Culture beyond borders 🏳️🇳🇬
#152: Young people are capable, when aroused, of bringing down the towers of oppression and raising the banners of freedom. - Nelson Mandela
Hello Venturer,
How was your week? Did you break any records?
You have to admit, the remarkable achievements and groundbreaking moments that have unfolded over the past few weeks on our continent, have been an absolute whirlwind!
Not too long ago it was Davido singing 'Hayya Hayya' (Better Together) at the finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with Kizz Daniel and Patoranking also having electrifying concerts during the tournament. Then two weeks ago, Tiwa Savage performed live at Windsor Castle during the coronation of Charles III. Recently, Rema a huge tour in India, just as his hit song "Calm Down" made history as the first No.1 Hit on The Official MENA Chart. These go to show how Nigerian youths and Afrobeats are at the forefront of cultural globalization ahead of 2050.
And here's the thing, this wave goes beyond entertainment. This week, Nigerian chef, Hilda Effiong Bassey broke the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking time, setting a new record at 100 hours. What a great time to be alive. Wouldn’t you say?
This week we explore the various ways Nigerians are front-lining cultural globalization.
Suotunimi Orufa
Writer, Ventures Africa.
What’s new?
Nigerian youths and Afrobeats are at the forefront of cultural globalisation ahead of 2050.
In the past couple of years, young Nigerians have gained significant recognition on the global stage through their impact on various aspects of the global economy. Young people in Nigeria are evolving and innovating through technology and natural skills. While some are disrupting the global scene through science and technology, others are disrupting the global scene through music. Read more.
SLK’s Teetotaler: Laughing all the way to Netflix
The Nigerian comedy industry has undergone a remarkable transformation, and it is fascinating to witness its evolution over time. Notably, even the long-standing tradition of stand-up comedy has evolved and expanded, reaching the point where platforms like Netflix are now acquiring and showcasing it. Read more.
My Pivot Journal: How a layoff made Tunde Omotoye an HR specialist
Tunde Omotoye has gained a large following on social media for helping young professionals navigate their careers and providing japa (migration) strategies. However, at the start of Tunde’s career, he was just as uncertain as the thousands of people who come to him for answers today. A series of events, including a layoff, helped him gain clarity. Read more.
What do Nigerian billionaires fight over?
The world of Nigerian business is often cutthroat. From power struggles to intense feuds, billionaires in Nigeria are no strangers to fierce conflicts and heated rivalries. These wealthy individuals engage in a fierce battle, not with weapons, but through legal tactics and strategic moves. Read more.
African consumers still shop as long as these products are budget-friendly and cost-effective
Despite months of unease about the state of economies across the continent, Africans remain willing to spend money on all sorts of goods. But this year, they are making it clear that brands must have new strategies to get their money. Read more.
The Africa’s Business Heroes Prize effect: Gricd’s expansion story.
About 50% of food produced in African countries goes to waste due to inefficient supply chains and a lack of cold storage infrastructure. To confront this challenge, Oghenetega Iortim established Gricd, a cold-chain solutions provider specializing in temperature-controlled products, temperature monitoring solutions, and cold-chain services, drawing from his firsthand experience as a player in the agricultural sector. Learn more.
Gricd, now ‘Figorr’, gets $1.5 million seed funding to support data-driven insurance for perishable goods in Africa
Gricd, a technology company that develops Internet of Things-powered solutions to support the last-mile delivery of perishable goods, has secured $1.5 million in a seed funding round led by Atlantica Ventures, with participation from Vested World, Jaza Rift and Katapult. The company has also rebranded as ‘Figorr’, signalling its new focus on software solutions. Learn more.
Weekly Economic Index: Moody’s downgrades Egypt, Zimbabwe discovers Helium, Tanzania speeds up tourism
Last week, Tanzania signed three significant agreements with prominent sports clubs in the United States in the major soccer and basketball leagues. These deals aim to enhance strategic investments and tourism through sports with American clubs. Read more.
Twitter Space
Nigerian tech workers are struggling to find new jobs after being laid off due to the global tech downturn. The flood of talent in the job market and Nigeria's precarious economy have made it difficult for people to find new roles, forcing many to adjust to lower-paying jobs and make painful lifestyle changes. Nigeria's startup ecosystem has also slowed down, with venture funding decline of $886 million in 2021 and $563 million in 2022. Despite the increasing demand for tech talent, there are limited jobs available, leaving many unemployed. Tech training academies like AltSchool Africa are churning out thousands of graduates, along with other universities, but the job market remains tight.
Join us on May 31st, at 4 pm WAT, @Ventures Africa's Twitter Space to discuss “Navigating Nigeria's Job Market"
Holiday Jollof
Read our special holiday issue on the events, businesses, people, and policies that impacted Africa in 2022. Read here.
Our weekly collectibles
Discover how AI is revitalizing the lives of first-generation women workers in Indian towns and villages in Human Touch.
A viral trend imagines alternate timelines in which Western imperial nations never came to power. Discover how TikTok creators use AI to rewrite history.
How did one woman rob a country of over $28 billion? Uncover The Biggest Fraud In Nigeria’s History.
One of the hardest-to-find items in retail right now is a chief executive. Find out why The Retail C.E.O. Pipeline Is Running Dry.
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