Ghanaian visual artist Prince Gyasi has a gift for seeing what most of us can only hear, and now he’s putting it on a bottle.
Gyasi has designed Martell’s new Afrobeats Limited Edition VS and XO bottles in collaboration with Davido, turning the energy of the Afrobeats star’s music into vivid color. The collection was unveiled on October 28 at a private launch event in New York City, hosted by Martell Culture Ambassador Adesope Olajide, known globally as Shopsydoo.
On the VS bottle, Gyasi’s portrait of Davido is surrounded by soundwaves that represent his global reach, set against rich gold and Martell’s signature blue. Inspired by sound, rhythm and the landscapes of West Africa, the collection brings Gyasi’s signature saturated, surreal style to a new kind of canvas.
“When I hear music, I experience it visually,” Gyasi said in a statement. “With these designs, I wanted to capture the feeling of Afrobeats — the movement, the joy, the confidence and the way it connects people across the world. Davido brings that energy through music, and I wanted to translate it through color, movement and emotion. The aim was to create something that feels alive.”
That connection between sound and color is personal for the Accra-born artist, whose work is shaped by synesthesia, which links colors with words and emotions. Self-taught, Gyasi took his first photographs as a teenager on an iPhone and has since built a practice spanning photography, film and fashion.
He made history as the first African artist to shoot the Pirelli Calendar, photographing and creative-directing its 50th-anniversary 2024 edition, and was named one of TIME’s Next Generation Leaders in 2023. He has also collaborated with Apple, Off-White and Balmain, and his work is held in collections including the Pinault Collection in Paris.
The Afrobeats collection marks the first major product launch since Gyasi became Martell’s Creative Partner. It also builds on Davido’s five-year relationship with the cognac house.
“It’s been a blessing to help push the sound of Afrobeats to the world,” Davido said in a press release. “Five years with Martell, and we’ve built something really special for this launch. Bringing Prince into the mix to connect the music with his creative vision took it to a new level. I’m grateful to work with partners who have a shared goal of pushing African culture forward.”
The launch also arrives alongside the release of Davido’s latest music video, Already Falling, filmed at Château de Chanteloup, Martell’s estate in Cognac, France, and featuring the new bottles. It caps a major stretch for the singer, who this year wrapped his 42-date 5IVE ALIVE Tour, made his Coachella debut and released his sixth studio album, ORIADÉ.
At the New York launch, Davido and Gyasi sat down for a fireside conversation about their creative journeys and the ideas behind the bottles before Davido closed the night with a live performance.
The Martell VS Afrobeats bottle is available now at fine retailers nationwide and on Martell.com for a suggested retail price of $35, while supplies last. The XO edition will be released in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Martell
