Seni Saraki

Seni Saraki
Born
Oluwaseni Saraki
OccupationMusic executive
Years active2013–present
Known forThe NATIVE Networks
TitleRecord label executive
Parents
RelativesHalimat Oluwatosin Saraki (Sister)
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Labels

Seni Saraki (born Oluwaseni Saraki) also known as Shane Chubbz,[1] is a Nigerian music executive, executive producer, and sports executive. He currently serves as the Chairman of Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club,[2] and co-president of NATIVE Records.[3] In 2016, Seni 'Chubbz' Saraki co-founded the media and entertainment company The NATIVE Networks, with Teezee, and Sholz.[A]

Early life

Oluwaseni Saraki was born in 1996 to Toyin Saraki, and Bukola Saraki, who served as the 13th President of the Nigerian Senate. He graduated from the London School of Economics, in England and also obtained a law degree, from the Nigerian Law School in 2017.[4] He had his NYSC in 2018 at Abuja.[5]

Career

In 2013, he launched his career as a rapper with the stage name Shane Chubbz. On 10 September 2013, he released "Holiday / Where I'm from",[5] featuring DAP The Contract (as DAP), and Stan. In 2014, he released his extended play Chubbziano, featuring guest appearances from DAP The Contract, Mick Jenkins, Uzzee, Phlowz, and Teezee.[6]

ABS F.C.

We made Native because we wanted to tell the stories about the cool creatives pushing boundaries that everybody outside Nigeria was noticing but weren't getting covered at home

— Seni Saraki and Teezee speaking to The FADER[7]

In 2015, Seni was appointed the Chairman of Abubakar Bukola Saraki F.C.. by his Dad[2] In his first season, the team returned to the Nigeria Professional Football League in 2016 since his father purchased the club.[8] In 2017, he was instrumental in the partnership between the club and Puma, which involved Puma supplying football kits and sponsoring the club activities.[9]

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

On 25 July 2022, Seni and Ludwig Göransson, executively produced the soundtrack EP Wakanda Forever Prologue.[10] On 4 November 2022, he served as one of the executive producers on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack album.[11] At the 66th Grammy, he earned a special recognition from The Recording Academy for his contribution on Wakanda Forever.[11]

On 28 February 2023, Marvel Studios released a three-episode mini-documentary titled "Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever" on Disney+,[12] On the documentary, Seni spoke about organizing the live sessions and artist sessions, as well as co-producing the soundtrack in Lagos, Nigeria.[12]

Wizkid: Long Live Lagos

On 6 June 2025, he co-produced and starred in Wizkid's documentary titled Wizkid: Long Live Lagos.[13]

NATIVE Networks

In 2016, Seni ventured into media and entertainment business and founded NATIVE Networks, a media and entertainment company which serves as the parent company of The Native,[14][15] and it's known as the organizer of Nativeland, an annual music festival in Nigeria. In 2019, The Native partnered with Nike to launch The NATIVE's limited edition jersey designed by Seni.[16] In 2022, Seni's NATIVE Networks went into a joint venture partnership with the multinational label Def Jam Recordings to establish NATIVE Records,[3] a Nigerian record label with the sole aim to sign and develop talents in Africa and its diaspora.

Selected publications

Awards and recognition

Year Event Prize Nominated work Result Ref
2023 TurnTable Music Awards Outstanding Achievement in Music in Film Himself for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Won [26]
2024 Grammy Awards Special Recognition Nominated [27]
2025 Grammy Awards Special Recognition Himself for Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By The Film (Deluxe) Won [28]
Recognition

In 2019, Chude Jideonwo listed Seni as one of his 150 most interesting people in the culture.[29] In 2022, TurnTable listed Seni as one of its Top 30 Music Executives In Nigeria.[30] On 23 November 2022, Seni was named Executive of the Week by TurnTable, following the global success of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack album.[31] The Culture Custodian named him as one of the 24 Nigerian Music Business Executives that owned 2022.[32] In 2023, TurnTable listed Seni as one of its Top 30 Music Executives In Nigeria.[33]

Notes

  1. ^ First public announcement of The NATIVE Networks in 2022

References

  1. ^ Bevan, Emile. "Shane Chubbz digs deep and comes up plush with "Pockets"". EARMILK. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b Daniel, Jo (10 August 2015). "Senate President's Son, Oluwaseni Saraki Appointed Chairman Of A Football Club". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Def Jam inks exclusive worldwide JV with Nigeria and UK-based NATIVE Records". Music Business Worldwide. 20 September 2022.
  4. ^ Uyeh, Patricia (14 July 2017). "Senate president's son, Seni Saraki graduates from London School of Economics". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b Sanusi, Deborah (7 February 2025). "PICTORIAL: Eight things to know about Saraki's son, Seni, who won at 67th Grammy". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  6. ^ Team, Editorial (8 March 2014). "CUSTODIAN REVIEW: CHUBBZIANO EP BY SHANE CHUBBZ". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.).
  7. ^ "How The NATIVE became the go-to platform for African youth culture". The FADER. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Saraki Lauds ABS Football Club over NPFL victory". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  9. ^ Ewodage, Rejoice (2 June 2017). "Partnership Will Strengthen Nigerian Football – Saraki". Channels TV. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  10. ^ Animashaun, Damilola (25 July 2022). "Tems and Amaarae Feature On Marvel's 'Wakanda Forever Prologue' EP". The NATIVE. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  11. ^ a b Oloworekende, Wale. "Seni Saraki On Co-Producing the Nigerian Side of the 'Black Panther' Soundtrack". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. ^ a b Igwe, Nwanneamaka (2 March 2023). "The first episode of 'Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda' is now streaming on Disney Plus". The NATIVE. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  13. ^ C.J, Nelson (6 June 2025). "Seni Saraki on Co-Producing New Documentary on Wizkid". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  14. ^ Mclaughlin, Aimee (28 May 2021). "The Native on the rise of Nigerian youth culture". Creative Review. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  15. ^ "The NATIVE Magazine launches its website". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.). 19 January 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  16. ^ Adeoye, Aanu (28 January 2019). "The 23-year-old Nigerian who designed a special edition jersey with Nike". CNN. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Davido Vs. The World".
  18. ^ "Odunsi the Engine".
  19. ^ "Inside Life".
  20. ^ "Damson Idris, the Connect".
  21. ^ "Elsa's World".
  22. ^ "Asake's time".
  23. ^ "Rema: Still Divine".
  24. ^ "How Davido got his voice back".
  25. ^ "How Adekunle Gold Met Tio Tequila".
  26. ^ "The 2023 TurnTable Music Awards: Asake, Magicsticks, ODUMODUBLVCK, Tiwa Savage And More Shine in Inaugural Edition". TurnTable. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  27. ^ Rys, Dan; Mamo, Heran (5 October 2023). "How African Music Performance Finally Made It Onto the Grammy Ballot". Billboard. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  28. ^ Komolafe, Ayobamiji (4 February 2025). "Saraki's Son Wins First Grammy Award For Work On 'Bob Marley's Song". New Telegraph. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  29. ^ "Chude Jideonwo's list of the 150 most interesting people in the culture [2019] » YNaija". YNaija. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  30. ^ Oriowo, Ayomide. "The 2022 Power List: Top 30 Music Executives In Nigeria". TurnTable Charts. TurnTable. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  31. ^ Oriowo, Ayomide. "Executive of the Week: NATIVE Records Co-President & Wakanda Forever Soundtrack Co-Producer Seni Saraki". TurnTable Charts. TurnTable. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  32. ^ Mudasiru, Wisdom (15 December 2022). "24 Nigerian Music Business Executives Who Owned 2022". The Culture Custodian. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  33. ^ "The 2023 Power List: Top 30 Music Executives in Nigeria". TurnTable Charts. TurnTable. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
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