At just 27, Hamiid Abaniwonda, widely known in entertainment circles as Hamiid Wonda, is not only building a career, but he’s also building an ecosystem. As the Vice President of Liaising and Talent Acquisition at The Plug, founder of Wuta Entertainment and Soniq Hill, and a cultural strategist with a pan-African vision, Wonda is quietly shaping the foundation of Africa’s next generation of music industry leaders.
With a resume that includes helping launch the careers of rising stars like Jinmi Abduls, Fave, and Liya, brokering major label deals, and forming international partnerships with giants like Universal Music Group and Roc Nation, Wonda’s influence is as powerful as it is understated.
But his story is not just about accolades, it’s about architecture: building systems that empower creatives, educate youth, and connect the continent’s rich sonic cultures.
Raised in the vibrant neighbourhood of Gbagada, Lagos, Hamiid’s early relationship with music began in choir rehearsals and drumline practices at Grace Children’s School. That creative spark followed him to Whitesands School, where he served as Social Prefect and began organising school events that featured underground acts, setting the tone for a career in talent curation.
He would later study Media and Communication at Pan-Atlantic University, where his theoretical training met real-world application. While still a student, Wonda took a leap and began managing classmate Jinmi Abduls, an artist who would go on to define an era in Nigeria’s alté music movement.
Between 2014 and 2021, Wonda managed Jinmi Abduls through a string of critically acclaimed releases, including “Saro,” “Greed” featuring Oxlade, and “Iyawo Jinmi” collectively amassing over 15 million streams. He also executive-produced Abduls’ debut EP, JOLAG, featuring Mayorkun, and in 2019, secured a record deal with Universal Music Group, a landmark achievement for an independent alté artist at the time.
Yet Wonda’s ambitions extended far beyond artist management. In 2016, he joined forces with Mr Eazi as a student liaison for the first Life Is Eazi concert, an event that brought together a then-emerging wave of Afrobeats artists, including Phyno, Falz, Mayorkun, Lil Kesh, and DJ Cuppy.
In 2023, he launched Wuta Entertainment, a creative enterprise rooted in education and community. Its flagship initiative, the Wuta Speaker Series, connects secondary school students with leading music professionals. The first edition, held at Whitesands School, featured Joeboy and was followed by sessions with execs like Bizzle Osikoya, bridging the gap between aspiration and access for young creatives.
That same year, he also founded Soniq Hill, a marketing and talent company that secured a partnership with Roc Nation to oversee the rollout of DJ Obi’s single “Take Me Away” Soniq Hill also manages Maze & Mxtreme, Africa’s first EDM DJ duo, marking a bold entry into global dance music circuits.
Wonda’s growing reputation led to his appointment in late 2024 as Vice President of Liaising and Talent Acquisition at The Plug. There, he leads music publishing, licensing, and A&R strategy, working on projects for artists like Davido, Victony, King Promise, and Focalistic.
But perhaps his most groundbreaking endeavour is Muziki Biashara, a creative incubator launching in 2025 at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The initiative will support East African creators through training, funding, and exposure, further expanding Wonda’s continental footprint.
Beyond the boardrooms and studios, Wonda remains grounded in mentorship and philanthropy. He is the founder of the Hamiid Abaniwonda Prize for Film, an annual award that supports aspiring filmmakers at Whitesands School. His family’s legacy in public service, being the nephew of Suraj Abaniwonda, Commissioner of Police for Delta State, and Mustain Abaniwonda, a prominent politician, has instilled in him a deep respect for impact-driven leadership.
Hamiid Wonda is not a man in a rush. He is deliberate, visionary, and quietly revolutionising how African music executives show up not just as deal-makers, but as bridge builders and educators.
As the Afrobeats wave continues to crest globally, it’s clear that the future of the industry will be shaped not only by the voices on the mic but by the minds behind the movement. And Hamiid Wonda is one of the brightest among them.
