Dec 28, 2015 | News

Google kicks off ‘Africa Connected’ Competition

$25,000 prizes for five Africans whose lives are ‘powered by the web’

Africa, 27th August 2013.  For those who have been positively influenced by the internet, here’s a chance to share your web journey. Google is calling on entrepreneurs, creators, innovators and web-lovers in Ghana and across Africa to share their stories of how the web has transformed their lives and work.  Whether you’re a photographer, an entrepreneur, a fashion designer or a community activist, if the internet and Google tools have played an important role in your success, Google wants to hear from you.

In the next five years, 7 out of the world’s 10 fastest growing economies are predicted to be in Africa, and the Internet is playing an important part in this.  Google’s new initiative, ‘Africa Connected: Success stories powered by the web’, aims to gather the largest collection of inspiring stories about ventures established online by Africans, in Africa.  Five successful entrants will win $25,000 each, and will also have the opportunity to work with a Google sponsor over a six-month period.

“Google wants to hear from young, spirited entrepreneurial web adopters in Nigeria and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa who have a healthy disregard for the impossible and who are using the web and technology to do cool and extraordinary things to rise above their circumstances, change their world, and achieve success. We want to showcase the amazing achievements happening in the new Africa”, says Affiong Osuchukwu, Google Lead for the Africa Connected initiative.

Fashion accessories designer, avid blogger  and entrepreneur Naa Quartey, is one such example. This Ghanaian entrepreneur learned the basics by researching tips on how to setup and maintain a business on Google Search. Today, Naa has built a successful online store using a website to showcase and sell her handmade Ghanaian jewellery. Furthermore, Naa is able to track both her local and international clientele using Google Analytics.

Naa says, "My foray into fashion accessories design was a risk. My father always wanted me to be a doctor, as a business in the creative arts in Ghana was not perceived to profitable. I decided however to follow my passion, take the risk, and break the perception by building a successful business in the creative industry. I took advantage of the lack of Ghanaian-made fashion accessories and created my niche. Now, as a result of my online presence, I am able to connect with and sell to a global and diverse clientele."

The owner and creator of Afrinolly, Chike Maduegbuna, based in Nigeria, is another online entrepreneur.  Afrinolly is a popular mobile app which lets people across the continent watch short videos on their mobile devices. This app has transformed Nigeria’s Nollywood film industry by creating a movie trailer platform for new audiences. With over 3 million downloads already since its launch in August 2011, Chike hopes this will create a platform that connects aspiring film professionals with global film industry veterans.

South Africa's Mdu Ntuli grew up loving comics and trained himself as an animator using YouTube tutorials for both 2D and 3D animation.  He now runs a successful YouTube channel showcasing his animated films and he has become a culturally important figure in the community, influencing young people about the ways of the world. He often hears people he doesn’t know quoting material from his films.

Just a Band, an electro/pop band in Kenya, who used YouTube to learn how to create a new style of Kenyan music with electro influences.  Their innovative sound was initially rejected in Kenya, but they refused to take no for an answer and started sharing their music on YouTube.  Straight away they found a huge fan base and success - so much so that they now regularly travel to play at festivals in the UK, USA, other African countries and all over Europe.  Young musicians now think of them as the ‘Eminent Statesmen’ of Kenyan music.  

Categories for entries include Education; Entertainment/Arts/Sports; Technology; Community and NGOs; and Small Businesses. 20 semi-finalists will be selected from initial entries to take part in an interview and to produce a short promotional video. A judging panel made up of Googlers and external judges will then determine the 10 finalists.  The 5 winners, in whose lives the web and Google have played a pivotal role,  will then be selected by the online voting public. Submissions are open from August 27, 2013 to October 11, 2013.

The competition will run until February 2014 when the winners will be announced.

For more information and to enter the Africa Connected contest, visit www.africaconnected.com

The deadline for submissions is October 11, 2013. New to the web? Learn more about the web and Google through this platform, so that you too can do amazing things using the web as your springboard.

Africa Connected is made possible by help from a dozen partners:    

  • Africa: UNDP, NEPAD, AFRINIC    
  • Ghana: Joy Online, Graphic Newspaper    
  • Kenya: Nation Media Group    
  • Nigeria: THISDAY, Cool FM, Nigeria Info FM, Wazobia FM    
  • South Africa: SABC, City Press