Don Jazzy Calls Letting Di’ja Go One of His Toughest Choices

Record producer and music executive Michael Collins Ajereh – better known as Don Jazzy – has said that parting ways with former Mavin Records artist Di’ja was one of the toughest choices of his career.

During a recent appearance on the Crea8torium podcast, Jazzy recalled the moment as tense and emotionally charged. He said both he and Di’ja were visibly uncomfortable as the decision was announced, and the artist even asked why she had to hear the news directly from him. “Everyone on my label is like my child, so it was hard for both of us,” the veteran producer explained. “I don’t think I’ll ever have to let an artist go on my own again – Tega and Rima now handle that part.”

Di’ja signed with Mavin Records on 14 February 2014 and, over the next three years, released several singles and an EP under the label’s banner. In 2023 she clarified that she never formally terminated her contract, stating simply that “life happened.”

The candid admission from Don Jazzy offers a rare glimpse into the personal side of label management in Nigeria’s music industry. It highlights the close‑knit relationships that often exist between executives and their roster, and underscores how difficult it can be to separate business decisions from personal bonds.

As the Nigerian music scene continues to expand internationally, the episode serves as a reminder that behind the hits and chart‑topping collaborations are real people navigating complex professional relationships. While the parting was emotional, both parties appear to have moved forward, with Di’ja pursuing her career independently and Mavin Records reshaping its artist‑development strategy under the guidance of its senior team.

The story illustrates the evolving dynamics of African record labels, where emotional investment and business pragmatism intersect, and it may influence how other industry leaders handle similar situations in the future.