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Ghana’s Jessica Hagan and other African Screenwriters Shine at Series Mania Forum, in Lille France

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Ghana's Jessica Hagan and other African Screenwriters Shine at Series Mania Forum, in Lille France

Screenwriters from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya pitched their new projects to a standing-room-only international audience of broadcasters, video-on-demand platforms, and potential producers at the Series Mania Forum, a film industry market aimed specifically at TV series, in Lille, France, yesterday.

Tony Sebastian Ukpo (Nigeria), Angela Wamai (Kenya), Chantel Clark (South Africa) and Jessica Hagan (Ghana) were at the market after a rigorous six months of being mentored, coached, and supported in a South African film industry development initiative  AuthenticA Series Lab. This Lab is presented by the Realness Institute in partnership with The Storyboard Collective, a Swiss philanthropic organization, which aims to develop transformative and authentic stories, and the Series Mania Forum (France).

The dynamic cohort began their work within the Lab at the Coot Club, Stanford in the Western Cape, South Africa, with a 10-day in-person mentorship programme, followed by 2 ½ months of online mentorship in a programme designed by Elias Ribeiro (Realness Institute Executive Director) with Story Expert, Selina Ukwuoma, and Creative Producer, Mehret Mandefro (Realness Institute co-founder).

After this, they went into a residency in Geneva Switzerland for 2 months, where they worked full-time on their pilot scripts and pitch decks which are now ready for market.

Speaking from Lille, France Ribeiro said that the response was encouraging and promising. “After two years of running the Episodic Lab in partnership with Netflix (for SA, Nigeria, and Kenyan projects) we could not be prouder to have expanded our offering across all African countries through this AuthenticA Series lab,” he says. “ We learned so much from that experience and fine-tuned the programme so writers complete their six-month incubation with a pitch deck and a pilot script ready for the market. It was so exciting to see all four pitch their work, and we now wait for a response from the market.”

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Creative Producer, Mehret Mandefro says, “We are all so proud of the work these writers have done in the Lab because it reflects a standard of excellence that is possible when African writers get the right resources and support.”

“StoryBoard is convinced of the power TV series have in shaping new cultural narratives, as well as bringing politically and geographically diverse people together,” expands David Rimer, Founder of The Storyboard Collective. “We believe that broadening the funding sources for these talented scriptwriters will increase the chances of powerful and authentic TV series to be produced.”

Ghanaian-British writer, Jessica Hagan’s project, Coup is a thriller about power, elitism, and privilege, and what happens when power is placed in the hands of the unexpected. Coup is a gripping story of six passengers travelling to Ghana who, after a series of orchestrated events, are successfully recruited to join a coup d’etat against the Government of Ghana.

Nigerian Filmmaker and photographer, Tony Sebastian Ukpo pitched his horror genre series, Masquerade. His story is about 13-year-old Nigerian-American teenager, Aduni, who after losing her father, finds herself feeling trapped in the harsh, remote boarding school in Nigeria, a country still struggling to escape the shadow of its colonial history, where spurned local spiritual practice and folklore remain strong and very real. Her grief manifests in the form of a malevolent spirit, and she realises that not facing her grief can have monstrous consequences.

Kenyan Angela Wanjiku Wamai is an award-winning film editor who lives and works in Nairobi, Kenya. Her project titled Enkop (Soil), is a Western-styled series focused on a woman left devastated by the death of her husband, and the ensuing aftermath of his debt taken to purchase contested ranch land connected to political violence and Kenya’s colonial past.

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South African Crime Story is the title of South African director and screenwriter, Chantel Clark’s project. This is billed as a compelling supernatural crime drama, set in South Africa’s transition years from apartheid. The show explores themes of white fear and paranoia, as South Africa transitions from an oppressive regime to a land of freedom. The past and future collide in this character-driven examination of what happens to a country when it is trapped between hope and fear.

Follow Realness on Twitter @rlnsinstitute, Instagram realnessinstitute or Realness Institute on Facebook for up-to-date information.

Follow StoryBoard on Instagram storyboard.collective and LinkedIn TheStoryBoard Collective for up-to-date information.

Follow Series Mania on Twitter https://twitter.com/seriesmaniapro and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/festival-seriesmania/

 

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People & Lifestyle

HAVE YOUR BATH AT LEAST TWICE DAILY DURING MENSTRUATION – DIANA HOPESON ADMONISHES YOUNG GIRLS

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HAVE YOUR BATH AT LEAST TWICE DAILY DURING MENSTRUATION - DIANA HOPESON ADMONISHES YOUNG GIRLS

Mrs Diana Hopeson ( Akiwumi ) the formal MUSIGA president and a renowned gospel musician who made her mark in the early 90s with hit songs winning many National and International awards admonishes young girls to try take their bath at least two times daily during their menstrual cycle.

Joining over 400 both young girls and boys at the Ashiaman Senior High School to mark this years World Menstrual Hygiene Day Commemoration, she stressed on the need for a complete healthier menstrual management by these teenage girls bearing in mind that bathing their body is an essential part of menstrual hygiene.

A collaborative effort from the Bonabear Foundation Ghana under the auspices of the Special Monitoring Missions of the International Human Rights Commission Ghana in partnership with the SHEP Department of the Ashaiman Municipal Education Directorate of the Ghana Education Service and WO YE BRA Schools Project this year engaged the Pupils of the AshaiSec to mark the all important date on the UN calendar.

Mrs Hopeson on the theme of this years commemoration dubbed “ Making Menstruation a normal Fact of Life by 2030” also explained on the main need for every girl to know that “Menstruation leads to Procreation” therefore every growing girl must not be ashamed of her Menstruation and that it’s a normal thing. She lamented on how she felt during her “Menarche” at age 12 and the funny experiences she went through that time. Mrs Hopeson has been the project Ambassador two years running to the MENSTRUATE 2 PROCREATE initiative with a few of her friends mobilizing support for the project.

HAVE YOUR BATH AT LEAST TWICE DAILY DURING MENSTRUATION - DIANA HOPESON ADMONISHES YOUNG GIRLS

HAVE YOUR BATH AT LEAST TWICE DAILY DURING MENSTRUATION – DIANA HOPESON ADMONISHES YOUNG GIRLS

The Founder and the Project Lead of the Bonabear Foundation Ghana who doubles as the Commissioner for the Special Monitoring Missions of IHRC Ghana- Amb Dr Bernard Kofi Bonarparte in his speech added his voice to the call to totally scrap off all Taxes on Sanitary Materials and pleaded with the Government to consider implementing policies to make Sanitary materials in the Schools more accessible and free mostly in deprived communities a cross the country.

He reiterated that , it is about time Menstruation is considered as a Human Rights issue and as such  the need to put in measures to ensure every girl is not denied of this  Right. The need to easy access to water in the various Schools is also a contributing factor for ensuring a clean , safe and healthier society.

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HAVE YOUR BATH AT LEAST TWICE DAILY DURING MENSTRUATION - DIANA HOPESON ADMONISHES YOUNG GIRLS

HAVE YOUR BATH AT LEAST TWICE DAILY DURING MENSTRUATION – DIANA HOPESON ADMONISHES YOUNG GIRLS

The Amb , also called on various corporate bodies to partner organizations and civil societies that have embarked on this journey to ensure that Ghana does not fail to achieve the agenda 2030 of the UNSDG.

All participants received free Disposable and Reusable Pads and were trained on the management of those with live demonstration from the male students of the School by the help of the School Nurse and the Lead Facilitator for the WO YE BRA SCHOOL Project-Ms Jennifer Moffat as The head Mistress of the School Madam Jemimah Quarshie and her staff received the team warmly.

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The Mommy Club premieres on 27 June 2023, exclusively on Showmax

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The Mommy Club premieres on 27 June 2023, exclusively on Showmax

In the City of Gold, there are levels to everything. Being a mom is no different … (more…)

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Yahu Blackwell The Ghanaian From the Diaspora, To be enstooled as Osu Noryaa ManTse

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Yahu Blackwell, the US-based boxer set to be enstooled as 'Noryaa Tse'

In August of 2023 nearing the Annual Homowo Festival; The Ghanaian boxing champion who resides in Baltimore, Maryland and serial entrepreneur will be returning back to his homeland (Ghana). Yahu Blackwell is a Ghanaian whose family lineage is among those that was taken as slaves at the “Cape Coast Castle” and the “Elmina Castle” in Ghana. (Trans Atlantic Slave Trade). (more…)

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Zeepay MD crowned Africa Fintech Leader of the Year two times running at Ghana CEO Summit 2023

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Andrew Takyi Appiah Co Founder and Managing Director of Zeepay scaled

Andrew Takyi-Appiah, the Managing Director (MD) of Zeepay, a leading mobile financial services company, has emerged Africa’s Fintech Leader of the Year for the second year in a row at the recently held 2023 edition of the CEO Summit. 

The prestigious award was presented to him before a gathering of more than 500 of his peers, was an acknowledgement of his instrumental role in the growth and advancement of Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic landscape.

Mr. Takyi-Appiah emerged victorious amidst stiff competition from prominent figures in the fintech industry, and the award reflects the high satisfaction of users with Zeepay’s platforms and services.

Expressing his gratitude at the event which had as its theme: ‘Economic Sovereignty, Sustainable Corporate Governance, Digital Industrial Transformation: New Paths for Growth and Prosperity. A Private-Public Sector CEO Dialogue & Learning’, Mr. Takyi-Appiah stated, “Winning this award is a testament to all that African youth are Capable of and have what it takes to build global business. It means that we the youth in Ghana must be taken seriously as we have indeed taken our destiny into our hands to contribute to build a better Ghana.”

Prior to co-founding Zeepay in 2016, Mr. Takyi-Appiah held key positions at renowned organizations such as UT Bank Ghana, PwC Ghana, PwC UK, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, and GTBank. 

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With an annual turnover of approximately US$900 million as of 2021, Zeepay has established itself as the largest cross-border remittance aggregator in Africa. Mr. Takyi-Appiah emphasized that this accolade is a testament to the strength of Ghana’s fintech regulations and legal systems, which have contributed to the rise of companies like Zeepay.

“Our customers should expect an improved business, an increase in our distribution network and availability. Going forward our customers should expect affordability in terms of reduced cash-out fees and more product innovation. I would like to dedicate the award to all our customers and staff for believing in the dream and driving it to this growth. I feel great and excited about the additional new markets we have added to the mobile money business,” Mr. Takyi-Appiah added.

This comes as Zeepay also emerged as the number-one company in Ghana at the 19th Club 100 awards. The recognition underscores Zeepay’s exceptional performance and its significant contribution to the nation’s economic growth.

The feat was attributed to the ingenuity of CEO Andrew Takyi-Appiah and as Zeepay’s vision is to expand its presence in the fintech and mobile money space beyond Ghana. 

With its innovative mobile financial services, Zeepay has been revolutionizing the remittance and mobile money sectors. The company’s impressive growth and strategic approach have propelled it to the forefront of Ghana’s business landscape. By clinching the top position in the Ghana Club 100 rankings, Zeepay has solidified its status as a key player in the country’s corporate sphere.

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As Zeepay looks toward the future, it aims to leverage its success to further establish itself as a dominant force in fintech and mobile money across Africa. With CEO Andrew Takyi-Appiah at the helm, the company is poised to unlock new opportunities and drive financial inclusion on the continent.

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From Lemonade Finance to LemFi: International Payments for Everyone

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In a bold move to further its commitment to providing international payments for everyone and better serve its expanding community, Lemonade Finance announces its rebranding to LemFi. The decision to change the name was driven by a desire to simplify and capture the essence of the company’s vision and to differentiate itself in the evolving financial services landscape.

Lemonade Finance was founded in 2020 with a simple vision,to empower immigrants seeking to achieve more in their lives. The company delivers its services through an app that enables users to send money to 10+ countries.

LemFi is licensed as an Electronic Money Institution with the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, under the name RightCard Payment Services. It is also registered as a Money Service Business  by the Financial Transactions and Report Analysis Centre in Canada.

“The name we started with was Lemonade Finance. And as our app gained popularity, our reach expanded across multiple countries, and we became the vital link between families and loved ones separated by distance,” explains Ridwan Olalere, the CEO and Co-Founder. 

However, the company’s growth and evolution demanded a name that would resonate even more deeply with its purpose while embracing the uniqueness of its community. Through extensive collaboration with the team and community, the decision to rebrand was made to better encapsulate the vision of providing a more inclusive and efficient means for people to send money home.

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Introducing LemFi, a name that embodies the spirit of No Borders, No Barriers and no BS. The new name reflects the company’s dedication to simplicity, agility, and accessibility while retaining its commitment to facilitating seamless financial transactions for its users.

“Our new name, ‘LEMFI,’ represents our unwavering dedication to breaking down barriers and transcending borders,” says Ridwan. “It symbolises the strength and resilience of our community and allows us to carve our own unique meaning within it.”

 

The rebrand also comes with an expansion of vision. Hitherto, the goal was to power “International Payments for immigrants globally”; now LemFi aims to deliver “International Payments for Everyone”.This commitment will be demonstrated by unveiling an exciting lineup of product updates in the coming weeks and months.

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The LemFi team thanks its valued users for their continued support and invites them to embark on this new chapter together. As LemFi, the company will continue building a product and expand to more countries in the coming weeks, empowering individuals to confidently pursue their dreams.

 

The company’s new website and social media channels will now be:

 

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Website:www.lemfi.com

Facebook: UseLemfi

Instagram: @UseLemfi

Twitter: @UseLemfi

Email:support@lemfi.com

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YouTube’s Alex Okosi Highlights The Need For A Comprehensive Digital Trade Strategy For Africa

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YouTube’s Managing Director, Emerging Markets, EMEA, Alex Okosi, was among the key speakers at the Africa Debate 2023, which took place on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the Guildhall in London.

 

Okosi’s session, titled “Building a Comprehensive Digital Trade Strategy for Africa,” highlighted the challenges facing Africa in terms of digital infrastructure despite advancements in digital trade and e-commerce. He debated the best path forward for a digital trade strategy, with a focus on the 7th protocol of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on e-commerce.

 

Joining Okosi on the panel were Michelle Chivunga, a Digital Trade Expert for AfCFTA and Chief Executive Officer & Founder of Global Policy House, who moderated the session, as well as Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, Chief Executive Officer, 4G Capital; Peter Njonjo, Chief Executive Officer, Twiga Foods; Toulay Oueslati, Head of Trade Finance & Commodity Trade Finance, Bank of Africa United Kingdom and Hardy Pemhiwa, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman, Cassava Technologies.

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Organized by Invest Africa, a leading business and investment platform with over sixty years of experience on the continent, and in partnership with Africa Finance Corporation, the event was in its 9th year and focused on Africa’s trade profile through a comprehensive programme of talks, discussions, and networking opportunities.

 

“I believe that digital trade has the potential to transform Africa’s economy and improve trade relations with the rest of the world. However, to achieve this goal, we need to address the challenges of infrastructure development, regulatory frameworks, and digital skills training,” Okosi said.

 

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The panel discussion explored the future of African trade and how the private sector can best support and prepare for a more integrated and competitive African trade environment.

 

“Collaboration between governments, businesses, and financial institutions is crucial in creating an enabling environment for digital trade. This includes developing regulatory frameworks, financing solutions, and digital infrastructure,” Okosi added.

 

Okosi is a highly experienced television, content, and tech executive with over 25 years of experience building successful businesses and brands globally. He has a track record of identifying and scaling new business opportunities, generating multi-million-dollar revenue streams, and delivering profitable growth.

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Currently serving as Managing Director, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA, Okosi has been instrumental in driving the platform’s growth across key verticals, including music, gaming, TV/film, kids & family, news, and sports. In 2022, Okosi was named one of the UK Powerlist’s 100 most influential people of black heritage for the second year in a row.

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