September 30, 2025 • 23 mins
Dami Kujembola.
CEO and co-founder of Amplify Africa.
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
The interview aims to:
- Highlight Dami Kujembola’s journey as an immigrant entrepreneur.
- Showcase the mission and impact of Amplify Africa.
- Promote the upcoming Africon event and its cultural significance.
- Address stereotypes about Africa and advocate for accurate representation.
- Inspire listeners to connect with their heritage and pursue entrepreneurial goals.
🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Amplify Africa’s Mission
- Amplify Africa is a media and entertainment company focused on bridging the gap between the African continent and the global Black diaspora.
- It promotes African culture through events, media, and partnerships, reaching 12 million people monthly across the US, UK, Brazil, and Africa.
2. Combatting Stereotypes
- Dami emphasizes the need to correct misconceptions about Africa, especially those perpetuated by Western media.
- He uses media as a tool to educate and reshape narratives about African life, culture, and innovation.
3. Africon Festival
- A multi-day cultural and business event in Atlanta featuring:
- A marketplace with 100+ businesses.
- Pitch competitions for startups and short films.
- Music, fashion, food, and film experiences.
- Support from the Atlanta Mayor’s Office.
- Designed to make attendees feel immersed in African culture, especially Lagos, Nigeria.
4. Nollywood’s Global Rise
- Nollywood is the third-largest film industry globally.
- Netflix and other platforms have helped elevate African stories and talent.
- Dami’s company partnered with Regal Cinemas for a nationwide Nollywood release.
5. Afro Ball Gala
- An annual gala honoring successful individuals of African descent.
- Aims to inspire others by showcasing excellence and validating dreams regardless of skin color.
6. Challenges & Resilience
- Dami discusses immigration challenges, funding cuts, and political shifts affecting cultural events.
- Despite setbacks, he remains optimistic and committed to fostering global connections.
💬 Notable Quotes
-
“The event is purely geared towards access.” – On the purpose of Africon.
-
“I’ve probably never seen a lion in my entire life.” – On the absurdity of stereotypes about Africa.
-
“Our goal is to make our world smaller.” – On creating immersive cultural experiences.
-
“I didn’t know where to find successful people who looked like me.” – On the inspiration behind Afro Ball.
-
“I’m actually not special… it’s really representative of the need of people right now.” – On the growth of Amplify Africa.
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
I am Rashan McDonald, a host of weekly Money Making
Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show
provides are for everyone. It's time to stop reading other
people's success stories and start living your own. If you
want to be a guest on my show, please visit
our website, Moneymaking Conversations dot com and click the.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Be a Guest button. Chris submit and information will come
directly to me. Now let's get this show started.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
My guest is the CEO and co founder of Amplify Africa, Inc.
And leading African entertainment and media company in the US.
Under his leadership, Amplify of Africa has averaged a digital
reach of twelve million people monthly across the US, United
Kingdom and Brazil. Notably, the company has organized over toward
(00:47):
events worldwide, including his acclaim Afrikaan and Afro Ball. He's
on the show to discuss who he is. We need
to know what his brother is. Please welcome to Money
Making Conversations. Dommi Kujabola. How you doing dom?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Very well? Thank you man. I need to take you
around everywhere I go so it can make interest from me.
But this is dope.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I appreciate First of all, thank you for coming on
the show. I've heard about your event. It's Africaan. Yes,
talk to us about that, and we're gonna get in
detail about you, but I want to really highlight that
at the start of our conversation.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
So yeah, it's super exciting. We're bringing together a cultural event,
a cultural moment where you know, we want to unite
the global black diaspora with the continent. The event essentially
started out of the needs to again bring together the
diaspora and create access to resources that we feel like
(01:39):
its lacking. And you know, as far as like the
diasporas concern, you know, one of the things I feel
stronger about is that we need more information and like
there are a lot of people who have that information
and they don't purposefully want to get keep they just
don't have the means to be able to share that information.
So for me, the events is purely get towards access.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Well, you know, one of the major reasons I wanted
you to show down me is that the lack of
education about Africa, a lack of education about it because
people the motherland, you know, all the cold words mother land,
the colors, and but when I went over to Africa.
Steve Harvey and I went over to Africa. We actually
went over to Durban, which is right just south of Johannesburg,
(02:25):
and I was ignorant about the technology.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
I really was worried about how we were going.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
To broadcast where they have their technology, because I have
been a victim of the stereotypes of how the lifestyle
the technology of Africa. You're from with Legos, right, yes, okay,
tell us about Legos Nigeria and are you upset with
the stereotyping that is being promoted here in America about Africa?
Speaker 1 (02:52):
And that's actually the key reason why I said my
company Amplify Africa. So to tell you a little bit,
I came here from Nigeria and immigrant, so I came
in from grad school and you know, I landed in
Los Angeles at USC and like one of the very
first questions that I got from people who knew us
from Legos, Nigera was hey, like, do you guys have
(03:12):
lions in your country? And right, the truth is this,
I've probably never seen a lion in my entire life.
I'm living in Legos because it's so metropolitan, right, So,
being Nigerian, being very proud about where I'm from, knowing
the level of like interest and access that we have,
an influence that we have. You know, my goal is
(03:33):
to essentially try to and so that people also know
that like what we see on the media, the vision
of staving kids and hey, you know that's not really
what it is. And you know every country has its
like short comments, right, So I think I don't think
it's fair that Africa has been portrayed as this backward
dark nation over the past couple of years, and so
(03:56):
our goal as a company is to try to change that.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Now I'm talking to Dami Kujambola. You know Legos Nigeria.
Stereotyping is as people of color in America, we have.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
To deal with a lot of that too.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
You know, people assume because of the color of my skin,
I'm this type of person. You are coming from Africa,
you have a double stereotype you have to deal with.
How do you overcome that? And because you are seeming
to overcomment, but you still have a lot of setbacks
to be covered it correct?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yes, well, I think you know stereotypes are also uh
you know, largely based off of like media projection, right right, huh?
And so, like you know, in terms of overcoming it
to my goal has always been to leverage the same
medium right, which is media, to try to change that
we're seeing that in like on TV, like you know,
(04:49):
with the right with the right images being portrayed about
Africa now. And I think it's also about leveraging moments
like when people ask you our questions, leveraging as a
teachable moment as opposed to being upset about it. So
I personally, in my personal life, I try to use
my personal platforms to say, hey, this is what's Africa is,
(05:11):
this is we're no longer We're not the stereotypes that
you that you that you think we are. And you know,
I also try to sort of make make it the
points to teach people how to see or view Africa.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Great transition into what I want to talk about is
Dollywood Netflix And I'm not trying to promote Netflix, but
Netflix I believe has done more for people of color,
black people, people are from Africa who are promoted in
major productions than any streaming network because of the fact
that they have, you know, they they promote and they
(05:46):
put out and produce content that is being done in
these other platforms in particular Dolledgwood tell us about Dolledgwood.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
So, Nollywood is the actually the third largest production intry
in the world. Right, it's it's Indian. Bollywood in India
is the separate and they not mess around. India is Nigeria.
Nollywood is Nigeria. And when you think about like outputs, right,
(06:15):
we you know, our people are very resourceful and so
there's always there's a ton of output when it comes
to the industry. And you know, a country that has
over three hundred million people, you know, you think that
there's so many original stories that come out of the continent.
Every day is like you know, it's either a cause
(06:38):
for chaos or laughter. And you know, so our people,
because of the level of talent that that we have,
have channeled that into like an industry and that's not
you would, right, And so when you see the level
of output, it's representative of the daily struggles. But like
I said, it's one of the largest producing film industries
in the world, and you know, we we boast of
(07:02):
some pretty amazing talent. Like but you know, I don't
know if you're familiar with her, but like even Interest
has invested exactly and it's like, it's great to see
the world's paying a lot more attention, right, Like, so
it just Elba. There's uh trying to I'm trying to
(07:23):
remember some names now, but it just Elba is a
great example of what of of someone from the outside
who's seeing the potential of Nollywood. Damnson interests is one
that's also somebody who's trying to do something.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
You don't know, one starting it right now with yes, yes,
it's the next superstar.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
He is is and he's thinking about how to sort
of go back, sort of how to implement more of Nollywood.
But Nollywood in itself right is doing is doing amazing
work recently at some I don't know if you you
knew this, but there was a a movie I think
it was a cant that got one of the highest
(08:05):
at Can't Can't Film Festival is called My Father's Shadow, right,
and it's Nigeria and from Nollywood as well. So there's
a big emergence coming up from the continent right now
with African talent actually doing amazing things, and I'm super
excited to see all the potential. My company actually partnered
(08:25):
with we did a we partnered with the regal cinemas
here in the US and did a nationwide release and
it was probably one of the like the reaction from
people in the US to Nollywood. I think it's one
that needs to be like for the emphasize or for
that like looked into its Honestly, I think that, like,
(08:49):
there's so much potential and I'm excited to just see
how that industry continues to grow.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
You know, I love talking to you becaure's a certain energy,
but I'm also.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Get rabbed up. Eleven years ago you show up and
now you got this.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Twelve million global following in the US and Brazil and
Africa and the United Kingdom.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
How did you pull that off? Monthly? Now that's twelve
million monthly. So I think I think it was an
evidence of a need, right, a need. And you know,
I'm not special. I say this a lot and actually
been on cameras, But you're humble. It's very unuseful for
(09:32):
Nigeria to be humble. But I guess you know, I
think I am actually not special. I think that it's
really representative of the need of people right now. People
are looking for strong, real connections. People are looking to
understand their heritage. People are looking to connects back to
where they're from, and all we've done is to key
(09:56):
into that. We've there have been so many years of
people try to promote the culture and what my company
tries to do best is to amplify that. But where
you know, where we are one of the many people
who are doing amazing work in the space. I don't
know if you've heard, but there's a big festival in
(10:17):
Detroit called Afrofuture, as well as one of our colleagues,
and it's just I think there's where seeing the African renaissance,
so to speak, with more people, especially here in the US,
saying hey, I want to learn more about my heritage.
You know, I want to learn more about where I'm
from and now I want to go back. So you know,
the Year of the Return kind of started that, I
(10:37):
don't know if you're familiar in Ghana, where a turn
of African Americans a record rates went back to the
continent to learn more about their w they're from, and
people like you and Steve Harvey a beginning to show
the light on you know, what means to be black
and African, and I think that is where the energy
(10:58):
is coming from. That's why our platform is growing the
way it's growing. Don't go anywhere.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
We will be right back with more insights from Money
Making Conversation Massic Class. Welcome back to Money Making Conversation
Mastic Class with me Rashaun McDonald.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Well, congratulations. First of all, you talk about black communities.
You just mentioned that black communities and people from the
black community are going back to get educated and living
in these communities and growing and prospering because we're cutting
through the stereotypes. You know, people going living in the Italy,
people going to living in France. We may not have
(11:39):
went because guess what we were looking at television and
seeing flies and seeing movies that were not a pool
portrayal of what that community was and how prosperous that
community was. And I'm telling you, ladies and gentlemen, if
you go there, you will be blown away because the
stereotyping of the of commercialism, commercialized and how Africa is
(12:03):
really horrible. Over here, you'd be like it may be,
it might be drawing the tears, ignorant you are of
the of the amount of information that's being presented to
us over here, and when you land, you see the reality.
But We've talked about that earlier. Now let's talk about
this festival.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Atlanta is such a great place, like just thinking about
the proximities of the continent, thinking about like the also
the level of black wealth and business that's been that's
been here for years. I think that like it's one
that like, you know, I kind of wish I started
(12:41):
I came here earlier. You know, I've met a ton
of people here who are the and it's is so infectious,
Like the support that the city has for like everything black.
I think it's something that like more people need to
key into. And so for me, like thinking about you know, this,
Atlanta reminds me of home when you walk around the
(13:03):
street and you see everyone around you is black, right,
And I think like that is representative of the kind
of energy that we want to see. I think if
there's any place that you need to we need to
start like making those strong connections between the the you know,
the US and the continent. It needs to be here
in Atlanta. So we're super excited about like what's the
(13:24):
come we have, you know, the support of the Mayor's
office again representative of the fact that like you know,
of how support of the city can be about about
the continents, and you know, I think from a position
in standpoint, Atlanta just makes sense. Well, you know, but
we're in the changing times dommy.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Where race specific events are being challenged.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
How do you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (13:55):
And you an immigrant, talked about your journey, about you
personal and then let's talk about what you how the
impact is happened on the event you're trying to do,
would amplify Africa.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
So you know, like I said, I moved here, and
you know, back then it was a little easier. Things
were a little easier in terms of you know, accessing
like resources and sort of the exchange rates, and you know,
(14:28):
the economy itself was a little a little better. It
was much better than than it is right now. I
think with the current sort of dispensation, you know, there's
a lot of fear about like sort of the immigration
process and people been fearing that they'd be deported. And
you know, if you think about like institutional organizations like
(14:51):
U S. A I d in us us US, I
think Prosper Africa is another organization that was set up
by the U. S. Government to support sort of African
aid or African African government with those sort of lines
of support being caught right, those are things that like
typically those are places where we will typically get support
(15:13):
for conferences and initiatives like ours, and unfortunately those promote
the values of Africa exactly, but unfortunately those things are
no longer available, right, And then you think about like
also wanting to bring a lot more people here into
the US to have these conversations about bridson the gap
between the diaspora and the continent, Like you know that
(15:34):
that their concerns about the abilities to come here, you know,
and so like you think about like like you know,
freedom of trade between these countries and like you know,
the diplomatic relationships that are sort of very like that
sort of at risk. Right now, you think like how
(15:56):
can this help? How can how can our events survive?
And those are things that like I real that I'm
constantly thinking about. But you know, one of the things
that you know we do best is making the best
of any situation. And so for us we can only
take think positively, and our hope is that like, like
our intention during this period is mid known, and like
(16:18):
our people are able to come out here and again
connect and do business with folks who are going to
be on ground here, which is one of the major
reasons Domi.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
I'm speaking to Domini Kujuinbola, he's the CEO and co
founder of Amplify Africa, Inc. Because I know the times
we are there and I know there's resistance to be
able to promote your cultural values. And that's what this
this event, it's about promoterial cultural value. But people are
now twisting it to make it feels like you're you're
not saying nobody can come, You're not restricting anybody from
(16:49):
coming to this event at all, But then they're twisting
corporate sponsors and all those things to believe that there's
something negative happening there. But when you let's walk through
the steps. Oh, the experience of going to AFRICAAN. So
you know African is, like I said, trull immersion. So
for the first day is an open air reception.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Okay, So we have a long day of conference programming,
We have a big export hole that's going to feature
about one hundred businesses and then we're like a marketplace. Yes,
the market place. We're inviting the likes of like Kroger
and Walmarts to meet us sort of buyers and retailers
to meet with some of these businesses are small businesses
(17:32):
are going to be at the export hole to talk
about scaling their businesses and scaling distribution. And we also
have pitch competitions happening throughout that. Talking about the pitch computer.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
That sounds creative, yes, but they talked to us about that.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
So it's it's on two ends, right, we want we
have one for startups. So if you're able to if
you're running a business, a tech business, which is the
term obviously it's called like if you're running a startup,
which is the term that's been used for businesses in
this space, you're able to pitch to sound and investors
(18:08):
like Collab Capital, who's who is also local and Atlanta
based for investment. But we also have on the creative
side a short film competition and so you're able to
also pitch as well your short film to get funded.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Wow, this is really good and exciting. Now I know
you're not a one man operation, Dammit, talk about your setup,
talk about your team.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
So I think you think about like bridging the gap
between the content and the disk where there are tons
and tons of countries, ethnic groups and interests, right right,
Rights itself has fifty four countries, and so my team
itself is made up of people from multiple multiple countries,
(18:52):
parts of the disk where and you know, our goal
has always been to make sure that we're very diverse
in the way that we're thinking about programming for the conference.
And so our team it's made up a diverse group
of people from all over the world.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Now, you don't tell me that there's no music there, man,
there's no event.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
It's an amazing experience. Man, I think it's amazing experience.
We cover all the different all the different parts of culture,
from music to film to fashion. And if you love
African fashion, I love what you're wearing right now. I
think I'm probably going to get you an African fit
for sure. But if you touched it, I'm not right
no that I said I love it. I love it,
(19:35):
But yeah, I think I think honestly, like the events
itself is supposed to be a culture expertly, so from
the music to the fashion to the food, all of
those things are things that you get to experience from
being in the environment. And you know, our goal is
to make our world smaller, right and so like, if
you're here in Atlanta, We want you to feel like
you are in Lego Snatcher and you're in or in
(19:56):
South Africa, depending on like what you like or you.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Know the beauty of it I mentioned earlier, I'm talking
to Domi and uh and Kujambola.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
You know he came and go just tell me Domi,
I say, brother, don't. We don't do it like that.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
On Money Making Conversations Master Class, we speak the truth
about who you are and what you're trying to do,
and that's important. Your last name is important, just as
important your first name. I don't want to handicabin your
promotional experience or what you're trying to do here now.
But you're done over two hundred events. You have another
event called afro Ball. What is that?
Speaker 1 (20:30):
So one of the things that like I thought I
was missing when I moved to this country was I
I didn't know where to find successful people who are
who look like me, right, and now there's like platforms
like LinkedIn, but I didn't know how to start. The
afro Ball itself is supposed to be a platform where
we are people of African desire graduations who are doing
(20:53):
really amazing work in the fields. And so at the
closer of the conference is it's an annual gala hold
the Afro Bawl, and we'll be hoary in about five
to six amazing folks who are doing amazing things so
that like they can inspire other people who are coming
up and to let them know that regardless of your
skin color, your dreams are valid. I'm talking to the
(21:15):
CEO and co founder.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Amplify Africa, a leading African entertainment and media company in
the US. Under his leadership, I mean's Domine's leadership, Africa
has to tease a digital reach of twelve million people
monthly across the US, United Kingdom and Brazil. You know,
when you talk about eleven years ago talking to my audience,
(21:40):
how were you able to achieve it? Being an immigrant
coming to this country, going to the USC, and I
know this is not the endgame for you because you
have visions, but how have you dam been able to
get it to this point?
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Now it's been again, it's been the work off I
know you. I know that, like you know, anyone else
would be tempted to say, hey, this was all me,
but it's really the work of the community. I think
people coming together and saying, hey, we really want this
(22:17):
to succeed and like and you know, and that has
really been my experiences that whenever I make phone calls,
I think people are really keen excited about promoting that
push in the culture. And we've been able to leverage
that effectively over the years to reach more people. You know,
I could call the likes of Jackie Irono, who has
(22:38):
over a monthly reach of probably like two hundred million
people online, but she can say, hey, I'm going to
come out and support your events to tell people about
where I'm from. I think that has been that's really
been the reason why our platform has been able to
succeed over the past years.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
With my friend, I want to thank you for coming
on my show. You know, it's by education, man, it's
by education and about your entrepreneur, your small business owner,
building a brand in this country that impacts the world.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
This has been another edition of Money Making Conversations Masterclass
hosted by me Rashaan McDonald. Thank you to our guests
on the show today and thank you our listening audience. Now,
if you want to listen to any episode, I want
to register to be a guest on my show, visit
Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is Money Making Conversations.
(23:34):
Join us next week and remember to always leave with
your gifts.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Keep winning.
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
I am Rashan McDonald, a host of weekly Money Making
Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show
provides are for everyone. It's time to stop reading other
people's success stories and start living your own. If you
want to be a guest on my show, please visit
our website, Moneymaking Conversations dot com and click the.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Be a Guest button. Chris submit and information will come
directly to me. Now let's get this show started.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
My guest is the CEO and co founder of Amplify Africa, Inc.
And leading African entertainment and media company in the US.
Under his leadership, Amplify of Africa has averaged a digital
reach of twelve million people monthly across the US, United
Kingdom and Brazil. Notably, the company has organized over toward
(00:47):
events worldwide, including his acclaim Afrikaan and Afro Ball. He's
on the show to discuss who he is. We need
to know what his brother is. Please welcome to Money
Making Conversations. Dommi Kujabola. How you doing dom?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Very well? Thank you man. I need to take you
around everywhere I go so it can make interest from me.
But this is dope.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I appreciate First of all, thank you for coming on
the show. I've heard about your event. It's Africaan. Yes,
talk to us about that, and we're gonna get in
detail about you, but I want to really highlight that
at the start of our conversation.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
So yeah, it's super exciting. We're bringing together a cultural event,
a cultural moment where you know, we want to unite
the global black diaspora with the continent. The event essentially
started out of the needs to again bring together the
diaspora and create access to resources that we feel like
(01:39):
its lacking. And you know, as far as like the
diasporas concern, you know, one of the things I feel
stronger about is that we need more information and like
there are a lot of people who have that information
and they don't purposefully want to get keep they just
don't have the means to be able to share that information.
So for me, the events is purely get towards access.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Well, you know, one of the major reasons I wanted
you to show down me is that the lack of
education about Africa, a lack of education about it because
people the motherland, you know, all the cold words mother land,
the colors, and but when I went over to Africa.
Steve Harvey and I went over to Africa. We actually
went over to Durban, which is right just south of Johannesburg,
(02:25):
and I was ignorant about the technology.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
I really was worried about how we were going.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
To broadcast where they have their technology, because I have
been a victim of the stereotypes of how the lifestyle
the technology of Africa. You're from with Legos, right, yes, okay,
tell us about Legos Nigeria and are you upset with
the stereotyping that is being promoted here in America about Africa?
Speaker 1 (02:52):
And that's actually the key reason why I said my
company Amplify Africa. So to tell you a little bit,
I came here from Nigeria and immigrant, so I came
in from grad school and you know, I landed in
Los Angeles at USC and like one of the very
first questions that I got from people who knew us
from Legos, Nigera was hey, like, do you guys have
(03:12):
lions in your country? And right, the truth is this,
I've probably never seen a lion in my entire life.
I'm living in Legos because it's so metropolitan, right, So,
being Nigerian, being very proud about where I'm from, knowing
the level of like interest and access that we have,
an influence that we have. You know, my goal is
(03:33):
to essentially try to and so that people also know
that like what we see on the media, the vision
of staving kids and hey, you know that's not really
what it is. And you know every country has its
like short comments, right, So I think I don't think
it's fair that Africa has been portrayed as this backward
dark nation over the past couple of years, and so
(03:56):
our goal as a company is to try to change that.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Now I'm talking to Dami Kujambola. You know Legos Nigeria.
Stereotyping is as people of color in America, we have.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
To deal with a lot of that too.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
You know, people assume because of the color of my skin,
I'm this type of person. You are coming from Africa,
you have a double stereotype you have to deal with.
How do you overcome that? And because you are seeming
to overcomment, but you still have a lot of setbacks
to be covered it correct?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yes, well, I think you know stereotypes are also uh
you know, largely based off of like media projection, right right, huh?
And so, like you know, in terms of overcoming it
to my goal has always been to leverage the same
medium right, which is media, to try to change that
we're seeing that in like on TV, like you know,
(04:49):
with the right with the right images being portrayed about
Africa now. And I think it's also about leveraging moments
like when people ask you our questions, leveraging as a
teachable moment as opposed to being upset about it. So
I personally, in my personal life, I try to use
my personal platforms to say, hey, this is what's Africa is,
(05:11):
this is we're no longer We're not the stereotypes that
you that you that you think we are. And you know,
I also try to sort of make make it the
points to teach people how to see or view Africa.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Great transition into what I want to talk about is
Dollywood Netflix And I'm not trying to promote Netflix, but
Netflix I believe has done more for people of color,
black people, people are from Africa who are promoted in
major productions than any streaming network because of the fact
that they have, you know, they they promote and they
(05:46):
put out and produce content that is being done in
these other platforms in particular Dolledgwood tell us about Dolledgwood.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
So, Nollywood is the actually the third largest production intry
in the world. Right, it's it's Indian. Bollywood in India
is the separate and they not mess around. India is Nigeria.
Nollywood is Nigeria. And when you think about like outputs, right,
(06:15):
we you know, our people are very resourceful and so
there's always there's a ton of output when it comes
to the industry. And you know, a country that has
over three hundred million people, you know, you think that
there's so many original stories that come out of the continent.
Every day is like you know, it's either a cause
(06:38):
for chaos or laughter. And you know, so our people,
because of the level of talent that that we have,
have channeled that into like an industry and that's not
you would, right, And so when you see the level
of output, it's representative of the daily struggles. But like
I said, it's one of the largest producing film industries
in the world, and you know, we we boast of
(07:02):
some pretty amazing talent. Like but you know, I don't
know if you're familiar with her, but like even Interest
has invested exactly and it's like, it's great to see
the world's paying a lot more attention, right, Like, so
it just Elba. There's uh trying to I'm trying to
(07:23):
remember some names now, but it just Elba is a
great example of what of of someone from the outside
who's seeing the potential of Nollywood. Damnson interests is one
that's also somebody who's trying to do something.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
You don't know, one starting it right now with yes, yes,
it's the next superstar.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
He is is and he's thinking about how to sort
of go back, sort of how to implement more of Nollywood.
But Nollywood in itself right is doing is doing amazing
work recently at some I don't know if you you
knew this, but there was a a movie I think
it was a cant that got one of the highest
(08:05):
at Can't Can't Film Festival is called My Father's Shadow, right,
and it's Nigeria and from Nollywood as well. So there's
a big emergence coming up from the continent right now
with African talent actually doing amazing things, and I'm super
excited to see all the potential. My company actually partnered
(08:25):
with we did a we partnered with the regal cinemas
here in the US and did a nationwide release and
it was probably one of the like the reaction from
people in the US to Nollywood. I think it's one
that needs to be like for the emphasize or for
that like looked into its Honestly, I think that, like,
(08:49):
there's so much potential and I'm excited to just see
how that industry continues to grow.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
You know, I love talking to you becaure's a certain energy,
but I'm also.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Get rabbed up. Eleven years ago you show up and
now you got this.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Twelve million global following in the US and Brazil and
Africa and the United Kingdom.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
How did you pull that off? Monthly? Now that's twelve
million monthly. So I think I think it was an
evidence of a need, right, a need. And you know,
I'm not special. I say this a lot and actually
been on cameras, But you're humble. It's very unuseful for
(09:32):
Nigeria to be humble. But I guess you know, I
think I am actually not special. I think that it's
really representative of the need of people right now. People
are looking for strong, real connections. People are looking to
understand their heritage. People are looking to connects back to
where they're from, and all we've done is to key
(09:56):
into that. We've there have been so many years of
people try to promote the culture and what my company
tries to do best is to amplify that. But where
you know, where we are one of the many people
who are doing amazing work in the space. I don't
know if you've heard, but there's a big festival in
(10:17):
Detroit called Afrofuture, as well as one of our colleagues,
and it's just I think there's where seeing the African renaissance,
so to speak, with more people, especially here in the US,
saying hey, I want to learn more about my heritage.
You know, I want to learn more about where I'm
from and now I want to go back. So you know,
the Year of the Return kind of started that, I
(10:37):
don't know if you're familiar in Ghana, where a turn
of African Americans a record rates went back to the
continent to learn more about their w they're from, and
people like you and Steve Harvey a beginning to show
the light on you know, what means to be black
and African, and I think that is where the energy
(10:58):
is coming from. That's why our platform is growing the
way it's growing. Don't go anywhere.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
We will be right back with more insights from Money
Making Conversation Massic Class. Welcome back to Money Making Conversation
Mastic Class with me Rashaun McDonald.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Well, congratulations. First of all, you talk about black communities.
You just mentioned that black communities and people from the
black community are going back to get educated and living
in these communities and growing and prospering because we're cutting
through the stereotypes. You know, people going living in the Italy,
people going to living in France. We may not have
(11:39):
went because guess what we were looking at television and
seeing flies and seeing movies that were not a pool
portrayal of what that community was and how prosperous that
community was. And I'm telling you, ladies and gentlemen, if
you go there, you will be blown away because the
stereotyping of the of commercialism, commercialized and how Africa is
(12:03):
really horrible. Over here, you'd be like it may be,
it might be drawing the tears, ignorant you are of
the of the amount of information that's being presented to
us over here, and when you land, you see the reality.
But We've talked about that earlier. Now let's talk about
this festival.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Atlanta is such a great place, like just thinking about
the proximities of the continent, thinking about like the also
the level of black wealth and business that's been that's
been here for years. I think that like it's one
that like, you know, I kind of wish I started
(12:41):
I came here earlier. You know, I've met a ton
of people here who are the and it's is so infectious,
Like the support that the city has for like everything black.
I think it's something that like more people need to
key into. And so for me, like thinking about you know, this,
Atlanta reminds me of home when you walk around the
(13:03):
street and you see everyone around you is black, right,
And I think like that is representative of the kind
of energy that we want to see. I think if
there's any place that you need to we need to
start like making those strong connections between the the you know,
the US and the continent. It needs to be here
in Atlanta. So we're super excited about like what's the
(13:24):
come we have, you know, the support of the Mayor's
office again representative of the fact that like you know,
of how support of the city can be about about
the continents, and you know, I think from a position
in standpoint, Atlanta just makes sense. Well, you know, but
we're in the changing times dommy.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Where race specific events are being challenged.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
How do you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (13:55):
And you an immigrant, talked about your journey, about you
personal and then let's talk about what you how the
impact is happened on the event you're trying to do,
would amplify Africa.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
So you know, like I said, I moved here, and
you know, back then it was a little easier. Things
were a little easier in terms of you know, accessing
like resources and sort of the exchange rates, and you know,
(14:28):
the economy itself was a little a little better. It
was much better than than it is right now. I
think with the current sort of dispensation, you know, there's
a lot of fear about like sort of the immigration
process and people been fearing that they'd be deported. And
you know, if you think about like institutional organizations like
(14:51):
U S. A I d in us us US, I
think Prosper Africa is another organization that was set up
by the U. S. Government to support sort of African
aid or African African government with those sort of lines
of support being caught right, those are things that like
typically those are places where we will typically get support
(15:13):
for conferences and initiatives like ours, and unfortunately those promote
the values of Africa exactly, but unfortunately those things are
no longer available, right, And then you think about like
also wanting to bring a lot more people here into
the US to have these conversations about bridson the gap
between the diaspora and the continent, Like you know that
(15:34):
that their concerns about the abilities to come here, you know,
and so like you think about like like you know,
freedom of trade between these countries and like you know,
the diplomatic relationships that are sort of very like that
sort of at risk. Right now, you think like how
(15:56):
can this help? How can how can our events survive?
And those are things that like I real that I'm
constantly thinking about. But you know, one of the things
that you know we do best is making the best
of any situation. And so for us we can only
take think positively, and our hope is that like, like
our intention during this period is mid known, and like
(16:18):
our people are able to come out here and again
connect and do business with folks who are going to
be on ground here, which is one of the major
reasons Domi.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
I'm speaking to Domini Kujuinbola, he's the CEO and co
founder of Amplify Africa, Inc. Because I know the times
we are there and I know there's resistance to be
able to promote your cultural values. And that's what this
this event, it's about promoterial cultural value. But people are
now twisting it to make it feels like you're you're
not saying nobody can come, You're not restricting anybody from
(16:49):
coming to this event at all, But then they're twisting
corporate sponsors and all those things to believe that there's
something negative happening there. But when you let's walk through
the steps. Oh, the experience of going to AFRICAAN. So
you know African is, like I said, trull immersion. So
for the first day is an open air reception.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Okay, So we have a long day of conference programming,
We have a big export hole that's going to feature
about one hundred businesses and then we're like a marketplace. Yes,
the market place. We're inviting the likes of like Kroger
and Walmarts to meet us sort of buyers and retailers
to meet with some of these businesses are small businesses
(17:32):
are going to be at the export hole to talk
about scaling their businesses and scaling distribution. And we also
have pitch competitions happening throughout that. Talking about the pitch computer.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
That sounds creative, yes, but they talked to us about that.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
So it's it's on two ends, right, we want we
have one for startups. So if you're able to if
you're running a business, a tech business, which is the
term obviously it's called like if you're running a startup,
which is the term that's been used for businesses in
this space, you're able to pitch to sound and investors
(18:08):
like Collab Capital, who's who is also local and Atlanta
based for investment. But we also have on the creative
side a short film competition and so you're able to
also pitch as well your short film to get funded.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Wow, this is really good and exciting. Now I know
you're not a one man operation, Dammit, talk about your setup,
talk about your team.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
So I think you think about like bridging the gap
between the content and the disk where there are tons
and tons of countries, ethnic groups and interests, right right,
Rights itself has fifty four countries, and so my team
itself is made up of people from multiple multiple countries,
(18:52):
parts of the disk where and you know, our goal
has always been to make sure that we're very diverse
in the way that we're thinking about programming for the conference.
And so our team it's made up a diverse group
of people from all over the world.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Now, you don't tell me that there's no music there, man,
there's no event.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
It's an amazing experience. Man, I think it's amazing experience.
We cover all the different all the different parts of culture,
from music to film to fashion. And if you love
African fashion, I love what you're wearing right now. I
think I'm probably going to get you an African fit
for sure. But if you touched it, I'm not right
no that I said I love it. I love it,
(19:35):
But yeah, I think I think honestly, like the events
itself is supposed to be a culture expertly, so from
the music to the fashion to the food, all of
those things are things that you get to experience from
being in the environment. And you know, our goal is
to make our world smaller, right and so like, if
you're here in Atlanta, We want you to feel like
you are in Lego Snatcher and you're in or in
(19:56):
South Africa, depending on like what you like or you.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Know the beauty of it I mentioned earlier, I'm talking
to Domi and uh and Kujambola.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
You know he came and go just tell me Domi,
I say, brother, don't. We don't do it like that.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
On Money Making Conversations Master Class, we speak the truth
about who you are and what you're trying to do,
and that's important. Your last name is important, just as
important your first name. I don't want to handicabin your
promotional experience or what you're trying to do here now.
But you're done over two hundred events. You have another
event called afro Ball. What is that?
Speaker 1 (20:30):
So one of the things that like I thought I
was missing when I moved to this country was I
I didn't know where to find successful people who are
who look like me, right, and now there's like platforms
like LinkedIn, but I didn't know how to start. The
afro Ball itself is supposed to be a platform where
we are people of African desire graduations who are doing
(20:53):
really amazing work in the fields. And so at the
closer of the conference is it's an annual gala hold
the Afro Bawl, and we'll be hoary in about five
to six amazing folks who are doing amazing things so
that like they can inspire other people who are coming
up and to let them know that regardless of your
skin color, your dreams are valid. I'm talking to the
(21:15):
CEO and co founder.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Amplify Africa, a leading African entertainment and media company in
the US. Under his leadership, I mean's Domine's leadership, Africa
has to tease a digital reach of twelve million people
monthly across the US, United Kingdom and Brazil. You know,
when you talk about eleven years ago talking to my audience,
(21:40):
how were you able to achieve it? Being an immigrant
coming to this country, going to the USC, and I
know this is not the endgame for you because you
have visions, but how have you dam been able to
get it to this point?
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Now it's been again, it's been the work off I
know you. I know that, like you know, anyone else
would be tempted to say, hey, this was all me,
but it's really the work of the community. I think
people coming together and saying, hey, we really want this
(22:17):
to succeed and like and you know, and that has
really been my experiences that whenever I make phone calls,
I think people are really keen excited about promoting that
push in the culture. And we've been able to leverage
that effectively over the years to reach more people. You know,
I could call the likes of Jackie Irono, who has
(22:38):
over a monthly reach of probably like two hundred million
people online, but she can say, hey, I'm going to
come out and support your events to tell people about
where I'm from. I think that has been that's really
been the reason why our platform has been able to
succeed over the past years.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
With my friend, I want to thank you for coming
on my show. You know, it's by education, man, it's
by education and about your entrepreneur, your small business owner,
building a brand in this country that impacts the world.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
This has been another edition of Money Making Conversations Masterclass
hosted by me Rashaan McDonald. Thank you to our guests
on the show today and thank you our listening audience. Now,
if you want to listen to any episode, I want
to register to be a guest on my show, visit
Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is Money Making Conversations.
(23:34):
Join us next week and remember to always leave with
your gifts.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Keep winning.
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