About Africa #20: African vibes
It's hard to not fall in love with Africa, once you come to know her better, especially her people. The optimism, the energy, the smiles -- regardless of their situation in life. It's truly inspiring ... and contagious!
So let's have some good African vibes in today's issue.
Africa can dance, sing its way to riches
Africa can unleash the unrealised potential of its music and arts sector and turn it into a tremendous force for social and economic development. By combining the efforts of various stakeholders, Africa can empower the youth.
Hyper Kids Africa set for America's Got Talent
And every time we view videos of these talented children from their official accounts, they are earning money to support more children.
Masaka Kids are Uganda’s top-earning YouTube channel
Ugandan dance group, Masaka Kids Afrikana, is among the top 10 All-time Top-Earning YouTube channels on the African continent with estimated earnings of $1,341,980 (about Shs4b).
You can visit Masaka Africana's website to know more about their work.
The film and TV industry in Africa is also making strides and using these avenues to make progress . . .
OPINION: Film Industry In Africa Shifting Towards Impact-Oriented Storytelling
Over the past few decades, films have been instrumental in raising awareness about health crises, gender-based violence, and various other societal challenges. However, there has been a notable increase in the trend of impact-oriented storytelling in Africa.
As it continues to develop as a continent and many of its individual countries push towards higher levels of growth and technological advancement, Africa could soon become one of the world’s major consumers of media and entertainment. Read more from Statista
Showmax and Netflix battle for high-octane drama - African style
Netflix says it has created around 12,000 jobs on the continent and plans to continue to invest in local creative economies and support more African storytellers.
"We are still in many ways at the inception stages of our investment journey, so it's doubly exciting to know we are poised to deliver even greater impact if we maintain our current momentum," Shola Sanni, Netflix's policy director for sub-Saharan Africa, has said.
Renowned actor, Idris Elba, is proving to be one of the strong voices for Africa . . .
Family Ties Take Center Stage in Idris Elba’s Nigerian Short Film
This Idris Elba-directed short film is just the tip of the iceberg. Elba and Abudu joined forces last year to develop a whole slate of African films and TV shows. That means we can expect even more amazing stories coming out of Africa, showcasing the continent’s rich culture and talent.
Meet the future of Africa’s creative film and TV industry
According to UNESCO, Africa’s film and audiovisual sector is estimated to account for roughly five billion USD in revenue on the African continent and employs millions in various capacities and skills.
Finally, if you would like to see some of the wealth created by the African music industry, take a peek at the trailer for Africa's first reality TV show on Netflix called Young, Famous & African.
One of the stars in this show is Tanzania’s biggest “Bongo Flava” star, Diamond Platnumz, who lives a crazy lifestyle, but represents a true success story. His stage name alone tells you all you need to know!