Africa No Filter Launches the Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund to Empower Emerging African Creative Talent
30 June 2022
Africa No Filter, a donor collaborative working to transform stereotypical narratives of Africa, has launched the Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund. Named after African business leader and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu, the Fund will award grants to emerging artists and storytellers, whose work shines a light on entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in Africa. The $30,000 fund is sponsored byHeirs Insurance andHeirs Life Assurance, the insurance subsidiaries of the pan-African investment group,Heirs Holdings.
Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, has led the championing of entrepreneurship in Africa and has empowered over 15,000 young African entrepreneurs across the continent through a $100 million commitment made byhis Foundation.
The Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund is a standalone initiative and extension of his commitment to catalysing a redefined African success story, powered by Africa’s youth and their creative ideas. The Fund calls on journalists, filmmakers, content producers, and visual and performing artists to submit multimedia creative ideas that tell the stories of inspiring entrepreneurs and showcase the true and positive spirit of entrepreneurship in Africa. Applicants must be aged between 18 and 35 years, living on the continent or in the Diaspora. They must have a platform or portfolio of work that shines the light on entrepreneurship in Africa.
Speaking on the Fund, Tony Elumelu said: “I have always believed in the potential of young African entrepreneurs to transform Africa. This initiative aligns with our belief and extends the work that we do at the Tony Elumelu Foundation. Empowering young creative entrepreneurs and the creative sector provides a channel for us to project Africa’s positives globally. We need their voices to tell our often less-told stories of triumph, resilience, hard work and innovation.”
Moky Makura, Executive Director at Africa No Filter, said: “Our partnership is significant because this is the first African funding we have received towards the fight for narrative change. We are also excited to be partnering with one of Africa’s leading entrepreneurs to celebrate entrepreneurship on the continent through storytelling. We need more success stories, more awareness and more celebrations around entrepreneurial ideas and the dynamic young people driving change here
Ifesinachi Okpagu, Chief Marketing Officer, Heirs Insurance and Heirs Life, said: “We are pleased to support this initiative that directly impacts the lives of young African creatives. As frontrunners of digital innovation in the insurance space, Heirs Insurance and Heirs Life both recognise the important role the creative sector plays in transforming Africa’s narrative. We are on the same transformative path, and this initiative clearly demonstrates that the ideas that we need to boost Africa are right here on the continent.”
The Fund is open for applications on the Africa No Filter website with a closing date of 29 July 2022.
About Heirs Insurance & Heirs Life
Heirs Insurance and Heirs Life are the insurance subsidiaries of Heirs Holdings, a pan-African investment group with a portfolio spread across 20 African countries and three continents. Both companies are leading the digital insurance play in Nigeria and are on a mission to democratise access to insurance. Heirs Insurance and Heirs Life are committed to providing simple, quick, reliable, and accessible service while offering life and general insurance plans that address the needs of individuals and organisations.
About Africa No Filter
Africa No Filter is an advocacy organization shifting stereotypical narratives about Africa through storytelling that reflects a dynamic continent of progress, innovation and opportunity. To learn more about Africa No Filter, visit www.africanofilter.org and follow @Africanofilter on social media.
About Speak Up Africa
Speak Up Africa is a policy and advocacy Action Tank. Through their platforms and relationships and with the help of their partners, they ensure that policy makers meet implementers, that solutions are showcased and that every sector – from individual citizens and civil society groups to global donors and business leaders – contributes critically to the dialogue and strives to form the blueprints for concrete action for public health and sustainable development.
