"Striding Boldly Into the African Music Future"

Johnnie Walker sees an Africa reshaping itself through music - and celebrates the artists who march to their own beat

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When Zambian hip hop star, Cleo Ice Queen, signed to Johnnie Walker as a brand ambassador in 2022, she joined a cast of top talent such as Nigerian star Burna Boy, producer Don Jazzy, SA rapper Nasty C and K Pop star, CL, all of whom have collaborated with the iconic brand.

Underlining her credentials as a boundary-pusher and creative powerhouse, Cleo - who released the country's first female hip hop album, "Genenice", back in 2015 - also became the first Zambian artist to sign to Def Jam Records Africa facilitated by Johnnie Walker through their collaboration. She has also gone on to win Best Female (Southern Africa) in the All Africa Music Awards held in Lagos earlier this year.

As a brand that values forward momentum, Johnnie Walker is specific about its intentions, directly supporting artists who embrace the spirit of two small words that have been inspiring people across the world for more than 200 years - Keep Walking. In doing so, all are artists who take bold steps forward while forging their own paths.