As a creative Nigerian-born, London-based DJ, artist, and filmmaker Adiba Maduegbuna, known as Dibs, understands the importance of community, culture, and documentation of everything in between regarding arts and creativity. While pursuing her career as a DJ in London, where she continues to make a name for herself as one of the fastest-rising DJs. Having made appearances at several festivals and shows across the UK and Europe, like Cross the Tracks 2023, CitySplash 2023 UK, Jazz Cafe, Color Factory, and Brixton Jamm, among others,. She has also been a resident and guest DJ on radio and online platforms like No Signal and Oroko Radio.
As someone who recognizes the importance of community, she co-founded the trailblazing music and arts collective Mothaland which Complex UK has recognized as one of the 10 Black-Run UK Club Nights You Need To Know Now. She curates events in the UK and Accra in addition to GLOWED UP, a fast-rising club night in London,
As a filmmaker, she created her YouTube show “Trips With Dibs” in 2023 to explore creative communities and spaces in Africa and the diaspora. The show follows her journey around the world through music, the arts, events, and music. After a great debut season in which she shared her life as a DJ and creative in London, highlighting the culture, lifestyle, and events space. The season also features Nigerian duo The Caveman and a conversation with Haruna and Ronnie Loko, who played a role in shaping the underground scene in London.
She launched the second season of the show in April 2024. This season of the show follows her trips to New York and Accra, in which she highlights the culture, history, creativity, and lifestyle across the global diaspora. In the first two episodes of the season, she takes viewers on a journey around Brooklyn, highlighting the art, food, people, and creative communities. She visits Cafe Ezrulie, Lot 45, and Heat House, which features DJs Aqutie, Wemi & Bembona, and later has a conversation with the legendary DJ Rich Medina, who shares a history of NYC nightlife and DJ culture in the region. She also tours Manhattan, highlighting areas like Chinatown, Madison Square Garden, Gotham Comedy Club, and Soho. She makes a stop in Harlem, where she explores her love for soul music with DJ and producer Kyle Blackman.
In the Accra episodes, Dibs covers Accra’s vibrant nightlife, art tech scene, and music communities. She specifically highlights her experience as an attendee of the January 2023 iMullar Sound System & Afrobeats To The World edition, which featured acts like DJ/Producer Ethan Tomas and Monicashflow. She also had a conversation with the music collective SuperJazzClub, where they talked about the introduction to Ghana’s music scene, inspirations, touring Europe, and the fact that they will be releasing their next album soon. The show also features creative community spaces Palm Moments and Vibrate Space, which are hubs known for providing a safe space for people within the creative community. Additionally, Dibs takes viewers on a tour of Accra’s nightlife centre, Osu.
As someone who dabbles in tech, she attended Immerse Ghana’s “Echoes of Ghana” exhibition, which displayed the beautiful relationship between tech and the arts. Knowing the rich history and culture present in Accra, she visited the arts and crafts market, Old Quarter – La Reindiore Villa, St Barnabas Anglican School, Jamestown and its beach, where she interacted with some lovely people, and the Black Star Square.
“Trips with Dibs” highlights the amazing people, culture, and wonderful lifestyle in all the places she has visited while taking viewers on a journey of understanding who she is and her life as a DJ, artist, and filmmaker who travels the world.
You can follow Dibs’s adventures via her show “Trips with Dibs,” streaming now on YouTube.
Written By Nana Kojo Mula
