More than a decade after the release of the iconic Afrobeats anthem Dorobucci, Don Jazzy has finally shared the humorous story behind the creation of the hit record.
The legendary producer and founder of Mavin Records revealed that the now-famous phrase “Dorobucci” originated unexpectedly during the wedding celebration of singer Tiwa Savage in Dubai in 2014.
Speaking during an interview on the Crea8torium podcast, Don Jazzy explained that he had attended the wedding dressed in a suit and jokingly adopted an Italian-inspired alter ego, introducing himself to guests as “Don Dorobucci.”
According to him, what started as a playful joke quickly became a talking point among attendees at the ceremony.
“We went to Tiwa’s wedding in Dubai but then I was wearing suit and anytime I am wearing suit I just normally introduce myself to people with an Italian name,” he said.
The music executive recalled how guests at the event repeatedly addressed him with the nickname throughout the celebration, drawing reactions from people who found the name unusual and amusing.
“In this wedding, I was telling everybody I am Don Dorobucci so Tiwa was like which one is Don Dorobucci. Everybody I met was like hello make way for Don Dorobucci,” he recounted.
Don Jazzy said the reactions convinced him that the phrase had musical potential, prompting him to experiment with it creatively.
“As they started complaining which kind of name is that I’m like I’ll use it and make a song when you sing it,” he added.
The producer further revealed that the song’s popularity actually began before the official track was recorded.
After posting a freestyle version of “Dorobucci” on Instagram, social media users unexpectedly turned it into a dance challenge, with videos spreading rapidly across Nigeria.
“Then I did the freestyle on Instagram singing Dorobucci and people just started doing a challenge to it and I am like what is going on,” he explained.
Seeing the growing excitement online after returning to Nigeria, Don Jazzy said he decided to transform the freestyle into a full-fledged song.
“We came back to Nigeria, I saw bunch of people doing the challenge and I just created a song to it,” he stated.
Released by the Mavin crew in 2014, the track featured an all-star lineup including Tiwa Savage, Dr SID, D'Prince, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, and Di'Ja.
The song quickly became one of the defining Afrobeats records of its era, dominating radio stations, clubs, parties, and events across Africa.
Even years after its release, “Dorobucci” continues to enjoy nostalgic popularity and remains a staple at weddings, concerts, and social gatherings, reinforcing its status as one of the most memorable collaborations in Nigerian music history.