The Audacity to Build the African Disney w/ AfroToons Founder Esther Paul

"We’re building the African Disney — and we’re doing it our way." - Esther Paul

"I want to build a headquarters in Accra that employs hundreds of African creatives. AfroToons isn’t just storytelling — it’s economic empowerment" - Esther Paul

Summary:

In this episode of BLKGirl Ambition, host Niya Baxter sits down with Esther, the trailblazing founder and CEO of AfroToons Animation Studio. Esther shares her bold mission to build the next African Disney — a global storytelling empire rooted in African culture, imagination, and brilliance. From her journey growing up in Ghana to becoming a visionary creative, strategist, and human rights advocate, Esther breaks down what it takes to dream big and build even bigger. This episode explores her commitment to centering African youth in media, investing in cultural authenticity, and creating a platform where African animators, writers, and artists can thrive. Together, Niya and Esther dive into the power of representation, the realities of creative entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, and the importance of community and collaboration. Esther’s ambition isn’t just personal — it’s legacy work. And her message is clear: Africa’s stories belong on the global stage, and AfroToons is the studio to make that happen.

Keywords:

Black Girl Ambition, Esther Paul, AfroToons, animation, cultural representation, entrepreneurship, African stories, economic empowerment, women empowerment, global impact, storytelling

Takeaways:

Esther's upbringing in Ghana shaped her desire for global impact.

The lack of culturally relevant children's books in Africa inspired Esther to create AfroToons.

Collaboration and surrounding oneself with passionate people is crucial in entrepreneurship.

Representation in media is vital for African children to see themselves positively.

Intra-African travel should be encouraged to explore the continent's diversity.

Esther's animation projects aim to reflect present day African life and culture.

Entrepreneurship requires resilience and the ability to pivot during challenges.

Building a strong team is essential for success in any venture.

Feedback from the community is important for refining creative projects.

Esther's ultimate ambition is to create something that improves lives.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Black Girl Ambition

01:09 Meet Esther Paul: A Visionary Strategist

02:23 Influences of Upbringing on Career Choices

03:55 From Education to Animation: A Journey of Impact

08:43 The Power of Collaboration in Entrepreneurship

09:37 The Gap in African Representation in Media

11:36 Cultural Nuance in Storytelling: Solase's Adventures

15:22 Highlighting Contemporary Africa in Storytelling

16:49 Feedback and Lessons from the Animation Studio

18:13 Entrepreneurship: Challenges and Lessons Learned

20:22 Vision for AfroTunes: Growth and Impact

22:07 Building a Strong Team and Community

22:13 Supporting AfroTunes and Future Ambitions

24:09 Introduction to Black Girl Ambition

24:11 Economic Empowerment Through Community

Support AfroToons Animation!

Website: https://www.afrotoons.com

Instagram: @afrotoons_animation

Email: [e-mail]

Thanks for all your love and support. Tag me while listening @blkgirlambition & as always love to hear your thoughts :)

Join the BLKGirl Ambition community on IG and LinkedIn: @blkgirlambition and @glamourgirlniya

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.