Spotify, an online streaming platform, has invested 100,000 dollars into the new Africa Podcast fund initiative to support the careers of up-and-coming podcasters across the continent.
In a statement on Monday, in Lagos, Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s Managing Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, disclosed this in statement. She said Spotify had demonstrated its commitment to bolstering the careers of African creators through on- and off-platform support programmes.
“This is the first-of-its-kind podcast initiative on the continent, the Africa Podcast Fund, this is with the goal of supporting podcasters and further amplifying their stories.
“The $100,000 fund aims to bolster the careers of these podcast creators through financial grants, workshops and networking opportunities,†she said.
Muhutu-Remy said that the Africa podcast fund was offered to selected creators from African countries with the biggest podcast listenerships, namely South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.
She added that the grant also includes a Cameroonian podcast with a large listenership both in France and in Francophone African countries, such as Cote d’Ivoire.
She said given the wide range of selected countries, the winning podcasts were recorded in a range of languages including Pidgin, English, French, Sheng, Ga, and Twi.
She noted that the fund would be administered by Africa Podfest, a Kenyan-based company focused on inspiring and elevating African podcasters by building a sustainable and inclusive podcasting industry across Africa.
“Independent emerging podcasters with growing audiences were selected as recipients for the fund, with a focus on supporting podcasts that showcase a range of voices in terms o