“Our mission is to grow Mavin Global into the music powerhouse of Africa”, explains Michael Collins Ajereh a.k.a Don Jazzy, Mavin Global President and Founder. “By collaborating with artists, African creatives, local and international partners, we can become a globally recognized household name and the go-to platform for connecting African music with the world.”

Mavin is home to iconic African artists like Tiwa Savage and Korede Bello. Since its inception in 2012, Mavin has been an industry leader in leveraging digital platforms like Youtube, Twitter and Instagram, both to reach local audiences and grow significant fanbases among the African diaspora in the US, Europe and UK. This investment will enable the company to strengthen this advantage as it develops brand partnerships that support its artists’ values and stories.

“With the resources and operational capacity Kupanda Capital brings along with its investment, Mavin is now ready to grow our artist roster and facilitate partnerships at a global scale. We are looking to build an institution that will support the fantastic creative ecosystem in Africa, and move Afrobeats to the forefront of the global industry,” said Tega Oghenejobo, Chief Operating Officer of Mavin Global.

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with a population of 180 million, and its music industry is projected to grow rapidly with increasing smartphone penetration and the popularity of Youtube, Twitter, Instagram and, increasingly, digital streaming platforms. Across Africa, in cities like Lagos and Abidjan, the market for live shows is increasing as well. Meanwhile, according to the most recent publicly available data from industry trade body, IFPI, the global recorded music market grew by 8.1% in 2017, reaching $17.3 billion that year on the strength of digital streaming revenue. That growth is expected to have continued in 2018,presenting an excellent environment for Mavin to market its music globally.

“Between Don Jazzy’s leadership in defining the sound of modern Afrobeats and developing top African artists, Mavin Global has a unique advantage and opportunity to build the record label that will accelerate the promotion of African popular music to the world. We are impressed by the Mavin team’s experience and are pleased to partner with them in their next phase of growth.” said Bobby Pittman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Kupanda Capital. “This partnership is an excellent opportunity for us at Kupanda Capital to deploy our business building capabilities alongside our data-driven knowledge of the African consumer to scale Mavin’s operations across Africa, and globally.” said Linda Oramasionwu-Leverette, Co-Founder and Partner at Kupanda Capital.

Korede Bello, whose global breakout hit “Do Like That” has been streamed over 200 million times worldwide, is among the artists enthusiastic about the partnership. “I’m overjoyed to be part of this new era for Mavin. With the support of this team, I’m excited to release new music for my fans and connect with even more music lovers across the world.”

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The post Africa’s Leading Music Label, Mavin Records, Announces Multimillion Dollar Joint Venture Deal With Kupanda Holdings appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

DENVER, CO – MARCH 17: NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo Smiles for the camera during half-time where the Los Angeles Clippers took on the Denver Nuggets on March 17, 2014 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Yesterday we celebrated the legacy of achievments of one of America’s greatest civil rights leaders in the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. One of his greatest mantras was: ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ 

An NBA legend who embodied that is Dikembe Mutombo. Mutombo is one of the NBA’s All-Time leaders in blocks and has been heralded for his humanitarian work in his native Africa.

In 1997, Mutombo, a retired 19-year NBA veteran started the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to improve living conditions in his hometown of Congo. That earned him the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship award in 2001 and 2009.

He enjoys doing what he does and realizes that as a public figure, the higher that he’s gone up on the ladder, it is his surely his responsibility to send it back down. “You have to think about the future of our society,” Mutombo told me in a recent interview. “What are we leaving for the future of our grandchildren?”

What’s interesting is that he’s always been that way.

Need proof?

The former Denver Nugget, Atlanta Hawk, Philadelphia 76er, New Jersey Net, New York Knick and Houston Rockets big man once sat down with me during the 1997-98 season and schooled me on what he planned to do, what he was doing, the importance of achieving inside the classroom and what it was like playing for Georgetown University under ormer coach John Thompson.  It was chronicled on a recent episode of Scoop B Radio.

Check out the 2015 Hall of Fame member Dikembe Mutombo and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson  

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The post Scoop B: Like Martin Luther King, Jr., Dikembe Mutombo Focuses On Helping Others appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.