IN THE VALLEY

Welcome to Silverbacks Valley, a podcast changing the narrative around Africa through the bridging of the worlds of #venturecapital, #tech, #sports, #media and #lifestyle.Visit us at https://silverbacksvalley.comFind us on Youtube : https://bit.ly/3PIwbVgA question? Write to us at contact@silverbacksvalley.comDisclaimer : This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only, no content of the conversation should be considered as investment advice. This episode is powered by Statement.Today, Ibrahim Sagna welcomes in the valley Hamisha Daryani Ahuja whose movie Namaste Wahala reach Netflix Top 10 after being released on Valentine's Day 2021.5 BIG IDEAS DISCUSSED IN THE VALLEY WITH HAMISHA DARYANI AJUHA1. "I went for my second calling, which was hospitality and it benefited me eventually"In this episode, Hamisha spells out how her business education and first venture in the hospitality business were fundamental for her success in the film industry. She explains that although she's always wanted to work in film, her entourage convinced her to pick a steadier path at first. She opened several successful restaurants in Lagos (Bistrot7) and was acquired by the music label Chocolate City : in doing that, she earned her financial freedom to pursue her life long dream and invaluable business and financial lessons for her next venture.2. "I noticed that my Nigerian friends loved Bollywood and some of its actors. I knew there was something there."Hamisha illustrates the perfect example of what happens when a business mindset meets a creative spirit. In the episode, she explains what led her to look into the connection between Bollywood and Nollywood. Many of us growing on the African continent witnessed the popularity of Bollywood films first hand : Hamisha saw this as an opportunity to do business and bring something that the Indian and Nigerian audiences had never seen. The popularity of her film, which became a Top10 Netflix sensation after its release on Valentine's Day in 2020, confirmed her hunch.3. "I was conducting a workshop on the pursuit of happiness and took my own advice."Hamisha began hosting workshops to encourage people to find their path to happiness in the back of her Bistrot 7 restaurant. A few years later, her workshop has grown into a sensational experience : some of you may have caught her recently on TV on Big Brother Nigeria. She was inspired to follow the advice of her own workshop by Nigerian rapper and Chocolate City's former CEO, M.I. and as she says in the episode she has not looked back since. 4."The process of being a film producer and a film director was difficult"She further explains the dichotomy between being a film director (the person behind the camera) and being a film producer (the person in charge of the budget). She was able to find a balance between the two sides of the coin but never compromised on the quality of the images shot. In doing so she proved how valuable it can be for creative entrepreneurs to have a business background. 5.The next step is bringing Nollywood to India"In the episode, Hamisha reveals her next big plans including a TV series that will see some of Nollywood's most famous actors get in the action in Mumbai. This time, she explains that her next project Postcards focuses much more on the plot and the blend of the two cultures in the background. She also reveals that she is currently working on a reality show. By tailoring her content to the Indian and Nigerian audiences, Hamisha has found a very large niche market to serve and we, at Silverbacks Holdings, are proud fans of hers ! 

Welcome to Silverbacks Valley, a podcast changing the narrative around Africa through the bridging of the worlds of #venturecapital, #tech, #sports, #media and #lifestyle.Visit us at https://silverbacksvalley.comFind us on Youtube : https://bit.ly/3PIwbVgA question? Write to us at contact@silverbacksvalley.comDisclaimer : This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only, no content of the conversation should be considered as investment advice. This episode is powered by Statement.Today the valley welcomes Ernest "Danjuma" Enebi, a modern day storyteller, creator and influencer who has collaborated with top international brands and organizations through his agendy Denda.5 BIG IDEAS DISCUSSED WITH DANJUMA IN THE VALLEY. 1."I've always thought like an engineer"Danjuma grew up in Kaduna State, Nigeria. As a child, he showed prowess in his school work and convinced his parents to let him go study in the United States. In the episode, he explains how he transformed his aspirations to become an actor or comedian into studying mechanical engineering and joining the corporate world in a construction company. 2."I've taken it upon myself to be the person that makes noise to bring attention to substance"Our guest is a vibrant creative : if you've had the chance to meet him, you know that there is no escaping his high-pitched infectious laugh. In the episode, he explains where the boisterous personality comes from and how he uses it to bring attention to more "substantial" matters in his work, or others' work. His ability to blend fluff with substance is what has allowed him to bring his unique take to content and collaborate with world organizations such as UNDP, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and brands like AT&T, Google.3."Had I known the truth about Zaria (where I'm from) and where I aspired to go (the United States) it would not have been such an easy and obvious choice."In the episode, Danjuma gives several examples from his own personal experiences that have shaped his creative process. He emphasizes on his strong attachment to nuance why narratives need to get as close to the truth as possible. He talks about the responsibility that comes with having a platform and being able to portray people's lives and environment through his lens and his work. 4."I am fascinated by the human condition" Danjuma summarizes his multifaceted work (arts, content creation, public policy) as a bundle of life experiences. To him, the thread that cuts through all of these experiences is humanity and the ability to recount these moments of human life and condition.5."Masai Ujiri has inspired me to think and dream big." In the last moments of the episode, our guest discusses his inspirations including his father and the President of Basketball Operations of the Toronto Raptors. As the first black man and Nigerian to hold such a high-level role in a North American sports organizations, Masai Ujiri is quoted by many as a role model from those who do not hesitate to raise the bar and shatter glass ceilings. 

Welcome to Silverbacks Valley, a podcast changing the narrative around Africa through the bridging of the worlds of #venturecapital, #tech, #sports, #media and #lifestyle.Visit us at https://silverbacksvalley.comFind us on Youtube : https://bit.ly/3PIwbVgA question? Write to us at contact@silverbacksvalley.comDisclaimer : This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only, no content of the conversation should be considered as investment advice. This episode is powered by Statement.5 BIG IDEAS DISCUSSED WITH ECHE EMOLE IN THE VALLEY• « No modern African nation state has been created through reflection and choice »• « Society as a Service - the idea is, as Afropolitans, we will get it done for you »• « We want to combine the concept of an Embassy with Chinatown » • « If we were from any other place in the world going around fundraising for a country, people would ask us what is so wrong with your country - but most Africans can point to basic viability issues with their countries » • « I want to invest in my long-term people »

Welcome to Silverbacks Valley, a podcast changing the narrative around Africa through the bridging of the worlds of #venturecapital, #tech, #sports, #media and #lifestyle.Visit us at https://silverbacksvalley.comFind us on Youtube : https://bit.ly/3PIwbVgA question? Write to us at contact@silverbacksvalley.comDisclaimer : This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only, no content of the conversation should be considered as investment advice. This episode is powered by Afroballers.5 BIG IDEAS DISCUSSED WITH MICHAELLA RUGWIZANGOGA IN THE VALLEY. 1."As a chemical engineering student, I had a fascination for nation branding." Michaella studied in Germany, a country that had to experiment in nation branding after the Second World War. She explains how inspired she was by the German model and thought about nation branding as a concept. To her, her current role is another sign that the dots always end up connecting at some point - as Steve Jobs once said. 2."It has to start from the foundation, for us it's the vision of our President H.E. Paul Kagame" Michaella dives into what has made Rwanda's strategy successful. She explains how having a common vision, upheld by a leader is instrumental for the execution of a nation branding strategy. The President of Rwanda has been recognized for his bold initiatives to promote Rwanda : Building the Kigali Arena in six months, and see the returns through basketball tournaments, concerts, and global meetings (including FIFA World Congress) the soon to be completed 45,000 seats football Stadium (Amahoro Stadium) and Rwanda hosting the World Cycling Championship in 2025. 3."Sports have a unifier effect" Michaella explains why sports has become an instrumental element of Rwanda's strategy to stimulate tourism. The BAL Finals are one of the few periodic rendez-vous that have made Kigali the place to be. Rwanda has been hosting the BAL Finals for three years in a row and has just signed a new five year agreement. Visit Rwanda sports partnerships have been instrumental for the tourism recovery post-covid, just in 2022, the country attracted more than 1 million visitors generating beyond 240 Millions dollars in revenues . 4."Revenues from the gorillas trekkings are reinvested in the community."Rwanda's tourism has largely been driven by gorilla trekking activities. Our very own company, the Silverbacks, was inspired by my face to face encounter with arguably one of earth's most edifying creatures, one endowed with as much calm as sheer dominance. Michaella reveals that the popularity of these treks have allowed the country to nurture the gorilla community to the point that their natural habitat will now have to be expanded. Earlier this year, the country held its 19th "Kwita Izina" baby gorilla naming ceremony attended by several celebrities including Idris Elba, Joakim Noah and Winston Duke and Danai Gurira of the Black Panther cast. As a testament to Rwanda's effort to develop sustainable tourism, UNESCO has now recognised the Nyungwe Park as a World Heritage Site. 5."It is happening in Rwanda but we are doing it for Africa." From 1st to 3rd November 2023, Rwanda will host the World Travel & Tourism Council's Global Summit. This will be the first time that this Summit is hosted in Africa and a great testament to the tourism achievements of the country. Michaella speaks on how Rwanda's efforts are contributing to putting Africa on the spotlight. She believes that each African country has a unique offering and that every country can develop its unique position to attract tourists.  Rwanda is visa-free for all citizens from the African Union, Commonwealth and Francophonie area; other countries get visas on arrival. Whatever you do, make sure to … #VisitRwanda!

Welcome to Silverbacks Valley, a podcast changing the narrative around Africa through the bridging of the worlds of #venturecapital, #tech, #sports, #media and #lifestyle.Visit us at https://silverbacksvalley.comFind us on Youtube : https://bit.ly/3PIwbVgA question? Write to us at contact@silverbacksvalley.comDisclaimer : This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only, no content of the conversation should be considered as investment advice. This episode is powered by the Global Sports Summit. During the summit, our host, Ibrahim Sagna, welcomed on stage ; Amadou Gallo Fall, President of the Basketball Africa LeaguePaxton Baker, Minority Owner of the Washington NationalOsi Umenyiora, former NY Giants, founder of the Uprise Academy5 BIG IDEAS DISCUSSED WITH AMADOU GALLO FALL, OSI UMENYIORA & PAXTON BAKER1. "We are following the path of the NBA" Osi Umenyiora explained in our previous episode that he saw the works of Amadou Gallo Fall and the NBA Africa as the blueprint for what the NFL Africa aims to accomplish. Both speak on the importance of collaboration within the sports industry in Africa and how exchanging best practices across disciplines can yield positive results and impact for young people. 2."There is a clear appetite for African-American investors to look at sports as an asset class in Africa."  Paxton Baker has seen the Basketball Africa League (BAL) grow from an idea to a full-fledged competition. He explains how the NBA's expertise has led the BAL to become such a high-level experience everyone involved in such a short amount of time. After the announcement that he had joined the Cape Town Tigers' investors group, he received solicitation from several high-profile figures of the entertainment industry (in this episode, he announces that Verdine White is joining him as an investor in the Cape Town Tigers). Amadou Gallo Fall also speaks to the attention the BAL has received from investors in the US notably at the All-Star Game. 3. "The number one resource Africa has is its human capital" Amadou Gallo Falls talks about replicating the student-athlete model that first emerged in the US in order to establish pathways of opportunities for young African athletes. His organization, SEED, has created opportunities for young people : the latest NBA finals saw two SEED alumni from Senegal, Remy Ndiaye and Dethie Fall, compete as members of the coaching staff of the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets respectively. Osi Umenyiora explains how the SEED model has inspired his own Uprise initiative which has already led twelve young men to find their way to the NFL or football scholarships. 4."It's important for us to export our products and push it in front of the diaspora eyeballs" Osi Umenyiora notes that it has now become "cool" to be African. Amadou discusses the importance of bringing the BAL products outside of Africa : this summer the BAL participated in Globl Jam in Canada and Quai54 in France. To him, the lifestyle element of a sports brand is a key component that allows the product to reach an audience beyond sports fans. Paxton Baker talks about his tourism experiences in Rwanda which he enjoyed on the sidelines of the basketball competition - he talks about the importance of having such experiences and being able to share them on social media to encourage more African-Americans to travel to Africa.5."When a tree falls in Africa, people in the United States now hear about it." The media industry's innovation has made it possible for sports competition to be broadcasted around the world. Amadou mentions that the BAL counts media partners such as ESPN, Canal+, BeinSports, Tencent). Paxton Baker recognizes that the media plays a key role in allowing African talent to be detected early, he believes that Joel Embiid winning the 2023 NBA MVP will lead to more interest for African talent.

Welcome to Silverbacks Valley, a podcast changing the narrative around Africa through the bridging of the worlds of #venturecapital, #tech, #sports, #media and #lifestyle.Visit us at https://silverbacksvalley.comFind us on Youtube : https://bit.ly/3PIwbVgA question? Write to us at contact@silverbacksvalley.comDisclaimer : This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only, no content of the conversation should be considered as investment advice. This episode is powered by Afroballers and the Global Sports Summit.In this episode, Ibrahim Sagna welcomes Osi Umenyiora, a 2 time Super Bowl Champion and former defensive end for the New York Giants, founder of The Uprise Academy and Commissioner of the Uprise Flag Football League in Nigeria.5 BIG IDEAS DISCUSSED WITH OSI UMENYIORA IN THE VALLEY1. "I started playing football as a teenager because I wanted to make friends. I got good at it and then I got lucky"Osi Umenyiora believes that part of his success can be attributed to luck : he found himself at the right place at the right time in several instances at the beginning of his career. When opportunities came knocking, he rose to the challenge : he did so when the New York Giants drafted in in the second round of the 2003 draft and throughout his career as an NFL Pro which led him to a two-time SuperBowl champion and a First Team All-Pro. Today he is doing by developing pathways to college football scholarships and to the NFL for young African athletes.2. "We're going to take kids from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and bring them to the NFL."Osi's vision to develop the game internationally is deeply rooted in his multicultural background. He was born in London, moved to Nigeria as a kid then later found himself in the United States in high school. As a Pro, he witnessed the international potential of the NFL when he played with the Giants in the London game in 2007. Seven years later as he retired, he joined the league and began bringing his insights on ways to develop the game in Africa. 3. "We're creating an opportunity for NFL Africa players to own teams in Africa."In our conversation, Osi observed how the African players in the NFL still lack the local notoriety that could help grow the game across the continent. The Uprise Flag Football league which was launched earlier this year seeks to remedy this. Each of the four teams from the league are owned by current NFL football players, including three players of African descent (Cleveland Browns' David Njoku, Detroit Lions' Romeo Okwara, Miami Dolphins' Emmanuel Ogbah). The Uprise is the NFL Flag's first league in Africa.   4. "Shout out to the NBA"Osi recognizes the impact and the influence that the NBA has had in Africa. He shares the inspiration that came with observing African sports leaders like Amadou Gallo Fall and Masai Ujiri and the work they have done to grow the game of basketball across the continent. He believes that there are tremendous synergies to be built between the NBA and the NFL activities at the grassroots level and beyond. 5. "I don't see a scenario where the NFL isn't number 2 in Africa"In his parting words, Osi presents his ambition for growing American football in Africa. He believes that the league's current momentum through its official events in Ghana, Kenya and soon South Africa will help develop its fanbase. He shares how he intends to forge his own blueprint to grow the amount of African players in team rosters and hopes to see an NFL regular season game played in Africa within the next decade. 

Ibrahim Sagna, a model turned shoemaker, shares his journey from being spotted in London to becoming the first African luxury brand owner in New York. Armando Cabral, a model turned designer, discusses his resilience in the industry and leveraging his presence to open doors. They also explore the growth of an African luxury brand in a Western market and the qualities required for success in the fashion industry.

Welcome to Silverbacks Valley, a podcast changing the narrative around Africa through the bridging of the worlds of #venturecapital, #tech, #sports, #media and #lifestyle.Visit us at https://silverbacksvalley.comFind us on Youtube : https://bit.ly/3PIwbVgA question? Write to us at contact@silverbacksvalley.comDisclaimer : This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only, no content of the conversation should be considered as investment advice. This episode is powered by the African Venture Capital Association (AVCA).In this episode, Ibrahim Sagna welcomes three champions of African fashion to discuss the potential of the business of fashion in Africa :- Lulu Shabell is the Founder and Chief Creativity Champion of LuluBell Group- Meron Demisse is the Founder and CEO of Culture & Conversations on Africa- Safi Seck is the Founder and Director of the Senegalese fashion label Sarayaa5 BIG IDEAS DISCUSSED IN THE VALLEY WITH LULU SHABELL, MERON DEMISSE & SAFI SECK1.) "Fashion has not until now been looked as relevant for economic development"Lulu Shabell discusses the untapped potential that fashion and the creative industries at large can represent for Africa's youth. She makes a compelling call for policies, structures, and governance to be put in place to teach young creatives about value chains and how they operate.2.) "We cannot value brands from countries we've not been exposed to"Meron Demisse speaks to the intersection between tourism and fashion. She explains how Culture & Conversations in Africa was started as a platform to bridge the knowledge gap that we as Africans have about one another. She strongly believes that Intra-African tourism is a powerful tool to leverage to increase the value and recognition of African fashion brands.3.) "I am an economist who became a fashion designer"Safi Seck explains how her journey led her from being an economist to starting her own fashion label. She shares why her understanding of macroeconomics trends actually influenced how she structured her business.4.) "Tech can help us find balance between growing our African fashion industry and sustainability goals"Lulu highlights the risks and opportunities as our cultural and natural heritage are helping produce major fashion businesses. She advocates for tech to not be separated from decisions made around the structuring of Africa's fashion industry : to her, innovation will be pivotal in developing an industry that is sustainable.5.) "We want Africa's creative capital to be recognized." Meron reflects on the definition of African identities. She notes that being African has often been defined from an external perspective : today she calls for Africans to be more in tune with their identities for themselves and recognize the rich cultural heritage that comes alongside such identity.

Welcome to Silverbacks Valley, a podcast changing the narrative around Africa through the bridging of the worlds of #venturecapital, #tech, #sports, #media and #lifestyle.Visit us at https://silverbacksvalley.comFind us on Youtube : https://bit.ly/3PIwbVgA question? Write to us at contact@silverbacksvalley.comDisclaimer : This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only, no content of the conversation should be considered as investment advice. This episode is powered by the African Venture Capital Association (AVCA).5 BIG IDEAS DISCUSSED IN THE VALLEY WITH LEADING INVESTORS IN THE AFRICAN CREATIVE ECONOMY: VICTOR WILLIAMS, LAUREEN KOUASSI-OLSSON & LETHABO SITHOLE 1. "Africa is one of the richest regions in the world in terms of craftsmanship" Laureen Kouassi-Olsson explains that she founded the investment company Birimian Ventures to support the value creation emanating from the talent and "know-how" within Africa's fashion and luxury industries. She spells out her reasoning behind what financial instruments can be put in place to generate economic returns from local craftsmanship.2. "Sport has historically on the African continent been under indexed from an economic contribution perspective" Victor Williams dives into NBA Africa's ambition to build a strong commercial proposition for sports across the continent. This proposition is an all-encompassing canva that looks into fan and community-level engagement as well as economic value creation through a bespoke professional basketball league (Basketball Arica League).3. "There's a need for market access and ease of trading on the continent"Lethabo Sithole makes a strong call for the necessity to streamline the regulations to facilitate the move of goods and products across different countries and regions. She also highlights the value of intellectual property for creatives and how stronger intellectual property regulations would allow creatives to increase the cost of their products.4. "We are still lacking a certain level of infrastructure for our live / entertainment industries to thrive." Victor Williams calls on governments and the private sector's collaboration for the development of more arenas for live events and sports competitions to take place. The development of more arenas would allow for more countries to become host to these events and rip economic returns through sponsorship or through tourism.5. "Luxury brands need a lot of capital to remain sustainable to upscale which is in direct opposition with the private equity model."Laureen speaks to the level of capital that has to be leveraged for brands such as Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton to have remained relevant throughout the fashion ages. She notes that this level of investment into one structure is in direct opposition with the private equity model of distributing capital across several assets to mitigate risk. To her, the classical private equity model needs to be adapted to the luxury, fashion and creative industries.

Claude Grunitzky, founder of Trace Magazine and TRUE Africa, discusses flipping the script for founders that are female and/or people of color, investing in women and people of color in venture capital, the impact of the fintech company SUSU, entrepreneurial mindset in Francophone and Anglophone markets in Africa, and the influence of the book 'Thinking Fast and Slow'.