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Tosin Ajibade, popularly known as 'Mr Eazi,' the Nigerian musician-turned entrepreneur, said in a post on X that his company Choplife Gaming has remitted Rwandan franc 17 billion ($11.7 million) in taxes to Rwanda since 2022. The disclosure comes amid a wave of regulatory change in Rwanda’s gambling and gaming sector and reflects the growing scale of gaming as a legitimate business across Africa.
In his message, Mr Eazi described the tax payments as proof of Choplife’s serious investment in the regulatory and operational frameworks required in Rwanda. Although he did not break out exact figures for revenue or profit, the number implies large volumes of business and significant compliance costs, especially given Rwanda’s recent changes in gambling taxation.
Rwanda recently raised taxes on gross gambling revenue from 13% to 40%, and increased withholding taxes on winnings from 15% to 25%. Those shifts mean that firms like Choplife are operating in a more burdensome tax environment, yet the RWF 17 billion paid since 2022 suggests Choplife has been able to absorb those changes.
But Choplife is only one strand of Mr Eazi’s business ambitions. Over the past few years he has built a diversified portfolio that spans beyond gaming. He uses his emPawa Africa initiative to back and guide up-and-coming talent from across Africa, providing funding and distribution opportunities that open doors to bigger audiences.
He is also involved via Zagadat Capital, an investment fund that backs African-founded companies. One of Choplife Gaming’s major international deals was a four-year licensing agreement with betPawa in Nigeria, which expands Choplife’s footprint in sports betting operations. In addition, Mr Eazi has invested in tech, payments infrastructure, and other creative economy ventures, often seeking to align with regulatory and infrastructural strengths in countries like Rwanda.
The timing of the tax disclosure is significant. As governments in Africa increasingly adjust laws around digital businesses, betting, and gaming, entrepreneurs who build out formal structures — licensing, auditing, taxation — may gain advantage over those operating informally. It also raises questions about how large operators will adapt to even stricter regulation or tax policy changes.
