Paul Siguqa has had an unlikely journey in the wine business in South Africa. His mother worked in the vineyards as a laborer during the apartheid era and now, his fully black-owned wine farm sells premium products.



Paul Siguqa, owner of the Klein Goederust wine farm in Franschhoek in South Africa’s Western Cape province, is an unlikely figure in the country’s wine industry. His journey into wine, even more so. It starts on the Backsberg farm, less than 15km from the one he owns today, where he grew up watching his mother work as a laborer for over 30 years during South Africa’s apartheid era.



“Growing up on those farms as children of farm laborers, there’s this automatic narrative that you will become a farm laborer yourself,” says Siguqa, referring to the term as ‘intergenerational labor’. In sharp contrast to the picturesque backdrops of Franschhoek’s rolling hills, the daily reality for these laborers was incredibly tough. “There were a lot of negative things about the wine industry back then,” says Siguqa. “Such as low wages, working conditions, the lack of education amongst the workforce, and of course, the dop system.” Referring to an apartheid-era policy where workers were paid a portion of their salary in cheap wine or alcohol, the dop system is now illegal in South Africa, but still casts a long shadow in the country today. 



“The effects of the dop system will be with the wine industry for many years to come,” he adds. “In fact, in my class growing up, we knew who the dop system children were because they were fetal alcohol syndrome kids.”



Despite this, Siguqa reflects fondly on his childhood. “We had a very good and sheltered life as farm children,” he says. “When everybody is poor, you don’t know you’re poor,” he laughs. However, he says he never enjoyed being on the farm. “I never liked the idea of growing up to be a farm laborer,” he explains. “We didn’t see wine makers or viticulturists that were black. Even though the black people are working the land, all the bosses were white.” His mother shared this sentiment and became laser-focused on changing the course of her family’s life.



“My mother said that, in her family, she is the last to be a farm laborer, that it must stop with her.” His mother eventually moved from working in the vineyards, to the Méthod Cap Classique (MCC) cellar, but she was steadfast in her promise that intergenerational labor ended with her.



Eventually a teenager, Siguqa picked up a holiday job in nearby Backsberg. “In the tasting room, I saw a different face to wine,” he says. “It was more than just drinking. It was about the soils. It was about the vines. It was about the processes of harvesting,” he explains. “I decided then that I would own something like this.” It was also then that he started saving to make his dream come true. It took him 15 years until he was able to buy his own farm in 2019, teaming up with his childhood friend, and experienced winemaker, Rodney Zimba. “The farm we bought was in the market for eight years. Nobody wanted it because of the state of dilapidation,” says Siguqa. Along with entirely refurbishing the estate’s 1920s-era buildings, the vineyards were diseased, and had no irrigation, requiring them to uproot the vines. All in all, this restoration took three years.



During this time, the soil needed testing to determine what to plant and where, as well as the corrections and interventions needed. “Today, we have an MCC, a Chardonnay, a Shiraz, a Chenin, a Cabernet blend and a dessert wine,” he says, adding “all crafted to perfection”. The estate’s flagship, however, is



its MCC Nomaroma, named for his mother. “We thought it would be appropriate to honor her and all the other women of the wine industry, especially the workers, because they’re never the ones receiving awards,” adds Siguqa. The sell-out MCC is significant for another reason. It symbolizes Siguqa’s commitment to quality. He says he knew from the get-go that the farm’s small size meant they would never be able to



compete with the big, established estates on volume, but quality is something they couldn’t compromise.



“We decided wewere only going to make premium, high-end wines, because there’s always been a perception in the wine industry that if it’s black-owned, the quality will not be of standard,” he says. “And unfortunately, there’s a reason for that.” He explains that even as the number of black-owned wines rise, many of these producers still don’t have their own farms.



Even years after the end of apartheid, it’s estimated that less than 3% of South African vineyards are black-owned.



“So, what does a brand do? They source crops from mass producers, but those suppliers won’t sell you the top of their crop because that’s their name,” he continues. “For us, having a farm ensured we had the advantage of producing our own quality grapes.” In addition to securing quality produce, winemaker Zimba was a key part of Siguqa’s strategy for success. “When I approached him with the idea, he was working at Noble Hill and he said ‘look, this is so much bigger than both of us, I want in’.”



The team’s hard work has not only paid off, but Siguqa also wanted to make sure visiting the farm reflected the story he wanted to tell.



Whereas the rest of Franschhoek’s restaurants serve Eurocentric fine dining-style food, Klein Goederust offers a distinctly South African experience. Instead of multiple courses of foams, gels and purées, here you’ll find lamb on the spit, traditional roosterbrood, pickled fish and chicken on the braai.



What makes Siguqa’s story stand out is not just that he defied all odds to make a success of himself. It’s also that he doesn’t take the responsibility of what he’s created lightly. When asked what his mother, now retired, thinks of his success, he says, “My mother is really proud of what we’ve achieved, but she keeps saying that our job is not done until we’ve taken a lot of other people with us and contributed to them and their growth. If we have not played a significant role in the uplifting of others, we still have a long way to go,” he says. “And I totally agree with that.”

Paul Siguqa at the Klein Goederust wine farm; image supplied2

Tasting Success: What It Took to Become A Wine Farm Owner In South Africa

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Microsoft has asked some of its artificial intelligence and cloud business employees in China to consider moving out of the country, according to a Wall Street Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/microsoft-asks-hundreds-of-china-based-ai-staff-to-relocate-amid-u-s-china-tensions-b626ff8c?st=5hewt0npk1e448n&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">report</a>, amid ongoing geopolitical and trade tensions between Washington and Beijing as the Biden administration attempts to curb China’s access to advanced technology, including AI.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



Citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, the Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/microsoft-asks-hundreds-of-china-based-ai-staff-to-relocate-amid-u-s-china-tensions-b626ff8c?st=5hewt0npk1e448n&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that around 700 to 800 Microsoft staffers in China have received offers to move to countries including the U.S., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.



The staffers in question are mostly engineers of Chinese nationality working on machine learning and cloud computing.



The tech giant&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-asks-hundreds-china-based-staff-relocate-amid-us-china-tensions-wsj-2024-05-16/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">responded</a>&nbsp;to the report, saying internal transfers are a “regular part” of its global operations, and confirmed “an optional internal transfer opportunity” was offered to some workers.



Microsoft said it remains committed to its China business and will continue to operate there.



It is unclear if any of the workers have taken up Microsoft’s offer and what impact a large number of transfers would have on Microsoft’s cloud business and AI research efforts in China.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-news-peg">NEWS PEG</h2>



Earlier this month, Reuters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-eyes-curbs-chinas-access-ai-software-behind-apps-like-chatgpt-2024-05-08/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;the Biden administration was planning fresh restrictions against exports of proprietary AI models like those that power Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini to certain adversarial nations like China and Russia. There are currently no restrictions on companies like OpenAI, Microsoft and Google from selling or licensing their advanced AI models to almost any foreign entities. U.S. government officials are concerned that these advanced models—trained on a large amount of data—may be misused by rival powers. In February,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2024/02/14/staying-ahead-of-threat-actors-in-the-age-of-ai/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Microsoft</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://openai.com/index/disrupting-malicious-uses-of-ai-by-state-affiliated-threat-actors/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">OpenAI</a>&nbsp;reported that cyber threat actors from Russia, China, and Iran have been using the ChatGPT-maker’s tools to increase the sophistication of their attacks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



Last month, Microsoft announced an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/04/16/what-to-know-about-g42-the-emirati-ai-giant-that-just-got-a-15-billion-investment-from-microsoft/?sh=6f7ef5f97596">investment</a>&nbsp;of $1.5 billion in the United Arab Emirates-based AI firm G42. Microsoft said the deal had been carried out in “close coordination with the governments of both the UAE and the United States.” The deal was reportedly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/843796a6-191c-4828-8bc9-d6648e4b460e" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">orchestrated</a>&nbsp;by the two governments after the Biden administration expressed concerns about G42’s close links with Chinese firms. To address U.S. concerns ahead of the deal, the UAE-based firm agreed to phase out the use of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/6710c259-0746-4e09-804f-8a48ecf50ba3" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Chinese equipment</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/82473ec4-fa7a-43f2-897c-ceb9b10ffd7a" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">divested</a>&nbsp;its stakes in Chinese companies including TikTok’s parent ByteDance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Efforts to curb China’s access to AI software and services follow the Biden administration’s crackdown on shipments of advanced AI chips, like the ones designed by Nvidia, to China. In October last year, U.S. officials<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/britneynguyen/2023/10/17/biden-administration-limits-chinas-access-to-ai-chips-like-nvidias-to-curb-military-development/?sh=2cfac3661c90">&nbsp;unveiled new rules</a>&nbsp;under which AI chipmakers need to obtain special licenses to sell their semiconductors to China and other adversarial countries, including Iran and Russia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/microsoft-asks-hundreds-of-china-based-ai-staff-to-relocate-amid-u-s-china-tensions-b626ff8c?st=5hewt0npk1e448n&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Microsoft Asks Hundreds of China-Based AI Staff to Consider Relocating Amid U.S.-China Tensions</a>&nbsp;(Wall Street Journal)

Storefronts And General Views Of Cologne

Microsoft Offers To Relocate Some China Staffers Amid US Efforts To Curb Beijing’s AI Access, Report Says

What do Uber, Netflix and TikTok have in common?



It’s one word.



And working out how to remove it will become the most important strategic discussion for CEOs across the globe in the coming years.



It should already be the most important word.



And that word is friction.



The companies I named at the start are all early examples of how you can have global success by removing friction from your customer’s lives.



Uber, for example, removes friction by making it much easier and faster to pick up a ride than the metered taxi model it replaced.



Netflix removes friction by delivering quality, binge- able content without delaying consumer gratification with adverts or timetables.



And TikTok takes it to another level by removing the friction of viewers needing to spend time choosing what to watch. Its algorithm calculates what people want based on how they interact with the app. In fact, the more you think about it, the more obvious it becomes that the best companies are masters at removing friction. Google (frictionless search), Wise (frictionless  cross- border payments) and Amazon (frictionless shopping) are just three more examples.



On the other hand, the brands we love to hate are the ones that waste our most precious asset. Time.



For example, don’t you get frustrated with the excessive form-filling when hiring a car, queueing at a bank branch, or holding for a call center agent?



I know I do.



Fortunately, this is all about to change, and companies that have clung on to life like limpets despite wasting millions of hours of their customers’ lives will have to adapt to survive because of the widespread adoption of large language models, like ChatGPT.



Take the example of Klarna, a leading global payments and shopping service.



On February 27 2024, they announced that their new AI assistant had handled two-thirds of customer chats in its first month. That’s the equivalent workload of 700 full-time agents, which equates to an estimated



$40-million improvement in their bottom line. They went on to say that the AI agents were on par with customer satisfaction scores, were more accurate in errand resolution (leading to a 25% drop in repeat inquiries) and were able to resolve queries in less than two minutes, compared to the previous 11.



You don’t have to be a call center expert to understand that these are just staggering improvements which showcase the potential of moving from human to artificial intelligence. And you have to remember that this is version 0.1, and we should expect exponential improvements over the next few years.



In fact, the idea that a machine will be able to better communicate with humans in a more personalized, knowledgeable, and empathetic manner is no longer just science fiction. It’s fast becoming a science fact. 



Having just spent a wasted hour on the phone with my internet service provider, I can’t wait. I would pay extra to be able to deal with a bot that listens to my problems, understands my history, is able to take decisions without escalating, can respond not just in my language but in my accent or dialect and is able to pick up on any number of visual and audio queues to better understand me and make me feel valued and appreciated. Perhaps even loved.



And if this leads to hours-long call times because customers feel compelled to share their personal trials and tribulations, why not?



After all, our buying decisions are based on emotions, and who better to exploit that than a machine?



Because unlike human agents, the virtual kind are available 24/7 in every single corner of the globe and they know more about us than any human ever can.



These are not just my fantasies. The markets agree. When Klarna shared its AI successes, it was reported that a leading traditional call center company saw its share price drop in just one day.



CEOs now have no choice but to switch their investments from human to artificial intelligence to provide frictionless services.



The benefits for investors and customers are clear. It’s equally obvious that the millions of knowledge workers who operate today’s phones will have to find new vocations, and they will have to find them fast.



Which begs one big question. Do we really want a frictionless world if the cost is that human capital becomes worthless

TikTok To Be Banned From UK Government Phones

Remove This To Win, But Beware Of The Consequences

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



The Dow Jones Industrial Average made history Thursday, setting the latest impressive milestone for 2024’s red-hot stock market.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



The Dow crossed 40,000 for the first time in its 128-year history Thursday at about 10:30 a.m. ET, gaining as much as 140 points (0.4%) to a new all-time high of 40,046.21.



The Dow, which tracks 30 of the most valuable U.S. public companies across a gamut of industries, is up 6% this year and 23% from its October bottom, reflecting the positive shift in investor sentiment over the period.



Boosting the Dow on Thursday was retailer Walmart, whose shares rallied 7% to an all-time high after reporting first-quarter earnings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



It took 103 years for the index to top 10,000, set during the dot-com boom in March 1999, another 18 years to cross 20,000, accomplished in Jan. 2017, about 3.5 years to surpass 30,000 in Nov. 2020 and another 3.5 years to eclipse 40,000.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



The Dow differs from the U.S.’ two other leading stock indexes – the S&amp;P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite – in its narrow basket of constituent companies and its weighting based on share prices, rather than market capitalization. Both the S&amp;P and the Nasdaq also sit at record highs. The 3.5-year period between the Dow’s first times above 30,000 and 40,000 was a rollercoaster. Stocks crashed in 2022 as high inflation caused the market to brace for higher interest rates, which typically bring down stock prices as investors opt for higher returns on bonds and react to worsened corporate earnings power due to higher borrowing costs. But even as interest rates climbed to a two-decade high, stocks stormed ahead, helped by expanding price-to-earnings valuations thanks to artificial intelligence optimism, companies’ tightening of their belts and expectations of interest rate cuts beginning this year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



The Dow’s 40,000 milestone is a “big psychological boost” for investors, Chris Zaccarelli, Independent Advisor Alliance’s chief investment officer, wrote in emailed comments.



.

Markets Open After Falling More 800 Points On Tuesday

Dow Crosses 40,000 For First Time In History

There’s mythology and mystery in the mix as gaming developers tap into the rich history of Africa telling stories that go way back in time.



The African gaming market sits on the cusp of global potential as studios shake up Western foundations with mythology, mystery and inclusivity.



In Nigeria, Maliyo Games has partnered with Disney to create a mobile game for an animated series called Iwájú. Mekan Games in Kenya launched a hypercasual game called The President which became the number one mobile game in the United States in 2022 with more than 10 million downloads. Kiro’o Games from Cameroon is a thriving studio producing games, animations and applications. 



And, in South Africa, there’s Khumo Moerane who collaborated with Leti Arts from Ghana to create a game demo called Karmzah Run about a superheroine archaeologist with cerebral palsy. Leti Arts’ game Sweave was recently accepted into the Gameloft platform. Moerane’s parent company is ITTHYNK Gaming and his studio is called Disputed People.



They are also developing an entirely new gaming franchise in South



Africa called PRYDE: The Lion of Africa which is based on African gods and mythology, and is still in development.



“Folklore and mythology are the cultural artifacts of our ancestors. They tell us what our ancient cultures valued and what lessons and morals were so important to them; they wanted to pass them on to future generations,” says Moerane to FORBES AFRICA. “These mythologies give us insight into how our ancestors saw themselves in relation to other people, the land and their spirituality, alongside the flora and fauna of Africa.



“The game taps into the stories that comprise the rich history of Africa as part of the studio’s commitment to celebrating the continent. “We want to reignite the awesome that is Africa.



Remember the wonder and joy of the epic godly powers within us and, in the process, awaken the world to the real magic that sits here, in Africa. These stories have survived despite all the turmoil that has befallen the continent and we want to carry them forward.”



The game is an ambitious one but it has energized Moerane and the people he’s collaborating with to create it because it is Africa- centric. The world is starting to pay attention to African games and the talented people creating them. There’s an energy in the sector that may yet shift the narrative away from Africa being a place where big companies come to sell their games.



“The value has traditionally been concentrated in Europe, America and China as companies do what they can to create games that appeal to those markets,” says Moerane . “I think that’s the tricky part for Africa – how can gaming within this market gain traction and visibility?”



For gamers in Africa, it’s a question most would like answered. Other than South Africans used as ‘bad guys’ in games like Uncharted, or locations across Africa used to enhance the thrill of a game filled with American accents, there are few games that connect directly with the local gamer. Since the first monsters stepped through a portal (Half-Life) or the first space marine battled the forces of hell in space (Doom), gamers in Africa have had little representation.



“I’ve been gaming for years, and it hit me that I’ve never actually played a game with an African hero or set with African mythology. This was an awakening for me,” says Moerane . “It has inspired my work on PRYDE: The Lion of Africa. 



“It has been a challenge – we’ve had to find the right talent to help us. We’ve collaborated with students and with people who want a chance to use their skills to create a game because they love gaming. We’ve also connected with people at game jams, like the one in Kenya. But what we really need is business people who have the acumen to run a studio. Corporate-minded people to support the creatives so this industry can soar,” hopes Moerane.

Khumo Moerane; image supplied

Gaming Gains: The Tech Tapping Into African History

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Novo Nordisk’s weight loss injection semaglutide — the ingredient inside its wildly popular drugs Ozempic and Wegovy — could slash the risk of heart attacks and strokes whether patients lose weight when taking it or not, according to new research, a finding that bolsters the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/04/18/weight-loss-and-diabetes-drugs-like-ozempic-and-mounjaro-could-treat-sleep-apnea-and-parkinsons-too-here-are-other-conditions-scientists-are-looking-at/?sh=62e373b67f76">public health case</a>&nbsp;for the in-demand drug amid increasing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/05/13/bernie-sanders-urges-ozempic-maker-novo-nordisk-to-be-fair-over-outrageously-expensive-us-drug-prices/?sh=2d9c1973404c">concern over costs</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/04/30/wegovy-is-available-again-after-shortages-fda-says-but-supplies-are-still-limited/?sh=4773390761b4">persistent supply issues</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



Patients taking semaglutide had a 20% lower risk of heart attack, stroke or death due to cardiovascular disease after three years of treatment, according to an analysis of data from the five-year Select trial&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-02996-7" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">presented</a>&nbsp;at the European Congress on Obesity conference in Venice, Italy.



Select, which is funded by Novo, involves 17,604 overweight or obese adults over the age of 45 from 41 countries, all of whom have previously had a heart attack, stroke or peripheral artery disease but no diabetes, is the longest clinical trial of Wegovy.



While the cardiovascular benefits of Wegovy are now well recognized, including on the drug’s U.S. label, researchers found patients taking semaglutide received the drug’s cardiovascular benefits of the drug regardless of their starting weight or how much weight they lost when taking it.



University College London’s professor John Deanfield, who led the study, said the “findings have important clinical implications” and suggests semaglutide has another mechanism to lower cardiovascular risk other than reducing unhealthy body fat, adding that many more patients than are taking it now would likely benefit from the drug.



Other&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2307563" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">research</a>&nbsp;based on Select data, also presented at the conference, found patients taking semaglutide were able to maintain weight loss after four years of treatment, which researchers said held across different ages, sexes and races.



Patients taking the drug for four years lost and sustained an average of 10% of their bodyweight while remaining on the medicine, the researchers found, compared to just 1.5% in the placebo group.



Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you&#8217;ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://joinsubtext.com/forbes" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Novo’s semaglutide, alongside Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, the drug inside blockbusters Zepbound and Mounjaro, are at the forefront of a promising<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/03/13/ozempic-and-wegovy-rivals-here-are-the-companies-working-on-competitor-weight-loss-drugs/?sh=11ef23101f52"> class of drugs</a> called GLP-1 agonists causing a huge stir in public health and the pharmaceutical industry. The drugs mimic the action of a gut hormone that plays a role in regulating satiety and blood sugar. They were initially tapped to treat diabetes — such as Mounjaro and Ozempic — before being deployed to treat obesity and, more recently, cardiovascular disease. A <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/04/18/weight-loss-and-diabetes-drugs-like-ozempic-and-mounjaro-could-treat-sleep-apnea-and-parkinsons-too-here-are-other-conditions-scientists-are-looking-at/?sh=3724094f7f76">myriad of other conditions</a> could also benefit, according to growing reports and emerging research, including <a href="https://www.forbes.com/health/body/what-is-sleep-apnea/">sleep apnea</a>, addiction, anxiety, Parkinson’s, kidney disease and fatty liver disease. Obesity is an enduring public health issue in its own right and the weight loss industry is booming even without the health aspect, meaning demand for the drugs is often beyond supply. Both Novo and Lilly readily acknowledge they are unable to keep up and while a range of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/03/13/ozempic-and-wegovy-rivals-here-are-the-companies-working-on-competitor-weight-loss-drugs/?sh=73033ce21f52">competitors</a> from startups to pharma titans are rushing to get their own products to market, it is still <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2024/03/27/heres-why-ozempic-and-mounjaro-rivals-wont-topple-weight-loss-drugmakers-novo-nordisk-and-eli-lilly-anytime-soon/?sh=10a3819b2b38">going to be years</a> until these products make it and there is no guarantee they will equal or trump the incumbents.

Weight Loss Drugs As US Prescriptions Skyrocket

Ozempic Drug Semaglutide Could Cut Heart Risk By 20%—Regardless Of Weight Loss, Study Finds

On the recent three-day visit to Nigeria with her husband Prince Harry, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, impressed, also inadvertently bringing local fashion to the spotlight.



She had joined the Duke of Sussex to the West African country to promote Invictus Games, a multi-sport event empowering serving military members and veterans to overcome physical and mental challenges.



During an event for leading Nigerian women leaders in Abuja, moderated by media mogul Mo Abudu, Markle was on stage, alongside Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), wearing a bright red dress from Oriré (meaning good luck in Yoruba), a bespoke women’s clothing brand, perhaps as a nod to her Nigerian heritage.



Known as the Dire Dress, priced at ₦255,000 ($173), the strappy mid-length outfit quickly went viral on social media.



Perhaps struggling to keep up with the demand, the brand issued a statement on Instagram: &#8220;We are experiencing some downtime on the website due to unanticipated volume of traffic. Our team is working on getting it back up as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.&#8221;



As of now, the online store is back up, with the Dire Dress available for pre-order only.



While on tour, the royal couple also visited the Lightway Academy in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, where they interacted with children and learned about the institution&#8217;s initiatives.



At the Nigeria Unconquered charity in the same city, the Prince engaged in a game of sitting volleyball with army veterans, as Markle watched from the sidelines. He also spent time with wounded and injured Nigerian service members at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria.



&#8220;It’s about looking at the bigger picture – promoting social causes and impacting lives,&#8221; Nigerian analyst Damilare Asiwaju shares with FORBES AFRICA. &#8220;Nigeria right now is going through one of the most difficult times in history and a little bit of social welfare engagement would do no harm.&#8221;



&#8220;Be it the organizing of the charity sporting event for veterans living with disabilities to try and give them a life back or the co-hosting of a women’s leadership event where the advocacy for gender equality was brought to the fore or the inspirational heartwarming discussions with young students, Nigeria didn’t just roll out a red carpet for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex just for public fanfare alone, we benefited from the benevolence of two &#8216;private individuals&#8217; who have dedicated their lives to make the underprivileged &#8216;royalty&#8217; too.&#8221;

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Visit Nigeria – Day 2

Meghan Markle Sparkles On Nigeria Tour With Prince Harry

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Melinda French Gates announced Monday she is leaving the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation next month after more than two decades serving as co-chair, three years after divorcing co-founder Bill Gates following reports of his infidelity and meetings with Jeffrey Epstein.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



French Gates said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/melindagates/status/1790049411227086949/photo/1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement posted to X</a>, formerly known as Twitter, that she didn’t come to this decision “lightly” and she is “immensely proud of the foundation (she and Bill) built together and of the extraordinary work it is doing to address inequities around the world.”



French Gates said that, under the terms of her agreement with her ex-husband to leave the foundation, she will have “an additional $12.5 billion” to use in her “work on behalf of women and families,” possible through her organization Pivotal Ventures, which she founded to advance social progress for women and families.



A Gates Foundation spokesperson told Forbes the $12.5 billion will not come out of the foundation trust, but is “the subject of a personal agreement Bill and Melinda made” and will come from Bill’s personal account.



The couple announced they were getting a divorce in 2021, but said at the time Melinda French Gates, one of the most powerful women in philanthropy, would stay on as co-chair.



Her last day at the foundation will be June 7.



Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts:&nbsp;We’re launching text message alerts so you&#8217;ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to&nbsp;<a href="https://tel:2013350739/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">(201) 335-0739</a>&nbsp;or sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://joinsubtext.com/forbes" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



In a separate&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/1790049639330402416" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement posted to X</a>, Bill Gates thanked French Gates for her work with the foundation, saying: “Melinda has been instrumental in shaping our strategies and initiatives, significantly impacting global health and gender equality.” He also reiterated he is still “fully committed to the Foundation’s work across all our strategies.”



PROMOTED



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



The Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation will change its name to the Gates Foundation after French Gates’ departure as a way to “honor Bill Sr.’s legacy and Melinda’s contributions,” CEO Mark Suzman said in a notice to employees shared with Forbes. Moving forward, Bill Gates will be the sole chair.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forbes-valuation">FORBES VALUATION</h2>



We&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/melinda-french-gates/?sh=410f03972fcc">estimate</a>&nbsp;French Gates to have a net worth of about $11.3 billion as of Monday afternoon, making her the 182nd wealthiest person in the world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



The BIll &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation was started by the couple in 2000 on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/foundation-fact-sheet" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">belief</a>&nbsp;“that every life has equal value.” Over the past two decades, the foundation has given grants for work in gender equality, global health and global policy, and French Gates has focused on “family planning, maternal and child health,” according to her&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindagates/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>. At the end of 2022—which is the most recent financial information available—the foundation had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2024/01/25/bill--melinda-gates-foundation-chief-calls-on-more-billionaires-to-do-more-philanthropy/?sh=c547a9b17a68">about $68 billion in assets</a>&nbsp;with another $68 billion in the Gates Foundation Trust. In 2021, the couple divorced after 27 years amid rumors of Bill Gates’ promiscuity and relationship with Epstein, who Gates had known since 2011 and continued to spend time with despite French Gates expressing displeasure, The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/16/business/bill-melinda-gates-divorce-epstein.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">New York Times</a>&nbsp;reported. The Wall Street Journal reported French Gates had been considering divorce as early as 2019 after she found out about Gates’ continued meetings with Epstein. Following the divorce, the couple said they would allow themselves&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelsandler/2021/07/07/if-bill-and-melinda-gates-cant-work-together-after-2-years-melinda-will-step-down-from-gates-foundation/?sh=3200ee40609b">a two-year trial period</a>&nbsp;to determine whether they could continue leading the foundation together and, if they couldn’t, French Gates would step down.



.

Clinton Global Initiative September 2022 Meeting – Day 1

Melinda French Gates Leaving Gates Foundation After More Than 20 Years

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Dating app Bumble said it’s removing billboards seemingly targeted at women that discourage celibacy after receiving backlash online from women who feel the messaging delegitimizes women’s freedom of choice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



After deleting all of its old posts on Instagram, Bumble teased a rebrand on its social media platforms, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6Yy8aXumhT/?igsh=eGl3OGgxZXZzbDY2" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">launched</a>&nbsp;April 30 by saying dating needs a “wake-up call,” and featuring historic images of women “<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C6WxszTJbPx/?igsh=YjNzb2NwOWM1Njc3" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">exhausted</a>&nbsp;from the dating scene.”



However, pictures of some of Bumble’s new billboards&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@madisonissofetch/photo/7368201692938013995?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESPgo8I6NUvFGxWd7SMDmdnIbmEVYr46g94WweCsKhaNTP008%2F3Dx%2Bww5Hm37zzmumluxAQ2CCjJIdnsQR%2BrMBGgA%3D&amp;_r=1&amp;checksum=d6d216e44631ba6181843626b73751a55e0066fd1cf458a4b30ba50bd88046bf&amp;preview_pb=0&amp;sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAA56GKvbqlBu-PDz5ykOH3DgMGbj_1dbD6oIlfB-Ax-OW65ZCMuEh8xDPoy9r8rFJE&amp;share_app_id=1233&amp;share_item_id=7368201692938013995&amp;share_link_id=38C5FD74-C2CA-4D65-8064-D989C60C8BB5&amp;sharer_language=en&amp;social_share_type=14&amp;source=h5_m&amp;timestamp=1715615852&amp;tt_from=more&amp;u_code=da6mfjh616m2fm&amp;ug_btm=b0%2Cb2878&amp;user_id=6778275755265737734&amp;utm_campaign=client_share&amp;utm_medium=ios&amp;utm_source=more" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">went viral</a>&nbsp;on social media due to their suggestion that celibacy isn’t the answer to dating; the ads, which feature images of women, include messaging like “Thou shalt not give up on dating and become a nun,” and “You know full well a vow of celibacy is not the answer.”



A Sunday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C633OMnOp3t/?igsh=MWU0aGViaG8yMjRqeA%3D%3D" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Instagram post</a>&nbsp;from Bumble celebrating Mother’s Day was flooded with comments from users encouraging women to “stay celibate,” while others declared they will delete their Bumble accounts because the company’s “main interest is not women, but the patriarchy.”



Some social media users&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@madisonissofetch/photo/7368201692938013995?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESPgo8I6NUvFGxWd7SMDmdnIbmEVYr46g94WweCsKhaNTP008%2F3Dx%2Bww5Hm37zzmumluxAQ2CCjJIdnsQR%2BrMBGgA%3D&amp;_r=1&amp;checksum=d6d216e44631ba6181843626b73751a55e0066fd1cf458a4b30ba50bd88046bf&amp;preview_pb=0&amp;sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAA56GKvbqlBu-PDz5ykOH3DgMGbj_1dbD6oIlfB-Ax-OW65ZCMuEh8xDPoy9r8rFJE&amp;share_app_id=1233&amp;share_item_id=7368201692938013995&amp;share_link_id=38C5FD74-C2CA-4D65-8064-D989C60C8BB5&amp;sharer_language=en&amp;social_share_type=14&amp;source=h5_m&amp;timestamp=1715615852&amp;tt_from=more&amp;u_code=da6mfjh616m2fm&amp;ug_btm=b0%2Cb2878&amp;user_id=6778275755265737734&amp;utm_campaign=client_share&amp;utm_medium=ios&amp;utm_source=more" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">feel like</a>&nbsp;Bumble’s new anti-celibacy campaign is “counterintuitive to its origin story,” which was a dating app “where women&nbsp;<a href="https://bumble.com/about" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">set the tone</a>,” and can find romantic relationships or new platonic friends.



One TikTok creator—whose&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@emangetalife/video/7368186297086758187?_r=1&amp;_t=8mJuLYRbEQU" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">viral video</a>&nbsp;has almost 450,000 views—said Bumble is “delegitimizing our celibacy because you want males to have more access to our bodies,” captioning the video “4B 4LLLLLL,” a reference to the Korean feminist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thecut.com/2023/03/4b-movement-feminism-south-korea.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">4B movement</a>, which is the refusal of childbirth, heterosexual marriage, dating and heterosexual sexual relationships.



Bumble told Forbes Monday it included the celibacy ads “as a response to the frustrations of dating,” but it’s in the process of removing the ads due to the concerns it’s received from customers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



“We have heard the concerns shared about the ad’s language and understand that rather than highlighting a current sentiment towards dating, it may have had a negative impact on some of our community,” Bumble told Forbes. “This was not our intention and we are in the process of removing it from our marketing campaign, and will continue to listen to the feedback from our members.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Bumble was released in December 2014, and received over 100,000 downloads within its first month, according to Forbes’&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2017/11/14/billion-dollar-bumble-how-whitney-wolfe-herd-built-americas-fastest-growing-dating-app/?sh=682cb625248b">reporting</a>. It set itself apart from other dating apps because it relied on women making the first move and sending the first message after a match. The point of this was to “feel more polite and walled-off” than other dating apps like Tinder—which is infamously known for its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.papermag.com/tinder-it-starts-with-swipe#rebelltitem18" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">hookup culture</a>. However, as a part of Bumble’s rebrand, the company launched the “Opening Moves” feature in April, which lets women put questions on their dating profiles, allowing men to send the first message after a match. Whitney Wolfe Herd—Bumble’s co-founder and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2023/11/06/former-billionaire-whitney-wolfe-herd-out-as-bumble-ceo-amid-stocks-80-slide/?sh=2d4eb8e1235e">former CEO</a>—<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/style/bumble-dating-apps.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;The New York Times the new feature was introduced after receiving feedback from women who felt like sending the first message was a burden.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



The rise of celibacy among women has grown in recent years. Though it’s popular among religious groups, many young women have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-women-abstaining-sex-celibacy-dating-hook-up-culture-2023-4" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;they’re not celibate because of religion, but instead to reevaluate their relationships with men. Actress Julia Fox even weighed in on the celibacy conversation,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ferociouskatie/photo/7367755849294449963?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESPgo88eO0qVS1uRspk6%2FTRKIKdgRHOPkkHg5Gu4pfnLy%2FmAj4xbKm7mlbm3Y%2BuxbwvoZ338e26eWcxVt1kRHnGgA%3D&amp;_r=1&amp;checksum=6aa28a9dfb43210fd172ef3b58fe733eb334faaa0285f729041e49a1c74fd5a9&amp;preview_pb=0&amp;sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAA56GKvbqlBu-PDz5ykOH3DgMGbj_1dbD6oIlfB-Ax-OW65ZCMuEh8xDPoy9r8rFJE&amp;share_app_id=1233&amp;share_item_id=7367755849294449963&amp;share_link_id=4B235F1A-9440-48F8-A199-74565EE9BE47&amp;sharer_language=en&amp;social_share_type=14&amp;source=h5_m&amp;timestamp=1715621854&amp;tt_from=more&amp;u_code=da6mfjh616m2fm&amp;ug_btm=b5836%2Cb2878&amp;user_id=6778275755265737734&amp;utm_campaign=client_share&amp;utm_medium=ios&amp;utm_source=more" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">commenting</a>&nbsp;“2.5 years of celibacy and never better tbh” on a viral TikTok video that featured pictures of Bumble’s celibacy ads.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



4 million. That’s how many paying users Bumble had in 2023, according to a February&nbsp;<a href="https://ir.bumble.com/news/news-details/2024/Bumble-Inc.-Announces-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2023-Results/default.aspx" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">announcement</a>. Its app revenue increased by 22% to $884.8 million last year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forbes-valuation">FORBES VALUATION</h2>



Forbes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/whitney-wolfe-herd/?sh=31c2a0493147">estimates</a>&nbsp;Wolfe Herd’s net worth at $400 million.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2023/11/06/former-billionaire-whitney-wolfe-herd-out-as-bumble-ceo-amid-stocks-80-slide/?sh=2d4eb8e1235e">Former Billionaire Whitney Wolfe Herd Out As Bumble CEO Amid Stock’s 80% Slide</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2017/11/14/billion-dollar-bumble-how-whitney-wolfe-herd-built-americas-fastest-growing-dating-app/?sh=682cb625248b">Billion-Dollar Bumble: How Whitney Wolfe Herd Built America&#8217;s Fastest-Growing Dating App</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/style/bumble-dating-apps.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Women on Bumble No Longer Have to Make the First Move</a>&nbsp;(New York Times)



<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/style/bumble-dating-apps.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Tinder Is Helping Redefine &#8216;Hookup Culture&#8217;</a>&nbsp;(Paper)



<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-women-abstaining-sex-celibacy-dating-hook-up-culture-2023-4" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Frustrated with hookup culture, Gen Z women are swearing off sex and entering their &#8216;celibacy era&#8217;</a>&nbsp;(Business Insider)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/"></a>

Blackstone Seeks Payout From Bumble Loan Amid Online Dating Boom

Bumble Removing Controversial Celibacy Ads Following Online Backlash: What To Know

On a bright summer day in March in South Africa, Oleksandra Romantsova is at Vilakazi Street in Johannesburg’s sprawling Soweto township. She now has a connection with this historic street that has produced two Nobel Peace Prize laureates – Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.



In 2022, the Center for Civil Liberties, where she is Executive Director in Ukraine, also won the Nobel Peace Prize for its advocacy and work documenting war crimes as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.



Romantsova is wearing blue nail polish and a big smile, as she speaks about education, children, women and peace. The Sakhumzi restaurant where we are is vibrant with chatter, color, and South African culinary specialties, and Romantsova has a full view of the street, from one end to another, marveling at the houses where Tutu and Mandela lived.



She harks back to that emotional moment when she received news, on the phone, of the Nobel Peace Prize win in 2022.



“[When] they called, I was startled. After they told me, all my English left my head,” Romantsova laughs. “I think in the end, I cried.”



Romantsova started working at the Center for Civil Liberties in Kyiv, Ukraine, a decade ago. The human rights activist subsequently became Executive Director and is currently documenting the ongoing war. “I’ve been going to each village, to see how many people have been killed. I have seen torture and damaged schools and hospitals. I have seen the streets and nice places absolutely destroyed. That’s why often, when we speak about justice, nobody reacts normally. Nobody reacts enough to stop them. When you don’t have justice, evil always wins.”



Part of her work is traveling with her colleagues to expound on regional security, children’s rights, and nuclear security. The young democracy of South Africa intrigues her, as she sees how young people have become heavily involved with human rights justice.



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="In Conversation with Oleksandra Romantsova on Women’s Leadership in Crises and Conflict" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0zJPRJB5z5I?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



“Because we need a lot that needs to be built, and started earlier,” Romantsova explains. “We need children from school to know about their rights… democracy is not only what you can get, but democracy is also what you’re responsible for.”



The Center for Civil Liberties joins a coalition of Ukrainian human rights organizations whose aim is to bring to justice any and all perpetrators responsible for war crimes in Ukraine, and have reportedly registered more than 33,000 potential violations, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression and genocide.



Part of Romantsova’s work is to also support women.



She says there are as many as 60,000 women on the frontline in Ukraine. The “Soviet Union tradition” dictated that women could not take up jobs as professional snipers, but could be translators, kitchen staff or medicine workers.



“Now that we have fought to have women [there], we have had to [overhaul] the whole system. For example, now volunteers support women by having [special bulletproof vests] for them because the one for men will not work for women.”



Romantsova sees South Africa’s freedom movement as a template for Ukraine.



“South Africa’s solidarity movement is something that is absolutely impressive,” she says. “It’s not only about the history of the freedom for Africans, but I see a lot of



reflection, and a lot of connection with topics for women’s rights, children’s rights and all our common responsibilities for working and organizing this as a common mechanism to support people. “The solidarity movement of South Africa is a great example for us and we really want to collaborate with this true human spirit, which is exactly what I feel during all my trips to South Africa.”

IMG_1431

The Road To the Nobel Peace Prize: From Kyiv To South Africa’s Vilakazi Street

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Israeli singer Eden Golan advanced to the final round of the Eurovision song competition and will sing later Saturday, as thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators continue to protest in the event’s host city of Malmo, Sweden, calling for Israel’s exclusion from the competition over the Israel-Hamas war.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



Protesters, including Swedish climate activist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/greta-thunberg-israel-eurovision-protest-b2543145.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Greta Thunberg</a>, have been gathering in Malmo&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/thousands-pro-palestinian-protesters-march-malmo-israels-eurovision-110072764" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">for days</a>&nbsp;with large crowds gathering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snAhNf87FXo" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Saturday</a>&nbsp;ahead of the finals amid as calls for Israel’s expulsion—and Thunberg was arrested by Swedish police amid a standoff with officers Saturday afternoon, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68749936" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">BBC</a>&nbsp;reported.



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2024/03/29/nine-eurovision-acts-call-for-israel-hamas-cease-fire-but-will-stop-short-of-boycott/?sh=3d165af67be2">Boycotts</a>&nbsp;of the competition began before it even started.



Israeli singer Eden Golan has been thrust into the center of the international controversy surrounding Israel’s war in Gaza, receiving heavy security and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/israeli-eurovision-contestant-eden-golan-214952660.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reportedly</a>&nbsp;ordered by security to stay in her hotel room when not performing due to safety concerns.



The 20-year-old Golan has been repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/AvivaKlompas/status/1789164572609261626" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">booed on stage</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/eden-golan-again-booed-during-rehearsal-hours-before-eurovision-final/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">dress</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/eden-golan-booed-at-eurovision-dress-rehearsal-vows-not-to-be-deterred/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">rehearsals</a>&nbsp;and formal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jta.org/2024/05/10/culture/israels-eden-golan-advances-to-eurovision-final-as-thousands-protest-in-malmo" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">performances</a>, but still earned enough&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/defying-haters-israels-eden-golan-advances-to-the-eurovision-grand-final-on-saturday/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">votes</a>&nbsp;after her Thursday semi-final performance to advance into Saturday’s finals.



Dutch performer Joost Klein was expelled Saturday morning after Swedish police investigated a “complaint made by a female member of the production crew,” and while no charges have been filed, “it would not be appropriate for him to continue in the contest,” according to Eurovision organizer the&nbsp;<a href="https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/statement-dutch-participation-eurovision-song-contest" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">European Broadcasting Union</a>.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-time-is-the-eurovision-finals-and-where-is-it-streaming">WHAT TIME IS THE EUROVISION FINALS—AND WHERE IS IT STREAMING?</h2>



In the U.S., the Eurovision finals start at 3 p.m. EDT. It’ll stream live on Peacock, and in some areas it will be livestreamed on the Eurovision&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@EurovisionSongContest/streams" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">YouTube channel.</a>&nbsp;A full list of broadcasters for every participating country can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://eurovision.tv/how-to-watch" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">here.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-section-title">SECTION TITLE</h2>



When news broke that Klein’s participation in the contest was under review, it prompted false speculation it may have been somehow related to Golan. Tensions flared at a press conference earlier this week when Golan was asked if she believed her presence at the event posed a safety threat to the other contestants and was told by a moderator she didn’t have to answer the question, prompting Klein to shout,&nbsp;<a href="https://news.sky.com/video/eurovision-netherlands-contestant-joost-klein-shouts-out-during-question-for-israels-eden-golan-13132973" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">“Why not?”</a>&nbsp;But the EBU said in its statement about Klein’s exit: “contrary to some media reports and social media speculation, this incident did not involve any other performer or delegation member.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



20,000. That’s how many protesters Swedish police were expecting in Malmo on Saturday, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/swedish-police-some-20000-set-to-protest-eden-golans-participation-in-eurovision/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Times of Israel.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



Croatia is the betting favorite to win the competition, though Israel has risen up the ranks to No. 2, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://eurovisionworld.com/odds/eurovision" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Eurovision World</a>, a website that tracks the competition&#8217;s betting odds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Pro-Palestinian protesters have been calling for Israel to be excluded from the competition and other boycotts as the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has raged on. In March, after several groups of musicians pressured contestants to boycott the competition, and nine Eurovision artists released a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2024/03/29/nine-eurovision-acts-call-for-israel-hamas-cease-fire-but-will-stop-short-of-boycott/?sh=727ddfa67be2">joint statement&nbsp;</a>calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, but stopped short of pulling out of competing. The European Broadcasting Union has resisted calls to exclude Israel from the event, but did ask Golan to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-unveils-revised-eurovision-song-after-lyrics-controversy-2024-03-10/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">change the lyrics</a>&nbsp;to her original entry song, “Hurricane,” which was inspired by the events of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The song was originally titled “October Rain” and included more specific allusions to the attack, but the contest said it required all songs to be non-political.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



“Be blessed, and know that when they boo you, we are cheering you on,” said Israeli Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://news.sky.com/video/eurovision-netanyahu-sends-support-to-israels-contestant-eden-golan-13132828" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1788623007990050922" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">video statement&nbsp;</a>to Golan on X earlier this week.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chief-critic">CHIEF CRITIC</h2>



Climate activist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/greta-thunberg-israel-eurovision-protest-b2543145.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Greta Thunberg</a>&nbsp;accused Israel of “artwashing” its actions in Gaza, alleging the country is using the competition to distract from an alleged “genocide” of Palestinian people.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/05/11/what-is-eurovision-a-guide-for-confused-americans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FORBESWhat Is Eurovision? A Guide For Confused AmericansBy&nbsp;Robert Hart</a>



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Police intervene and detain during protests against Israel’s Eurovision Song Contest participation in Malmo

Greta Thunberg Arrested At Eurovision Finals Where Israel’s Eden Golan Competes

The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) All-Share Index has reached new heights since the start of the year, propelled by fresh government policies. Despite challenges in other macroeconomic indicators such as inflation, exchange rates, and lending rates, the equity market has doubled in value within this timeframe. Experts weigh in.



The Nigerian stock market has witnessed a surge in recent months, with the number of companies boasting Stocks Worth Over ₦1 trillion ($688 million) or SWOOTs, reportedly increasing from eight to 14. This surge, fueled by an uptick in Nigerian banks’ share prices, reflects a notable shift in investor sentiment towards the African giant’s equities market.



Investors have flocked to the Nigerian stock market seeking returns, which has led to its all-share index (ASI) appreciating by 11% or 8,269 basis points in the first two weeks of the year. This bullish sentiment propelled Nigeria to the forefront as the best-performing stock market in the world in the first three weeks of the year with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) gaining a year-to-date (YTD) return of 40%.



Several key factors are reshaping the investment landscape. One critical driver is the subdued yield in the fixed income sphere relative to escalating inflation rates. Nigeria’s headline inflation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration increased to 31.70% in February.



This dynamic prompts investors to reassess their asset allocation strategies, tilting towards equities to seek a more favorable risk-return balance. Traditionally, fixed income instruments, renowned for their stability, lose appeal when their returns dwindle, prompting a capital shift towards the buoyant stock market.



Indigenous pension funds and institutional investors are also rekindling their interest in the Nigerian market, injecting renewed vigor into equities trading. This resurgence in confidence forms a virtuous cycle, driven by the pursuit of superior returns amidst an inflationary environment, thereby elevating the appeal of equities. Particularly, banking stocks are in the limelight, fueled by anticipated robust earnings and dividend payouts.



According to reports, last year’s SWOOTs, at some point, included MTN Nigeria, Dangote Cement, Airtel Africa, BUA Foods, BUA Cement, Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc), and Seplat Energy. Joining their ranks more recently were Access Holdings, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Transcorp Hotels, and Geregu Power, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings and Dangote Sugar, but due to the fluctuating nature of the market, some of these additions may have dipped below the ₦1 trillion market cap mark.



DANGOTE CEMENT MAKES HISTORY AS NIGERIA’S FIRST ₦10 TRILLION MARKET CAP COMPANY



The milestone moment arrived on January 22 when Dangote Cement Plc, a subsidiary of Dangote Industries founded in 1981 by Africa’s wealthiest billionaire, Aliko Dangote, became the first Nigerian company to hit the ₦10 trillion ($6.88 billion) market cap mark. With its share price soaring to ₦592.60 ($0.41) at the time, Dangote Cement’s market cap reached ₦10.095 trillion ($6.95 billion), firmly cementing its position among Africa’s largest corporations. It is also the only Nigerian company among the top 10 largest African companies based on market cap, with the rest being South African companies.



At the end of 2023, Dangote Cement Plc ranked third on the list of companies with the highest market capitalization in the NGX, behind Airtel Africa and MTN Nigeria.



It is believed that Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola reportedly acquiring $6.73 million-worth stake in Dangote Cement Plc, the only cement company in Nigeria with two export terminals, with a reported combined export capacity of eight million tons per annum, had an impact.



“The growth in revenue was due to a few reasons. Firstly, we delivered double digit volume growth in our pan-Africa business. Secondly, we realized some price increases in line with inflationary realities, especially in some of our pan-Africa operations. Thirdly, there was an improvement in our product and location mix, thereby optimizing our sales for better economic value,” Dangote Cement Plc’s Group Managing Director, Arvind Pathak, told FORBES AFRICA in an exclusive interview when the company reported a profit of ₦178.6 billion ($234.8 million) in the first half of last year.



BEYOND NUMBERS, TOWARDS ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION



The ripple effects of Nigeria’s stock market boom extend beyond financial metrics, signaling broader implications for the economy and investor sentiment.



Seyi Ebenezer, Advisory Board Member of Payaza, a payment service provider, views the rise of SWOOTs as a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts.



“The rise of SWOOTs is a significant development for the Nigerian economy, with both positive and potential challenges,” Ebenezer tells FORBES AFRICA as he analyzes the impact on the country’s economic landscape.



According to him, sustaining this momentum hinges on various contingencies. The interest rate hike by four hundred basis points to 22.75% from 18.75% by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in February initially triggered a downturn in the equities market, hinting at a potential resurgence in bond attractiveness and a consequent diversion of investments away from stocks.



Profit-taking behaviors among investors, driven by attained targets in anticipation of dividends, could also precipitate a market correction, temporarily deflating stock prices.



Ebenezer highlights the diversification potential inherent in a robust stock market, asserting, “A strong and diverse stock market may signify a less oil-reliant economy, providing more stability amidst fluctuating oil prices.” Emphasizing the importance of industry diversification, he notes: “The rise of these companies signals Nigeria’s ability to attract investment across various sectors.” He underscores the limited presence of oil and gas companies among the SWOOTs, indicating a shift away from reliance on the energy sector.



Recently, Nigeria’s costly oil industry has experienced a downturn.



While acknowledging the enduring importance of oil, Ebenezer stresses, “A well-developed stock market is a strong indicator of progress towards a more diversified and resilient Nigerian economy.”



Ebenezer also highlights the potential of SWOOTs to enhance Nigeria’s investment appeal.



“The success of these companies can boost Nigeria’s image as an attractive investment destination, potentially attracting more foreign businesses and partnerships. These large companies demonstrate the ability of Nigerian businesses to achieve significant scale and profitability. This success story serves as a beacon for potential investors, showcasing the potential for growth in the Nigerian market.” However, Ebenezer cautions against overreliance on SWOOTs, noting, “A large concentration of wealth in a few companies can make the stock market more susceptible to fluctuations.” He also notes the need for equitable wealth distribution and emphasizes the importance of strong corporate governance practices to maintain investor confidence. Added to this is the importance of innovation and broader investor participation to ensure the continued growth and stability of SWOOTs.



“Encouraging broader participation in the stock market by individual investors can help distribute the wealth generated and create a more stable market base,” says Ebenezer.



Globally, interest rates and commodity prices play significant roles in influencing investor sentiment towards Nigerian equities.



“These factors serve as the bedrock of market confidence and directly impact investment decisions,” Nigerian exporter Oluwaseun Obilana shares with FORBES AFRICA.



Obilana also sheds light on the symbiotic relationship between commodity prices and investor sentiment.



“Nigeria’s economy is intricately tied to commodity exports such as oil, cocoa, and agriculture,” he remarks.



“Fluctuations in global commodity prices directly impact revenue streams, corporate profitability, and ultimately, investor sentiment towards Nigerian equities.”



Drawing from his firsthand experience as an exporter, he underscores the importance of diversification in mitigating the volatility associated with commodity prices.



“Diversifying export portfolios beyond oil dependency, is essential for long-term sustainability,” he says.



“Investors are more inclined towards equities of companies with diversified revenue streams, as they are less susceptible to commodity price shocks.”



Ebenezer suggests that a decrease in U.S. Federal Reserve interest rates could attract foreign investors seeking higher returns, thereby increasing capital inflows into the local market.



Traders closely monitored the U.S. Fed’s decision on March 20, with major stock averages hovering around the same levels in anticipation.



Treasury yields remained stable ahead of the Fed’s announcement, with the two-year Treasury rate dropping slightly to 4.675% and the 10-year yield decreasing to 4.279%, according to CNBC. Ultimately, the Fed decided to maintain interest rates within the range of 5.25% to 5.50% for the fifth consecutive time, aligning with market expectations. It also reaffirmed its earlier projection of three rate cuts by year-end, shown by its dot plot. Reports further indicated that “nine of the Fed’s 19 policymakers see three quarter-point rate cuts this year, and nine see two or less; only one penciled in more cuts than the median, compared with five in December.”



While the NGX’s performance is driven by various factors, understanding both internal and external variables is crucial for navigating future market dynamics. Amidst this growth, considerations abound, highlights Nigerian business analyst, Liadi Oluwaseyi Jimoh, as he cautions investors about the heightened market volatility.



“Rapid growth can lead to increased market volatility, making it essential for investors to carefully assess risks and potential fluctuations in stock prices.”



“Increased market capitalization does not always guarantee deep liquidity, which could affect the ease of buying and selling stocks, especially during turbulent market conditions.”

Closeup shot of two person trading Nigerian naira and US dollar

Nigeria’s Trillion-Naira Companies Multiply

Researchers from New York University looked at the biological effects of discrimination and found it may cause accelerated aging, building on prior research that found discrimination may contribute to health problems like depression and heart issues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



The researchers followed over 2,000 participants either between 2004 and 2009, or 2012 and 2016; 81% identified as white, 19% identified as Black, the average age was 53 years old and more than half were women, according to the study published Thursday in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity-Health.



Participants were surveyed on whether they experienced three types of discrimination: everyday discrimination, which is subtle instances of disrespect in daily life; major discrimination, which includes more severe actions like police brutality or being denied from buying a home; and workplace discrimination, which is unfair treatment and hindered professional growth at work.



Previous research has already linked discrimination to health issues like heart problems and depression—which may cause accelerated aging—so the researchers looked at discrimination-related aging on a molecular level by scoring participants on DNA markers used to assess the biological impacts of aging.



They found participants who reported higher levels of all forms of discrimination had higher biological aging scores—meaning they aged faster—than those with the lowest levels, though everyday and major discrimination had more severe effects than workplace discrimination.



Exposure to discrimination can also trigger other physiological and behavioral responses like poor sleep and higher&nbsp;<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22187-cortisol" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">cortisol</a>&nbsp;levels—a hormone that can cause weight gain, high blood pressure and high blood sugar if too high—which may also cause faster aging, according to the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



Although Black participants experienced the most discrimination, and therefore had higher aging scores, white participants who did experience discrimination were more susceptible to the impacts of it. The researchers believe this may be due to white participants having fewer coping mechanisms, since they don’t experience discrimination as much. Previous&nbsp;<a href="https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2007.114397" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">research</a>&nbsp;also found white people experienced more severe effects of discrimination, including higher mortality rates, than Black people.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



“Experiencing discrimination appears to hasten the process of aging, which may be contributing to disease and early mortality, and fueling health disparities,” Adolfo Cuevas, senior author and an assistant professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at NYU’s School of Global Public Health, said in a statement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Discrimination may lead to other health issues. People who experienced intermediate levels of discrimination in the workplace were 22% more likely to develop high blood pressure compared to those who didn’t, and participants who experienced high levels of discrimination were 54% more likely to develop high blood pressure,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/04/26/workplace-discrimination-linked-to-high-blood-pressure-risk#:~:text=Those%20who%20said%20they%20experienced,their%20peers%20who%20did%20not." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the American Heart Association. Young adults who experience discrimination at least a few times a month are 25% more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder and twice as likely to develop severe psychological distress than people who didn’t experience discrimination or did less often, a 2021&nbsp;<a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/148/6/e2021051378/183387/Discrimination-and-Subsequent-Mental-Health?autologincheck=redirected" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;found. Everyday discrimination&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2794428" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">significantly increases</a>&nbsp;moderate to severe depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Coping mechanisms like smoking are increased due to discrimination, which can then lead to heart issues,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2024/february/discrimination-smoking-heart-health.html#:~:text=Discrimination%20is%20another%20social%20determinant,to%20the%20thickening%20of%20arteries." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to previous research from NYU. Discrimination is linked to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/04/05/discrimination-linked-to-higher-risk-of-death-particularly-from-cardiovascular-disease" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">higher rates</a>&nbsp;of death, especially from heart disease.



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The paper written as discrimination is torn on wood. Concept of abolition of discrimination.

Discrimination May Cause People To Age Faster—And Affect White People Most, Study Suggests

Tall and in colorful five-inch Louis Vuitton heels, epitomizing grace and success, Sabrina Elba, the model, United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), activist and founder of S’ABLE Labs, was in Johannesburg on March 8, when she spoke passionately to a packed ballroom of female powerhouses at the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit, on the challenges of being a black female founder, about African botanicals and her work with husband and Hollywood icon Idris Elba. 



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A multi-hyphenate, Sabrina Elba launched S’ABLE Labs with her husband Idris Elba, aware that quality products for melanated skin were lacking. Her company works to build a more ethical and transparent supply chain focused on the wellness of the planet and its people by partnering with local farmers in West Africa, Somalia, and South Africa, among others. Here are excerpts from the interview:



Q. You’re from Vancouver, now based in London with Idris Elba. You are of Somali heritage and Idris Elba’s parents are from Sierra Leone and Ghana. Besides the shared history, you have common goals, such as climate change, farming and food security in Africa and been on several platforms together. How have you both managed to revitalize your interest in Africa?



A. We’ve always been passionate about Africa, and it’s actually one of the reasons we connected the way we did; him being from West Africa and myself from East Africa; we always had this passion to give back. I came back to visit a lot and he did too; we were in love with Africa. And the reason we actually ended up in agriculture together, is because we both have this mission, this big dream to see Africa for its full potential. And it’s one of the reasons we work with IFAD as well, because we both agree that the aid model can be very cyclical. And IFAD is just one of the amazing organizations that looks at adaptation for rural people, that has long-term solutions, that builds independence, that presents Africa as an investment opportunity, and that was something we were super passionate about. So, we actually bonded on this, which is crazy that we both get to do the work together now. And I’m so thankful to be back whenever I can. It’s funny because everyone’s like, ‘oh, don’t you just love going East?’, I’m like, ‘no, I love going everywhere’. I genuinely love the continent. It’s such an amazing place, and we love Johannesburg!



Q. You’ve been married for over five years now – we’ve all seen pictures of that beautiful ceremony in Morocco. You have said before that you’ve always been encouraged by your husband’s entrepreneurial sense. You’re also a celebrity who cares, because you have set up not just ‘another beauty project’. You’re using African ingredients, going back to the roots of our traditions, for your skincare brand. Tell us how this journey has been, inculcating African culture.



A. I’ve definitely grown an entrepreneurial bone. I didn’t think I had one. I wanted to be a lawyer my whole youth. And then of course, I met this amazing guy and was like, ‘maybe I’ll go to London for like two years and see what that’s like’; I never went back to Vancouver. And I watched Idris be his own boss, start business after business, because he was so passionate about the things he was doing he wanted to do it himself to have that power and control to navigate the spaces he was in, in a way that has fundamentally built his personality, his persona, and I admired that. But when it came to starting the skincare business together, I was in a place where I had done so much work with agriculture before, with IFAD&#8230; And I was in a place where I came around to beauty as a concept because I was so frustrated with my skin and being now able to showcase these amazing botanicals from all over the continent, and showcase them in a way that really boosts their efficacy with other ingredients. 



For example, we have the African resurrection plant in one of our new products; combined with okra and retinol, people get this beautiful marriage of botanicals. Science has become such a passion of mine. And African botanicals are so powerful. They exist in the harshest climates, and are more powerful than other antioxidants we’re seeing around the world. So, it’s this notion that people should start looking to African founders and black founders as the experts that lead in a lot of these issues around skin. And I’m excited to see that change. There’s this weird conception that ‘oh, there’s a black founder behind this brand, I guess it’s only for black skin’. Just because it’s a black founder doesn’t mean you put our group of consumers in this tiny hole. If you go to a retailer in the U.S., you’ll find products catered towards African skin or black skin or black hair in a separate section… So, the retailer’s then telling the customer ‘these products aren’t for you; it’s for a different set of people’. And I think that has done more harm than good… We discovered, through the work we’re doing, how abusive the agricultural sector is. If you look at shea in West Africa, it’s unfair wages, unsafe working conditions.



I mean, people are dying, children are dying. For what, for shea beauty products on our bathroom counters? It was the silliest thing I’ve heard, and we didn’t want to contribute to that. So, we do our own sourcing… we do clinical studies for each of the products so we can show how efficacious they are. So, it’s not just a farmer walking into a room saying ‘buy my ingredient because it’s this powerful’, he can actually have clinical data sheets to now back up how powerful it is, which was so important to us, because most brands will come in and test the formulation together, but we really wanted to show the strength of these ingredients on their own and then the strength of the product. And then, we have these amazing results and people tell us ‘your new product [leads to] 120% reduction [of ] hyper-pigmentation, how do you do that’ and we say ‘it’s African botanicals’… that’s become such a point of pride for us to be able to sit in a room and talk about how okra is good for your skin. We’re just trying to give it a bit more light, shine and context in what we’re doing. Because if you look to your auntie, your great grandma, they know what they’re doing when it comes to skin and wellness. They are true innovators.



Q. What were or are the challenges of being a black beauty founder?



A. Sometimes, I walk into a big meeting or an investor meeting, and they won’t see me as the CEO, they’ll want to have a meeting with Idris. And I’m like, ‘no, no, I’m right here, what do you want to talk about, I can talk numbers too’. But it’s just that you really have to step up your presence to be able to hold your own in rooms like that. I am privileged also to say the brand has had a lot of traction, because it is founder-led. Although, sometimes, that can work against skincare, when there’s a celebrity every week launching a brand. And I’m like, ‘just go away, if you’re not passionate about this, go away’. But at the same time, it’s given us access through a lot of doors, and I’m forever thankful for that. And we’ve been able to grow the brand. And I say we’re moving at the speed of trust, because we have these small conversations in rooms, and we really talk about how the products are efficacious. And, and how we look at hyperpigmentation, a holistic view, and we have these amazing, intimate conversations, and we build a bigger community. And then we take that same method and have a great intimate conversation again, it’s a lot more work, but I think that’s the way to do it. And I think with a skincare brand, you have to really trust the brand and understand the ethos because you know, you are putting it on your face.



Q. Would you and Idris move to Africa and live here?



A. It’s in the 10-year plan for sure, but the hardest part is, where? Because I’ve been to so many amazing places in Africa. And still, I’m probably not 50% of the way through it because it’s so huge, just massive&#8230; I think the way South Africa has been so accepting of Idris and has put Idris on this sort of platform, you’ve shown so much love to him. Really, Johannesburg is in his heart, it honestly is and I think it makes me love it even more. I spent all day yesterday at Woolworths and Pick n’ Pay. And because you’ve the best snacks, and I’m not kidding, I’m taking back speckled eggs by the pound. They are so good. People don’t realize how good the food in South Africa is overall, but the snacks and the chakalaka, so good… But we have to come back together, Idris is definitely a bit jealous that I am here.

Sabrina Elba; image supplied (1)

Model-Activist-Entrepreneur Sabrina Elba: ‘People Should Start Looking To African Founders As The Experts…’

British-Ghanaian radio and television presenter DJ Abrantee always knew the value and authenticity of Africa’s music scene. But how and when did this journey start? He shares his story – one filled with adversity and triumph.



Over the past decade, African culture and diversity has been celebrated, globally, through the musical genre of Afrobeats, a sound characterized by the infusion of infectious African rhythms, melodies and cultural nuances.



So notable is the meteoric rise of this genre that, for the first time in the history of music and pop culture, superstars like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tems and many more are not only winning coveted Grammys but are consistently selling out global arenas and prestigious venues like Madison Square Garden in New York City, in the United States.



An unsung hero in this genre is British-Ghanaian radio and television presenter, Abrantee Boateng, known by the moniker, DJ Abrantee. Before global audiences had truly heard the unique African sound, Boateng, while in the United Kingdom (UK), persistently encouraged radio stations and executives to pay attention to African artists.



At 14, he already knew he was going to become a DJ, and was inspired by his uncle Henry, who was a DJ and hosted several house parties in the East London neighborhood where Boateng grew up with his father.



“I dabbled in so many things, but I always had a love for music. I joined [a] crew, which was made up of five members. We met in the 80s and carried on doing Ghanaian-based events in London. The idea was to support the Ghanaian community. We started doing the Ghana Independence [Day] events, but I stood out because I had a good voice and I wanted to do TV and radio,” says Boateng, on the phone with FORBES AFRICA for this interview.



He got his lucky break on the radio when he was called in to cover the graveyard shift – between 12AM and 6AM in the morning – on the UK’s Choice FM, now Capital XTRA.



“After the cover, I started the process of introducing African music to the station for consideration. But the radio station did not like the idea. They said UK audiences were not ready for a foreign sound like this, so it will not work,” he adds.



But Boateng was not dissuaded. He began doing bigger parties and events which showcased African artists who, at this point, had little to no exposure to the UK market. He spent his own money to fund local talent and conclude deals with them in Africa, so he could bring them over to the UK to expose their talent to mainstream media. Soon, his events started gaining traction in big venues like The O2 Arena and, slowly but surely, the executives at the radio station began to take notice.



“I saw this as an opportunity to help African mainstream artists get exposure on UK radio. Nigerians were calling their music Naija Beats and Ghanaians were calling theirs Hiplife. I knew it would be easier to market and promote the genre if we grouped everything under one umbrella, and that is where Afrobeats came in,” says Boateng.



His mixtapes started trending and became popular among the younger demographics.



“The radio station started taking note and finally said they would like the idea of trialing Afrobeats. I played it during the overnight shows and they monitored the responses. In 2011, they put on the very first Afrobeats-titled show in the world on Choice FM, anchored by me.”



“The reaction was massive and it trended everywhere. It was the first time that everyone could hear African music playing on a UK radio station and made the artists overnight success stories in the UK. Everything I sold to the artist was proven right. I knew that African music could be one of the biggest in the world and I decided that this was the genre of music I was going to sell to the world,” says Boateng.



This vision has become a reality. According to Spotify, about 43% of all music streamed on the platform is Afrobeats and the genre was streamed more than 13 billion times in 2022 alone. On Audiomack, Afrobeats averages 2.5 billion streams a month.



Boateng says he had a hand in artists at the time, like D’banj for his Oliver Twist hit, to gain international exposure. He believed in the power of this genre so much that he immediately began to trademark the words Afrobeats, Afrobeat Charts, Afrobeats Awards, etc with the goal of turning it into a global multi-billion dollar business by Africans for Africans.



“I remember when DJ Abrantee spoke to me about promoting my music in the UK on his Afrobeats mix tape and it was exactly the right push I needed at the time, because I wanted to be more than just a Nigerian artist in Nigeria. He gave my music exposure, and I secured a new fanbase for the first time in the UK,” says D’banj.



After securing Afrobeats on the UK charts, Boateng was asked by both Nigerian and Ghanaian governments in 2017 to use his brand to facilitate UK artists to come to Ghana and Nigeria in a bid to encourage the diaspora to return to Africa.



Then, tragedy struck.



“We were about to launch it properly with contracts signed and everything ready to go. I also had my TV show about to launch in July 2017 but, by August 2017, I had a massive stroke. I didn’t have any health issues prior to this. I went to bed after DJ-ing and didn’t wake up in the morning as myself and that’s when things changed for me.”



He was confined to a wheelchair and told by the hospital he would never be able to walk or talk again, effectively removing the prospect of becoming a DJ.



“I was told I would never be able to recover the right side of my body, arm and leg and I had significant injury to the brain. The prognosis was the worst-case scenario and they gave me and my family a choice of whether I should live and be in that vegetative state or we can turn the machine off and give me a peaceful death,” recalls Boateng.



Everyone had, collectively, decided he would be kept alive and since then, Boateng has undergone several life-threatening operations to repair and recover. He was able to open his eyes and slowly regain the use of one of his legs. He recovered some of the things they told him he would not be able to do, including the ability to speak.



Similar to how he overcame the naysayers and brought Afrobeats to global audiences, he is determined to continue his recovery and says he is “doing better everyday”. And if his determination in the past is anything to go by, Boateng is in poll position to overcome this experience and get back to his love of spreading Afrobeats to the world.

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FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA