{{Short description|Nigerian entertainment executive}} <!-- Note to reviewers: This draft includes new reliable, independent sources with significant coverage from CNN, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, THISDAY, Vanguard, Africa Report, and TXTMag. This version addresses prior AfD concerns and meets WP:GNG and WP:BIO notability requirements. --> {{AI-generated|date=June 2026|reason=since v1; note WP:AISIGNS - promotional tone, undue emphasis on significance, vocab distro typical of LLM text; see also AfC draft submission statement commented out}} {{Infobox person | name = Cecil Hammond | birth_place = Nigeria | occupation = Entertainment executive | known_for = Founder of Flytime Group, Rhythm Unplugged, Flytime Fest }}

'''Cecil Hammond''' is a Nigerian entertainment executive and the founder of Flytime Group, a Lagos-based media and live entertainment company. He launched Rhythm Unplugged in 2004 and established Flytime Fest, an annual multi-day music festival in Nigeria.

==Early life and education== Hammond studied at the University of Leicester, the University of Surrey, and Le Cordon Bleu in the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria in the early 2000s. He gained industry experience while briefly working with the Silverbird Group, a media company in Lagos, Nigeria.<ref name="Vanguard2011" />

==Career== In 2004, Hammond founded Flytime Promotions (later Flytime Group) to produce quality live entertainment in Nigeria.

The inaugural Rhythm Unplugged concert sold out, establishing the event as a key platform for Nigerian music and comedy talent.

The concert series gained national attention and has featured artists including Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa Savage, and Burna Boy.<ref name="ThisDay2019" />

Flytime Music, a label arm of Flytime Group, signed Nigerian singers Tiwa Savage and Seyi Shay.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 Biggest Entertainment and Management Companies in Nigeria |url=https://txtmag.com/10-biggest-entertainment-and-management-companies-in-nigeria/ |website=TXT Magazine |date=6 December 2023 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

In 2011, Hammond co-signed a contract under Black Diamond Promotions for then-emerging artist Davido. According to The Guardian Nigeria, Davido’s father later bought out the deal so his son would retain full ownership of his music masters.<ref name="GuardianDavido">{{Cite news |title=Why my dad bought me out of my first record deal |url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/weekend-beats/why-my-dad-bought-me-out-of-my-first-record-deal-davido/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 January 2025 |access-date=14 June 2025}}</ref>

In 2017, he expanded ''Rhythm Unplugged'' into a multi-day festival format known as Flytime Fest, held annually in December in Lagos.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://businessday.ng/life-arts/article/flytime-promotions-announces-2017-pepsi-rhythm-unplugged-artist-line-wizkid-concert/|title=Flytime Promotions announces 2017 Pepsi Rhythm Unplugged, Wizkid concert|newspaper=BusinessDay|access-date=1 April 2026}}</ref> The festival has featured performances by international and Nigerian artists.

The 2025 edition featured performances by Davido, Asake, and Olamide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2025/12/25/detty-december-davido-asake-olamide-light-up-flytime-fest/|title=Detty December: Davido, Asake, Olamide light up Flytime Fest|publisher=Channels Television|access-date=1 April 2026}}</ref>

==Industry influence== Flytime Group is credited with raising concert production standards in Nigeria, including the adoption of VIP table seating and high-end audiovisual setups. Hammond has called for stronger creative sector financing, noting the entertainment industry’s economic potential.<ref name="GuardianGDP" /><ref name="AfricaReport2023" />

The company has operates a record label and has produced comedy shows and television programming, including ''Bovi: Man on Fire'' and Flytime TV segments.<ref name="GuardianLife2019" />

In 2025, CNN profiled Hammond and Flytime Fest in its ''African Voices Changemakers'' series for their contributions to Afrobeats and Nigerian music’s global reach.<ref name="CNN2025" />

Flytime Group was listed among Nigeria's top entertainment companies by TXT Magazine.<ref name="TXTMag2023" />

==Personal life== Hammond is married to Keke Hammond, the Chief Operating Officer of Flytime Group. The couple co-produce Rhythm Unplugged and Flytime Fest.<ref name="NationFest2024" /> The have three children.

==See also== * Music of Nigeria * Afrobeats

==References== <references> <ref name="CNN2025">{{cite interview|first1=Cecil|first2=Keke|last1=Hammond|last2=Hammond|interviewer=Larry Madowo |title=How Nigeria's Flytime Fest helped shape the global rise of Afrobeats |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/19/world/video/african-voices-changemakers-nigeria-afrobeats-flytime-fest-rhythm-unplugged-20-anniversary |website=CNN |date=19 March 2025 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="NationFest2024">{{Cite news|first=Gbenga|last=Bada |title=Meet the couple behind Flytime Fest |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/cecil-keke-hammond-meet-the-couple-behind-flytime-fest/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The Nation|date=28 December 2024 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="GuardianGDP">{{cite interview|interviewer=Chijoke Nelson|first=Cecil|last=Hammond|title=Hammond: Nigeria's entertainment industry will dominate GDP with adequate funding |url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/weekend-beats/hammond-nigeria-s-entertainment-industry-will-dominate-gdp-with-adequate-funding/ |website=Guardian |date=10 January 2015 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="TXTMag2023">{{cite web |title=10 Biggest Entertainment and Management Companies in Nigeria |url=https://txtmag.com/10-biggest-entertainment-and-management-companies-in-nigeria/ |website=TXT Magazine |date=6 December 2023 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="Vanguard2011">{{cite interview|first=Cecil|last=Hammond|title=My father gave me my first money I ever spent – Hammond |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/my-father-gave-me-my-first-money-i-ever-spent-hammond/ |website=Vanguard|date=3 September 2011 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="ThisDay2019">{{cite interview|interviewer=Mary Nnah|first=Cecil|last=Hammond|title=Cecil Hammond: 15 Years of Promoting Nigerian Music |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/2019/12/13/cecil-hammond-15-years-of-promoting-nigerian-music/ |website=THISDAY Nigeria |date=13 December 2019 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="AfricaReport2023">{{cite web | first=Eniola|last=Akinkuotu |title=Legendary promoter Cecil Hammond reveals intricacies of Nigeria's music industry |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/330918/legendary-promoter-cecil-hammond-reveals-intricacies-of-nigerias-music-industry/ |website=The Africa Report |date=4 April 2023 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="GuardianLife2019">{{Cite news|first=Maria|last=Diamond|title=Hammond… Celebrating 15 years of Rhythm Unplugged |url=https://guardian.ng/life/music/hammond-celebrating-15-years-of-rhythm-unplugged/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The Guardian |date=26 October 2019 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref> </references>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hammond, Cecil}} Category:Nigerian businesspeople in the entertainment industry Category:Boston University alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people