Okeowo Oladotun Alani (born 20 July 1994), professionally known as DOTTi The Deity, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He is known for the hit single “Forever Sweet”, which was released in 2022.
Biography A native of Ibadan, Oyo State, Oladotun was born on 20 July 1994. At a young age, due to separation from his parents, he had to relocate to Lagos State to live with his grandparents. He acquired his primary and secondary education in Lagos state. In 2013, he graduated with a National Diploma in Music Technology from The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
Career Oladotun was interested in music from an early age and started singing at the age of six. He officially started his music career in December 2019, with the launch of his first single, "Jolly Christmas", which was produced by Rotimikeys. The next year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he released his first EP. titled Songs in Isolation. It comprised five songs, including "Social Distance", "Wura" and "Bilisi".
In 2021, Oladotun won the maiden edition of the MTN Y’ello music competition.
His single "Forever Sweet" was featured on the soundtrack of Breath of Life.
In May 2023, he launched his sophomore EP, For You Knew Me.
DOTTi (Okeowo Oladotun) won the 2025 Future Awards Africa Prize for Music for his artistry and contribution to music. He received the award at the 19th edition of the ceremony, which took place in Lagos on November 8, 2025. https://thesun.ng/future-awards-africa-2025-celebrates-youth-innovation-in-lagos/#:~:text=The%20Landmark%20Event%20Centre%2C%20Lagos,Bayo%20Omoboriowo%20and%20Gaise%20Baba.
Discography
EPs/albums {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;" |+List of albums, with selected details ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Album details |- ! scope="row"|Songs in Isolation | Released: May 2020 Format: Digital download |- ! scope="row"|For You Know Me | Released: May 2023 Format: Digital download |- ! scope="row"|Madam Dearest Pt. 1 | Released: June 2024 Format: Digital download |- ! scope="row"|Cocoa Huehttps://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/08/23/dotti-the-deity-explores-his-musical-colours-on-cocoa-hue/ | Released: August 28, 2026 Format: Digital download
Singles
"Jolly Christmas" (2019) "Forever Sweet" (2022) "Abeke" (2023) "For Time Heals" (2023) "Big shirt & boxers", ft. Reminisce (2024) "Dry Your Eyes" (2026) "Sisi Jowo" (2026)
Cocoa Hue
Cocoa Hue is the second studio album by Nigerian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist DOTTi The Deity. The album was released on 28 August 2026 by Flytime Records and distributed worldwide by Virgin Music Nigeria. It contains 12 tracks and explores a range of musical styles and influences, including African musical traditions, contemporary Nigerian music, soul, jazz, gospel, pop and Yoruba folk music.
The album developed from DOTTi's desire to explore a broader musical palette. In an August 2026 interview, he described the creative process as having initially begun as a blues project before evolving into a wider body of work. He contrasted the project with his previous album, Madam Dearest, Pt. 1, describing the earlier record as being driven primarily by storytelling, while Cocoa Hue allowed him to explore a wider range of musical possibilities, performance styles and fusions.
The title Cocoa Hue refers to the album's central idea of different flavours, colours and textures emerging from a common root. DOTTi explained that his influences come from different African cultures and from the African diaspora, with the album bringing together these different "flavours and shades" while retaining a common African identity. The concept was also intended to extend beyond the music into the way the album was experienced by listeners.
The album features collaborations with Adewale Ayuba, Shorae Moore, Mádé Kuti and Laycon. Its production was led by SiBU, with additional production contributions from Duktor Sett and Cobhams Asuquo. The album's collaborations span different generations and musical traditions, including Fuji, Afrobeat, contemporary Nigerian popular music and soul-influenced songwriting.
Among the album's tracks are "Jaiye", featuring Adewale Ayuba; "Mi Corazon", featuring Shorae Moore; "Tout Est Compris", featuring Mádé Kuti; and "Otolorin", featuring Laycon. Apple Music lists the album as a 12-track, 38-minute release issued on 28 August 2026.
Rollout
The rollout for Cocoa Hue was designed as an experiential campaign rather than a conventional album release campaign. Instead of limiting the pre-release promotion to digital marketing and traditional listening parties, DOTTi and his team created a series of intimate listening experiences known as the Cocoa Circuit.
Cocoa Circuit
The Cocoa Circuit was a pre-release listening initiative that took Cocoa Hue into homes, communities and unconventional listening environments. The concept was built around direct interaction between DOTTi and listeners, allowing audiences to hear the album in intimate settings before or around its official release.
DOTTi said the motivation behind the Cocoa Circuit was his interest in human connection and in observing people's first reactions to the music. Rather than using the sessions primarily as a conventional promotional exercise, he described them as opportunities to watch listeners discover the songs in real time and to receive direct reactions to the material.
The Cocoa Circuit became one of the defining elements of the album's rollout. A documented edition took place in Lagos on 26 July 2026, with an album listening session in Ikeja.
The listening experiences established the central idea of the Cocoa Hue campaign: the album was intended to be encountered not only as a collection of recorded songs but as a wider cultural and sensory experience.
Cocoa Breakfast
The album's release was also marked by a Cocoa Breakfast gathering involving DOTTi, members of his team and friends. The gathering provided an informal setting to celebrate the release of Cocoa Hue on 28 August 2026 and formed part of the album's wider cocoa-, chocolate- and community-oriented creative identity.
The release-day celebration was accompanied by a continued call for listeners to stream the album, share their favourite songs and learn the lyrics ahead of the forthcoming live concert, The Cocoa XP.
Release
Cocoa Hue was released on 28 August 2026. It was issued under Flytime Records and distributed worldwide by Virgin Music Nigeria. The project was managed by Lanre Lawal under the Clockwyce Music Enterprise imprint.
The album's release campaign positioned the project as the second major album chapter in DOTTi's career following Madam Dearest, Pt. 1. Contemporary coverage described Cocoa Hue as an expansion of his musical identity, with its 12 songs bringing together different genres, generations of musicians and cultural influences.
The Cocoa XP
The album rollout continued into a live concert series titled The Cocoa XP. Conceived as the live extension of Cocoa Hue, the concert was designed to translate the album's different musical textures, traditions and moods into a full live performance with DOTTi and his band, The Pantheon.
The first Cocoa XP concert took place on 12 September 2026 at Bature Brewery in Victoria Island, Lagos. The event was promoted as a live interpretation of Cocoa Hue, with the concept moving between intimate and high-energy performances, traditional influences and contemporary experimentation.
The Lagos concert featured performances by DOTTi with The Pantheon and included guest appearances by artists who contributed to Cocoa Hue. Laycon joined DOTTi on stage to perform "Otolorin", while Grammy-winning songwriter and performer Shorae Moore appeared for "Mi Corazon". The concert also featured opening performances, including AnaYor.
The Cocoa XP was positioned as the culmination of the album's initial release campaign, extending the Cocoa Circuit's intimate listening concept into a larger live environment. The event was intended to give audiences an opportunity to experience songs from Cocoa Hue in a setting that could not be replicated by the recorded album alone.
The Cocoa XP Tour
Following the Lagos concert, Organised Chaos developed The Cocoa XP into a multi-city Nigerian tour. The Cocoa XP Tour is planned and produced by Organised Chaos under the direction of Lanre Lawal, in association with the project's local and music-industry partners.
The announced 2026 tour schedule comprises:
Lagos — 12 September 2026, Bature Brewery, Victoria Island. Abuja — 17 October, 2026, Cafe One, Central Business District. Ibadan — 31 October 2026, 365 Garden, Ibadan.
The tour involves local venue and production partnerships alongside Flytime Records and Virgin Music Nigeria. The tour's stated objective is to take the live interpretation of Cocoa Hue beyond Lagos and connect the album with audiences in other Nigerian cities.
The Cocoa XP represents the final stage of the initial Cocoa Hue rollout, moving the project from its intimate pre-release listening sessions, through the album's digital release, into a larger live performance and touring format.
Concept and artistic direction
The Cocoa Hue campaign was built around the idea of "flavour" as a metaphor for DOTTi's musical identity. The album's collaborators, production choices and live arrangements were used to demonstrate different aspects of his musical influences while retaining a recognisable artistic identity.
DOTTi's approach to the project was also informed by his interest in creating music that connects contemporary audiences with older African musical traditions. His musical influences include jazz, soul, gospel, Yoruba folk music and contemporary African popular music. In discussing Cocoa Hue, he described the project as an opportunity to demonstrate the possibilities within his evolving musical language.
The combination of the Cocoa Circuit, Cocoa Breakfast, album release and Cocoa XP concerts made Cocoa Hue a multi-stage project rather than a release campaign centred solely on the album itself. Contemporary coverage similarly described the project as an immersive extension of DOTTi's artistic identity, with the album, listening experiences and live performances forming interconnected parts of the same creative concept.
As of September 2026, the Cocoa XP tour remains an ongoing project, with the Abuja and Ibadan dates scheduled following the Lagos concert.
References