June 11, 2026
Afrobeat’s global rise has largely been associated with major UK cities such as London, Birmingham, and Manchester. However, in recent years, a quieter cultural shift has been taking place in North Wales, where Nigerian-born artist Emmanuel Eze-Ogwa, professionally known as Don Gz, has been contributing to the genre’s growing visibility in the region.
Rather than positioning himself solely as a performing artist, Don Gz has become part of a wider cultural movement introducing Afrobeat into spaces where it was previously less present, particularly within student communities, multicultural events, and grassroots music gatherings in Bangor and surrounding areas.
Since relocating to Wales, Don Gz has been actively involved in building awareness of Afrobeat through consistent live performances and community-based events. His work within university spaces and local cultural programmes has contributed to gradually expanding the audience for African music in North Wales, a region not traditionally associated with Afrobeat culture.
This cultural expansion has often taken place through small but consistent efforts—student nights, house events, cultural showcases, and collaborations with African student societies—helping to introduce Afrobeat to audiences experiencing it for the first time.
