first performing in an a cappella group before later developing his own sound through rap and live performance during his school years at Hope High British School in Nigeria.
Before relocating to the UK, he spent time in Lagos engaging with the city's creative scene, including collaborations connected to fashion brand Jiggy Religion and creatives within Nigeria's entertainment and fashion culture. These experiences exposed him to the evolving relationship between African music, youth culture, identity, and fashion. He later moved to Wales to study Psychology at Bangor University, where his artistic journey continued to grow.
Building Afrobeat Presence in North Wales
While living in Bangor, Don Gz noticed that Afrobeat music still had limited visibility within parts of North Wales. Introducing the sound into new spaces was not always easy, but through persistence, community engagement, house parties, student events, cultural gatherings, and collaborations with African student communities, he gradually helped build greater awareness and appreciation for Afrobeat within the region.
Through consistent performances and cultural engagement, Don Gz became increasingly recognised within multicultural and student communities across Bangor and North Wales, helping bring African music and energy into spaces where the genre previously had limited exposure.
Key Milestones and Collaborations
As his profile continued to grow, Don Gz expanded beyond local performances into larger UK music platforms. A defining moment in his journey came when he performed alongside internationally recognised Nigerian artist Seyi Shay at the Afro Rave Bangor event. Sharing the stage with an established global artist marked a major milestone in his career and reinforced his growing credibility within the Afrobeat scene.
In 2024, Don Gz further expanded his live performance profile by appearing as a supporting artist for BNXN during a show in Birmingham, demonstrating his increasing presence within larger Afrobeat events in the UK. He also performed at Afroplug Festival Cardiff 2025 at Vale Arena alongside DJames and is scheduled to return for Afroplug 2026 with MS-DSF.
Recognition and Awards
His growing impact has also been recognised through nominations linked to the MOBO Awards in Wales, widely referred to as the Black Welsh Music Awards, where he received nominations for Best New Artist and Best Afrobeat Act. Beyond music performance, Don Gz has also been acknowledged for his cultural contribution within Wales. He received a Significant Contributor award from Black History Wales in recognition of his involvement in diversity and multicultural community initiatives. His work has additionally been recognised by Afro Caribbean Society organisations across UK universities, where his music has connected strongly with younger audiences.
Don Gz's Vision
Speaking about his journey, Don Gz explains: "Music has always been a way for me to connect people and communities. Some of the happiest moments I've experienced are through music — seeing different people come together with joy, energy, and freedom. I believe real music is spiritual, it lasts, it speaks to people, and it can play a huge role in healing the world."
Today, Don Gz continues to use Afrobeat not only as a musical genre but also as a cultural bridge, helping introduce African sounds and experiences to wider audiences across Wales and the UK. From local stages in Bangor to larger platforms across the country, his journey reflects both artistic ambition and the growing influence of Afrobeat within new cultural spaces.
