Showbizuganda

Tag: Africa

  • Charles Lambert introduces Ubuntu as Africa’s First Economic War rages on

    Charles Lambert introduces Ubuntu as Africa’s First Economic War rages on

    The King of the Black Wall Street and leader of Africa’s First Economic War for economic independence, Mr. Charles N. Lambert, has said they are going back to our way of life which is known as Ubuntu. He described it as compassionate capitalism which is driven by empathy.

    He said he is not going to preach it to anyone but use a system known as the Compassionate Capitalism Economic System.

     

    Charles Lambert

    This system applies various tools and features in the system to ensure that the system is compassionate, to ensure that the system is benevolent, to ensure that the system has empathy and to ensure that the system carries the common man, which is known as grazing the cow.

    Charles Lambert says one vision, one direction, Africa First.

  • New study shows the Coca-Cola system has an economic impact of $10.4 billion across its value chain in Africa, supporting more than 1 million jobs

    New study shows the Coca-Cola system has an economic impact of $10.4 billion across its value chain in Africa, supporting more than 1 million jobs

    Across 54 African markets, The Coca-Cola Company and its authorized bottlers, collectively known as the CocaCola system, contributed $10.4 billion in economic activity across its value chain in 2024.

    The CocaCola system and its value chain supported more than 1 million jobs in retail, agriculture, manufacturing, transport and services in Africa.
    The CocaCola system purchased $4.3 billion from suppliers in Africa in 2024, representing 83% of the system’s total procurement on the continent.
    [Johannesburg, South Africa] (23 June 2025) – The CocaCola Company today announced the results of a comprehensive, Africa-wide socio-economic impact study during the 2025 U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Luanda, Angola.

    The study shows that the CocaCola system, made up of The CocaCola Company and its authorized bottlers, working with a wide network of suppliers, manufacturers, service providers and customers, contributed $10.4 billion in value-added economic activity across its value chain in Africa in 2024.

    The CocaCola system supported more than 1 million jobs across its value chain on the continent in sectors like retail, agriculture, manufacturing, transport and services. This included 36,800 direct CocaCola system jobs, plus 987,000 indirect jobs that are supported across the value chain, meaning the system collectively supported 27 additional jobs for every job it directly creates.
    The study, conducted by global consultancy Steward Redqueen, shows that the system invested $4.3 billion in the African economy in 2024 through the purchase of goods and services from local suppliers, representing 83% of its total procurement.

    Luisa Ortega, Coca Cola Africa President, speaking at the US-Africa Business Summit, in Luanda

    “Our long-standing presence in Africa, working with locally owned bottlers and suppliers, allows us to drive more sustainable growth and contribute to the continent’s development,” said Luisa Ortega, president of the Africa operating unit of The CocaCola Company. “Our unique operating model allows us to make a lasting impact in local communities.”

    The company’s portfolio in Africa includes a wide range of brands in several beverage categories. Ingredients and packaging used by the CocaCola system in Africa are mostly locally sourced, supplied, produced, manufactured and distributed.

    “The CocaCola Company’s commitment to Africa remains steadfast,” Ortega said. “The CocaCola system has announced investments of nearly $1.2 billion on the continent over the next five years, and we are hopeful that stable and predictable policy environments will enable more investments in the months and years ahead. Additionally, the CocaCola system will invest nearly $25 million by 2030 to help address critical water-related challenges in local communities in 20 African markets.”

    Luisa Ortega, Coca Cola Africa President, engages with Ethiopia’s President Taye Atske Selassie on margins of US-Africa Business Summit, in Luanda

    This study highlights the CocaCola system’s role in Africa’s long-term growth and driving more sustainable development across the continent. The approach adopted by Steward Redqueen integrates client-provided operational data with trusted third-party economic sources and industry benchmarks. More than just measuring direct contributions, the analysis uncovers economic interlinkages, showing how the CocaCola system drives production, generates income, and supports employment across a spectrum of industries and geographies.

    Teodora Nenova, Managing Partner at Steward Redqueen added: “Our impact assessment reveals the wide-reaching economic footprint of the CocaCola system across Africa. The findings highlight the scale of the CocaCola system’s local presence and its ongoing contribution to economic opportunity and livelihoods across the continent.”

    Coca-Cola Africa leadership toast to 139 years of refreshing the world during an activation as part of the US-Africa Business Summit, in Luanda
  • African Artists To Work Quincy Jones v4texx Band In Dubai

    African Artists To Work Quincy Jones v4texx Band In Dubai

    African artists across the whole continent have been blessed with a major opportunity of working with Quincy Jones v4texx band.

    The Dubai-based band is willing to offer African artists who will take up the opportunity with whatever they need so that they work hand-in-hand.

    The band aims at helping artists from different parts of the continent so that they give African music a new and different feel from Afro-beat and other common genres on the continent.

    The works between V4texx and African artists will be carried out at Q bar which is located in the luxurious Palazzo Versace in Dubai

    Based on what we have so far seen, the beautiful venue is the epitome of splendor as the hotel is draped with Versace from top to bottom.

    Quincy Jones Club Q is the first-ever hot spot he has owned as a legendary producer

    The hangout spot has so far bagged numerous gongs for its epic live music, including Fact Dining Awards Dubai 2022, Time Out Dubai, Night Life Awards 2022, and Dubai’s 2022 Best Live Music Venue Award.

    Apparently, the band consists of three Nigerians and Dante Kennedy, who is originally from the USA.

    Before recruiting the Nigerians, the band first worked with a Kenyan guitarist and someone from Colombia, thereafter, recruited three Nigerians. Based on the way how they want African artists to join the band is to emphasize coming correctly.

    “It was a complete coincidence, we were just looking for people who can play well they just all happen to be from Nigeria. We played with a Kenyan guitarist and someone from Colombia before, so we are open to working with African musicians and artists, but they have to come correct.”

    The V4texx band leader, Dante Kennedy, is a veteran in the music industry who was recruited initially by Quincy Jones himself in 2018.

    He has performed at over 400 shows at the luxurious hotel. He has worked with the likes of Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, and Wiz Khalifa.

    He was also in the room when Travie McCoy and Bruno Mars made “Billionaire”.

    Last year, Dante worked with over 30 artists, connecting them with opportunities in the UAE, something he is looking to scale up this year.

    Having played in Dubai for more than 5 years now, Dante admits that though the music in the UAE is still growing, it has made great strides.

    Many of his fans fly in just to catch live music vibes. His advice to African artists hoping to make a move to the UAE is;

    “There are a lot of opportunities for musicians to thrive in the UAE, but we must take a long-term approach and start with building relationships and trust with authorities and the community here.”

  • UK backs Africa’s ambitious continental free trade initiative

    UK backs Africa’s ambitious continental free trade initiative

    • UK launches programme of up to £35m to support negotiations and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
    • The AfCTFA is expected to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty, create jobs, and provide new commercial opportunities for businesses across Africa and the UK.
    • It comes as Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, visits London to discuss how the UK can continue its work as a strategic partner to the trading bloc.

    UK International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan has announced a new UK programme to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) trading bloc.

    Through the AfCFTA Support Programme, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will provide up to £35m to provide trade facilitation and trade policy support to the AfCFTA Secretariat and Member States through TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and other regional partners.

    Announcement of the programme comes as AfCFTA Secretariat Secretary General Wamkele Mene visits London to discuss how the UK can continue its work as a strategic partner to the AfCFTA.

    As the world’s largest free trade area, the AfCFTA has the potential to boost Africa’s economic growth by driving industrialisation, generating jobs and delivering prosperity across the continent.

    For UK businesses, the trade bloc will remove market access barriers by creating a single continental market, making it easier and more cost-effective for UK businesses to export goods and services across the 54 AfCFTA member states.

    International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

    “As an independent free trading nation, the UK strongly supports the AfCFTA – the largest free trade area in the world.

    We’re keen to see continued momentum on outstanding negotiations, and on practical implementation of the agreement on the ground.

    This new aid programme shows that trade is a force for good, and will lead to increased trade, investment, and prosperity for both Africa and the UK.”

    Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat Wamkele Mene said:

    “We are pleased to receive this support from the Government of the UK, as it ushers us into a partnership for strengthening cooperation related to customs and trade facilitation and trade policy across the African continent.

    In the last five years or so, we have seen the re-engineering of our Regional Economic Communities, to take into consideration the aspirations that are embedded in the AfCFTA instruments. We have also witnessed during this period the enthusiasm and the energy of our private sector to rise to the occasion and begin to exploit what is provided for in the Agreement.

    Our ambition now is to see commercially meaningful trading in ‘Made in the AfCFTA’ products taking place, across the length and breadth of our continent, to create jobs and economic opportunities for Africans, especially women and the youth. We want to make trade easier for the Africans, in particular our women and young Africans who trade across our borders.

    This new AfCFTA support programme is, therefore, timely to facilitate the implementation of the AfCFTA, through supporting national implementation committees and regional economic communities.”

    Minister for Africa Vicky Ford said:

    “Closer integration between African economies boosts growth across the continent creates opportunities and helps lift people out of poverty.

    The UK is a committed partner in this mission. This UK funding will promote long-term partnerships between African countries and support a more prosperous, greener continent.

    I am delighted to be supporting the AfCFTA Secretariat and its Member States to deliver freer and fairer trade systems in Africa.”

    The programme builds on existing work from the FCDO and DIT Trade for Development unit to strengthen partnerships and resilience in Africa.

    Under the UK’s G7 presidency last year, the new British Investment International (BII) group pledged to work with other G7 Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to invest at least $80 billion in the African private sector by 2027.

    Support for projects in Africa from UK Export Finance is also at its highest in decades, backing a range of infrastructure projects in countries from Côte d’Ivoire to Uganda, with more than £2.3 billion of financial support in the past year.

    The AfCFTA Support Programme also complements the UK’s broader partnership with the African Union as a multilateral institution to promote global values.

    Alongside the Secretary of State for International Trade and Minister for Africa, Secretary General Mene will meet with members of the UK’s business and investor community while in London.

  • The MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) is here!

    The MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) is here!

    Kampala; MTV Africa and MTV Base announced the return of the continental flagship award show in 2021. The Iconic MTV Base celebration, MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA), which showcases the ultimate in African culture, music, and creativity, will be held in a re-imagined virtual format in partnership with Uganda, The Pearl of Africa on February 20th 2021.


    The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will be broadcast on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130). The repeat show will also be aired on BET Africa, BET International and MTV channels across multiple continents as a one-hour MAMA-themed MTV World Stage feature. 

    The ultimate celebration of local African and international talent and achievement, MAMA 2021, in partnership with Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, recognizes and rewards musicians, trailblazers and those who are shining a light on the continent’s diverse talent and creativity by instilling positive impact on African music and youth culture over the previous year. The awards ceremony will feature vibrant performances from leading African and international artists and will also showcase some of the biggest cross-genre and cross-border collaborations.

    The event will celebrate African talent across 20 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Best Song, and Best Collaboration. The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognized in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories. Additional new categories included are the MAMA Generation Change Award, Best Fan Base, Alone Together Best Lock-down Performance and Personality of the Year. These new categories seek to demonstrate MTV Base’s commitment to supporting the youth of Africa.

    The MAMA Generation Change Award will recognize the inspiring, young changemakers of the continent who are tackling some of the world’s most challenging social problems. The Alone Together Best Lock-down Performance recognizes outstanding performances that took place virtually by celebrating artists who took to streaming services to share their music and unite society during the unprecedented 2020 Lockdown. The category selection criteria is from October 1st 2019 to October 1st2020. The nominees will be announced in December 2020 and music lovers will have their say by voting for their favourite stars online.

    The news was revealed today via a virtual press conference broadcast from Johannesburg and Kampala by Monde Twala andCraig Paterson, Senior Vice Presidents and General Managers at ViacomCBS Networks Africa (VCNA), The State Minister for Tourism, Godfrey Kiwandaat Ugandan Ministry of Tourism and the CEO for the Ugandan Tourism Board, Lilly Ajarova. The engaging Q&A discussion included accomplished Ugandan artistBebe Cool, highly skilled songstress Sheebah Karungitogether with talented South African rapper Nasty C.

    Commented Monde Twala, Senior Vice President & General Manager, VCNA, “It is an incredible honour to announce that the seventh MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will be hosted by the vibrantly diverse Uganda, The Pearl of Africa for the first time on February 20th, 2021. We are excited to bring this amazing showcase to audiences across the continent and globally with an innovatively re-imagined awards show and celebration. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, content production has embraced innovation as the new gold and we are excited to take Africa to the World and showcase its immense talent and culture as we stage the biggest music awards show on the continent.”

    The Honourable Godfrey Kiwanda, State Minister for Tourism Uganda commented, “It is an incredible achievement for Uganda to host the continent and International stakeholders for the MAMA Kampala 2021 for the first time. The awards are an extraordinary African cultural experience, and we understand the important role it plays in driving awareness, cross culture education and profiling the continent’s rich leisure tourism offerings on the international stage.”

    “This is a wonderful opportunity for global audiences to experience Uganda’s magnificence, the profusion of brilliant life and diverse natural wildlife, and the vast scale of entertainment, events, art, culture, cuisine, history and shopping. We are also so proud to be able to highlight Uganda’s musical richness and give our talented artists the opportunity to showcase their immense talent, and the diversity of Uganda’s sounds, to music fans beyond this continent. This is indeed a momentous occasion for audiences to experience Uganda as truly “the Pearl of Africa”.”

    The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 is brought to you by Uganda, The Pearl of Africa in an effort topromote tourism, wildlife and cultural heritage conservation for the socio-economic development and transformation of Uganda. Sustainable tourism, wildlife and cultural heritage will contribute to transforming Uganda into a modern and prosperous nation.

    Craig Paterson, Senior Vice President & General Manager, VCNA, continued, “The latest edition of the MAMA promises to be our biggest and most innovative yet. Millions of fans worldwide will enjoy the digitally re-imagined celebration and African music via multiple broadcasts globally. We are excited to partner with Uganda to bring viewers a unique format and experience that positions Africa’s diverse heritage and digital innovation.”

     Always celebrating the pan-African scope of the MAMA, the awards will encompass three pulsating Road to MAMA broadcasts featuring MAMA nominees from across the continent. The MAMA Kampala 2021 brings the much-anticipated music industry workshops in a virtual format for the continent’s aspiring musicians, youth upskilling and development.

    First staged in 2008, the MTV Africa Music Awards has recognised the talent of musicians, achievers and personalities from across Africa, rewarding iconic artists and gamechangers such as 2Face Idibia, AKA, Anselmo Ralph, Big Nuz, Cassper Nyovest, Clarence Peters, Cabo Snoop, Davido, D’Banj, Diamond Platnumz, Flavour, Gangs of Ballet, HHP, Fally Ipupa, Liquideep, Lira, Lupita Nyong’o, Mafikizolo Nameless, P-Square, Sarkodie, Tiwa Savage, Toofan, Trevor Noah,  Uhuru, Wahu, Wizkid, Yemi Alade,  Zebra & Giraffe and many more.

    The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will broadcast on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130) on February 20th 2021. The show will also be aired on MTV channels across multiple continents as a one-hour MAMA-themed MTV World Stage feature. 

    MAMA 2021 Award Categories

    1.   Best Female

    2.   Best Male

    3.   Best Group

    4.   Best Breakthrough Act

    5.   Best Collaboration

    6.   Best Hip Hop

    7.   Best Alternative

    8.   Best Ugandan Act

    9.   Best Lusophone Act

    10. Best Francophone Act

    11. Best International Act

    12. Video of the Year

    13. Song of The Year

    14. Artist of the Year

    15. Alone Together Lockdown Performance

    16. Listeners Choice

    17. Best Fan-Base Award

    18. Personality of the Year

    19. MAMA Legend Award

    20. MAMA Generation Change Award

  • Black Wall Street Economic War set to announce platinum switches every month

    Black Wall Street Economic War set to announce platinum switches every month

    The management of Black Wall Street Economic War has revealed that from this day, they should be announcing Platinum Switches every month.

    The brain behind The Black Wall Street Charles Lambert said, One million pro African mobile phones will be sold every single month until No one is left behind.

    “No Dropout. Total market Domination of Battle 1 of the economic war so we begin serious Cash Out investments that will transform Africa, Africa, First,” he said.

    In related development Mr. Lambert who is Chairman will be holding a live broadcast on Wednesday for the devaluation of the current $500 lifetime Upap which will also mark the beginning of the Switch Now campaign and the Cash Out to begin 30 days after the devaluation live on the Black Wall Street Economic War Facebook page and YouTube.

    His address is slated for Wednesday ,9th September, 2020, don’t miss through the below links;

    Time: 9PM EAT, 7PM WAT, 8PM SAT


    YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7y4d58i9zLKSlHv905-vXQ

    Facebook live: https://www.facebook.com/charleslambertcorridor

  • How African businesses can cope with the negative impact of COVID-19

    How African businesses can cope with the negative impact of COVID-19

    When the first cases of coronavirus were detected in December 2019, no one could have ever predicted that it would lead to a pandemic, with countries having to place travel restrictions, close down schools, and ask their citizens to self-isolate and stay home. 

    However, with each passing day, there are new measures being undertaken to control the spread of the virus. While the health consequences of this pandemic are becoming more apparent to everyone, there are also underlying financial consequences, with predictions that Africa may potentially lose half of its GDP.

    Given AZA’s unique position at the cross-section of multiple industries, managing their foreign exchange, we caught up with Mungai Murega, the Trading Desk Manager at AZA to share insights on the economic toll of COVID-19 and potential ways in which African businesses can mitigate the negative effects of the virus on the economy. Below are the excerpts.

    Qn: How will the coronavirus affect economic growth in the region?

    It is predicted that the economic growth of the continent will shrink by 1.2%. So far, there has been about $29 billion in lost revenue as a result of the pandemic in Africa.  

    China is one of the biggest trading partners on the continent. At the moment, it is estimated that there are over 1 million Chinese nationals in Africa and 10,000 Chinese-owned businesses.

    The UN estimates that the global economy is going to shrink by $1 trillion this year. This is a massive figure and will definitely affect each one of us.

    Qn: How exactly will this affect each of us?

    There is less demand for raw materials by China due to decreased production. Secondly, higher prices of goods in African countries due to reliance on exports from China. There’s a multiplier effect from these.

    The lockdown in China has led to a huge effect on the African economy.  We have forecasted a $50 billion drop in exports from China. The goods that the African countries had imported are also slowly running out. There will be pressure in terms of pricing for what is available.

    We also see shrinkage in FDI by between 5 and 15% because investors do not have the appetite to invest currently, heavily impacting on key sectors. Investors are taking and a ‘Wait and See’ approach as a result.

    The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) had a projected 5% growth in FDI in the continent in 2020 but COVID-19 has reversed this. 

    A report released by the African Union (AU) titled; “Impact of the coronavirus on the Africa economy,’ Africa could lose up to 20 million jobs. Under what the AU researchers deemed their realistic scenario, Africa’s economy will shrink by 0.8%, while the pessimistic scenario says there would be a 1.1% dip. 

    Qn: Which countries in Africa are best placed to avoid COVID-19 impact and why?

    I would say Madagascar and Ghana because the contribution of exports to their GDPs is 10% and 15% respectively. This is minimal and may not have so much of an impact on their economies.

    However, countries like South Sudan, Angola and DRC may feel a bigger impact. For instance, 90% of South Sudan’s exports are to China, for Angola it is 60% of all its global exports are to China, while for DRC, it is 40%. Given the less demand for raw materials by China as a result of decreased production, this will have a huge effect on these countries’ economies.

    Qn: Would you say some industries are better placed than others?

    Some sectors such as tourism and travel were caught off-guard as was aviation and the hospitality industry.

    The retail sector, on the other hand, is better prepared given that there will continue to be purchases. Telecoms are also better prepared because their services are mainly digitized. Pharmaceuticals are also well prepared because they are mainly the ones offering medical solutions that are needed by the public. 

    Qn: How can policymakers help to cushion the blow from the fall out as a result of coronavirus?

    Given that many African countries are debt-laden. Many are really fragile.

    A number of economies have thus opted to ease on the monetary and fiscal policies as a measure to cushion the economy. Ensuring that credit is easily available to enable the citizens to recover, also governments should introduce tax incentives to help cushion them against the anticipated crisis.

    Qn: It is anticipated that many African businesses, especially startups could go down as a result of COVID-19. Much as this is nothing as seen before, how can startups find their way around this pandemic?

    I think considering this is a tough time for the economies and the general business environment,  I would urge startups to scale down as well as try as much as possible to reserve their cash flows and liquidity and slow down in growth due to economic uncertainty.

    Qn: Many businesses have explored the opportunities that the internet provides. However, these are mainly companies in the service sector. Where do you see the opportunities for other sectors going forward?

     Yes, the service sector has really leveraged on the opportunities provided by the internet. Opportunities in other sectors would probably be in health-related matters as at this point governments will tend to reallocate budgets to support the health sectors.

    Qn: A number of governments are rolling out rescue packages for companies during this period. Is this a viable way out and is it a sustainable strategy given that we do not know how long this crisis could last?

     I think considering that governments collect a lot of taxes from companies and on the other hand are the biggest spenders, rescue packages by governments are imminent. Kenya, for example, has already given tax relief in a bid to caution the economy from crumbling, so yes I think governments need to work closely with central banks in order to help the economies maneuver these harsh times.

    Qn: What would you say are some of the vital lessons Africa should take from this crisis?

    I would say Africa business should learn to divest from concentration in particular countries for imports and exports. They should also embrace intra-Africa trade, Africa is a very rich economy with a lot of resources which we can improve on simply by increasing trading activities within the continent.