My name is David Ogooluwa, also known as Dotify. I am an onchain analyst, a founder, and the host of BlockFest Africa 2026.
When I introduce myself as the biggest Web3 host in Africa, some people probably think I am just talking out of pride. But think about it for a second. Name one Web3 event on this continent bigger than BlockFest Africa. There is none. And when you get called up to host the biggest Web3 festival in Africa back-to-back, what does that make you? Exactly.
Excellence Comes at a Cost: The Night Before That Friday
People see the lights, the viral outfits, and the energy on Friday, October 23 at the National Art Theatre in Lagos, but they rarely see what happens before the doors open. BlockFest Africa 2026 taught me a very real lesson that excellence comes at a cost. It costs you your sleep, your comfort, and your money just to make sure the show goes right.
The night before the Friday main event, we did not leave the National Theatre until around 1:00 a.m. I got less than four hours of sleep before I had to wake up and head right back to the venue to prep. My guy literally slept in his car just so he would not miss anything. Huge shoutout to every single person on the team who sacrificed to pull that Friday off, because it was not easy at all.
Taking the Gamble: Shoutout to Xeus the Great
One thing I always live by is that when someone takes a gamble on you, you have to deliver excellently. I have to give a massive shoutout to my mentor, Samuel Olaoyenikan (who many of us know as Xeus the Great), the Convener of BlockFest Africa.
He saw the potential in me before I even saw it in myself. Back in 2025, I did not even know I could host Web3 events until Xeus told me I was hosting BlockFest Africa 2025 for him. That was the very first event I ever hosted in my life. I was lowkey scared standing in front of thousands of people for the first time, texting friends for tips and watching videos on how to work a stage.
Because that first edition went well, Teddi Speaks called me up earlier this year to host Unchain Summer 2026, and right after that, I was back on the mic for BlockFest Africa 2026. You definitely have to be doing something right to get called up for three massive stages in a row.
Holding Down a 5,000+ Crowd on One Crazy Friday
Packing over 5,000 people into the National Art Theatre for a single Friday main event is madness in the best way. To lock the room in from the start, I kicked things off with a call-and-response across Nigeria’s three major languages, asking the crowd how we say “Good morning Web3” in Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba. Right away, everyone in the building knew they were part of the show.
What made that Friday even more special to me was how inclusive the room was. We had deaf attendees in the audience eager to learn, with a sign language interpreter on stage translating every single word. By the time we got to the giveaways at the end of the day, they were jumping in and participating with so much joy.
Then came one of my favorite moments on stage. I asked the crowd a question, and while someone else hesitated, a young boy stood up bold and fast to answer. Because of how eager he was to put himself out there, I promised him 50,000 Naira on the spot. Then I asked for his name, and he said, “David.” I laughed and told him that since my name is also David, I was doubling it to 100,000 Naira! He was so young he did not even have a bank account yet, so I met his sister right after the event and sent the 100k straight to her account. That is the real joy of Web3: bringing everybody along for the win.
Heavyweights, Outfits, and Being Seen for the Craft
Across the venue, you had policymakers, AI builders, investors, and creator economy legends all mingling under the theme “New Trade Routes: Bringing Africa Onchain.” It was an honor sharing the stage flow with heavyweights like:
- Samuel Olaoyenikan (Zeus the Great): Convener of BlockFest Africa and Founder of Nirvana Academy
- Salem King: Digital storyteller, creator educator (“The Creator’s Creator”), and Co-Founder of Crea8torium
- Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat: Deputy Governor of Lagos State
- Dr. Tunji Alausa: Honourable Minister of Education of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende Abubakre: Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development
- Idris Olubisi: Developer Relations Engineer and Founder of Web3 Afrika
- Opeyemi Stephen: Solana Developer Platform
- Teddi Speaks: Unchain Summer
- Eniola Osiyoku (PawaPay), Faith Jerry (AILE Group), and Ashley Rene Olika (Owego)
I also have to talk about the fits. At the first BlockFest, my stage outfit went viral on X with over a thousand likes before we even went on break. So for 2026, I knew I had to level it up again. Having people walk up all day asking for pictures, and even seeing someone send a video of my outfit to their photographer to recreate the style and poses, really meant a lot to me. Growing up, I always wanted to be seen for my craft, and being recognized as a founder and a host people genuinely rock with is a blessing.
Expect More from Dotify
In the coming years, I am not stopping at just being the biggest Web3 host. I am putting my onchain analysis front and center to become the richest and biggest Web3 host in Africa, and eventually the world. As my mentor says, I am a dreamer, and all my dreams will come true.
Expect more from Dotify.
Got a big event coming up and need a host who will bring this kind of energy to your stage? Shoot me an email about hosting, or let’s connect on X (@iamdotify).
