Meta 2023 Campaign Celebrates Africa’s Rising Stars

A Nigerian fashion and lifestyle influencer, Enioluwa Adeoluwa and founder, social media comic platform Shanks Comics, Adesokan Emmanuel are among the eight African rising stars celebrated by Meta in its 2023 campaign Made by Africa, Loved by the World.

The campaign targeted at amplifying the voices and the stories of eight rising talents from across Africa’s creative industry (music, fashion, lifestyle and art) who are building a global presence and changing Africa’s image globally, is part of Meta’s activities to mark Africa Day on May 25.

Other African rising stars for the campaign include South Africans, Fhatuwani Mukheli an internationally exhibited artist, filmmaker and photographer, and an internationally celebrated visual artist devoted to healing people through art, Qhamanande Maswana who blends reality with imagination in each portrait; Kenyans, Henry Ohanga, the award-winning recording and performing artiste known as Octopizzo, and renowned urban soul singer, songwriter and producer, Fena Gitu who has partners with local and international artistes; Cameroonian singer and rapper, Njang Mengu Collins (aka Ko-C), who fuses Afropop and hip-hop in his songs that have led to international music nominations, and Jacqueline Acheampong-Gyakie, a Ghanaian singer, songwriter and performer with several local and international awards.

These artistes will be celebrated via self-shot vlog-style short stories that provide a glimpse of their (the creators) world, and highlights how being African inspires their creativity.

On May 25, Meta will host a fireside chat with selected key figures across the continent that will explore the global impact of Africa’s youth and how platforms like Instagram help fuel their global appeal.

Similarly, Meta is promoting a challenge dedicated to encouraging African communities to celebrate their authenticity in the areas of fashion, food, dance, music, art and so much more, in their own voices. The Community (video) Reels Challenge can be shared on Instagram via #ShareYourAfrica #AfricaMade by the public.

An offshoot of Facebook, Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities and grow businesses. The social media platform is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology.