Davido's Face on a Bottle: How Prince Gyasi Turned Afrobeats Into Colour

Prince Gyasi hears music as colour. When a song plays, he sees it, and that habit has now put Davido's portrait on a bottle, ringed by soundwaves in blue, gold and bright colour. For Gyasi, "when I hear music, I experience it visually", and the new Martell limited edition is his way of showing what Davido's energy looks like.

A Launch in New York

The bottle was unveiled in New York on Wednesday 28th October 2026 at a private event at Bathhouse Studios. Davido and Gyasi held a fireside chat, and Davido then DJed alongside the Nigerian DJ Ecool, with Mack Wilds, Joey Bada$$ and Vashtie among the guests.

It is the first major product from Gyasi since Maison Martell named him a creative partner earlier in October, a role that covers design, film and cultural projects. The first of those was a short film shot at Martell's Château de Chanteloup estate in Cognac, with a golden Ghanaian pushcart at its centre.

What the Bottle Looks Like

The VS edition puts Davido at the centre of the label, framed by soundwave graphics, in Martell's blue with vivid colour and gold accents. The designs draw on movement and West African landscapes. The XO edition uses layered colour and radiant gold for a related treatment.

The two editions go to different markets. The VS is sold in the United States at selected retailers and on Martell's website while supplies last, with a suggested retail price of $35. The XO is slated for release in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.

Source: @davido on Instagram

Five Years in the Making

The bottle builds on a partnership that is already five years old. Davido's music video for Already Falling was shot at the same Cognac estate, and the bottles appear in it. Martell has also released earlier Davido editions, including an exclusive XO with a label designed by the Nigerian artist Chidinma Mordi and limited to 1,200 bottles for Nigeria.

That history is what makes the new bottle interesting beyond the label. A brand that returned to the same artiste over five years is treating him less like a face and more like a collaborator, and both editions have put the design in the hands of an African artist.

Why It Matters for Afrobeats

Brand money is one of the ways Afrobeats artistes earn beyond streams, and PINCHED has looked at how African creators mix their income. Gyasi's route into this, from shooting on an iPhone to Apple projects and a Balmain menswear collection, shows how far a visual artist from Accra can travel when a brand lets the artist lead.

For artistes and creators, the lesson is plain. The partnerships that last tend to be the ones where the creator keeps a hand in the design, not only the endorsement. Deal terms for this one were not disclosed.

What to Watch Next

The XO release in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya is the next step, and the creative partnership gives Martell more projects with Gyasi to come. For readers of Afrobeats news, the more useful question is who the next artiste and the next designer will be.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Designed the Davido Martell Bottle?

Ghanaian visual artist Prince Gyasi designed the limited edition, which shows his version of Davido's portrait framed by soundwaves. It is the first product since Martell named him a creative partner in October 2026.

Where Was the Davido Martell Edition Launched?

It was unveiled in New York on 28th October 2026 at a private event at Bathhouse Studios.

Where Can You Buy It?

The VS edition is sold in the United States at selected retailers and on Martell's website while supplies last. The XO edition is slated for release in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.

How Long Has Davido Worked With Martell?

For five years. His music video for Already Falling, which features the bottles, was shot at Martell's estate in Cognac, France.