ZAMBIAN CREATIVES MAKE THIS YEAR’S ‘KEEP WALKING: AFRICA TOP 30’ LIST Meet Africa’s Next-Gen Cultural Shape Shifters

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By Derrick Sinjela

Zambian creatives, actress Sophia Chapeshamano and bloggers, Kalenga ‘KPlus’ Chambatu & Elson Chigerwe, are amongst the recipients in the second, annual Keep Walking: Africa Top 30 List.

The enviable list was circulated on Wednesday,  1st November,  2023, comprised of a select group of next gen African creatives & visionaries, boldly pushing culture forward across music, film, media, fashion, and art, to name but five.

Keep Walking: Africa Top 30 List is an innovative initiative from Johnnie Walker™ and TRACE, coming after months of rigorous searching with top talent managers and industry leaders across the continent to identify a definitive list of pan-African cultural shape shifters.

Actress Sophia Chapeshamano is best known for her role of ‘Tasha Sosala’ on the popular Zambezi Magic TV series “Zuba”, which airs on Showmax.

 

As an advocate for community development and children living with neurological conditions, it is worth noting that Chapeshamano’s breakout role has won her legions of fans and critical praise.

In the Media Category, Kalenga ‘K-Plus’ Chambatu and Elson Chigerwe are the hosts of Zambia’s biggest podcast, ‘That Zed Podcast’, where they engage African trendsetters and important figures about their success stories, with an emphasis on real talk and defining the African narrative.

With African culture having its voice heard around the world, the Keep Walking: Africa Top 30 list includes names who are impacting global culture such as South African Amapiano star, Young Stunna, Nigerian actor & “Gangs Of Lagos” star, Tobi Bakre, Benin-born fashion, Abidjan-resident, photographer Oronce Hounkponou, Nigerian fiction writer Eloghosa Osunde and Cameroonian rapper, Tenor.

For the first time a recipient also has been chosen from South Sudan – filmmaker Akuol de Mabior, director of the 2022 documentary, “No Simple Way Home”.

“We’re thrilled to have been able to again celebrate and acknowledge Africa’s cultural shapeshifters along with Johnnie Walker™. They are all inspirational and proof of the extraordinary way the continent’s culture is evolving, generating international attention and is a force to be reckoned with,” says Valentine Gaudin-Muteba, Managing Director, Trace Southern & Lusophone Africa.

The extensive list includes artists & creatives from across the continent – from Angola to Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia – all of whom have given impetus to shape and moved African culture forward.

On the 2023 Keep Walking: Africa Top 30 list are:

“Music – DJ Tarico (Mozambique); Young Stunna (South Africa); Rosa Ree (Tanzania); Bravo Le Roux (South Africa); Helio Beats (Mozambique); Oprah (Côte d’Ivoire); Tenor (Cameroon); Majoos (DRC); Céline Banza (DRC).

Art – Esther Sweeney (Kenya); Haneefah Adam (Nigeria); Kim Praise (Angola); Oronce Hounkponou (Benin); Resem Verkron (Angola).

Film – Ange-Eric N’Guessan (Côte d’Ivoire); Tobi Bakre (Nigeria); Dylan Habil (Kenya); Sophia Chapeshamo (Zambia); Nimo Loveline (Cameroon); Akuol de Mabior (South Sudan).

Media – Clarisse Ndinge (Cameroon); Eloghosa Osunde (Nigeria); Kalenga ‘K-Plus’ Chambatu & Elson Chigerwe (Zambia); Luna Solomon (Ethiopia); Half & Halve (South Africa) and Kevine Obin (Côte d’Ivoire).

Fashion – Aristide Loua (Côte d’Ivoire); Kunjina Tesfaye (Ethiopia); David Kusi Boye-Doe (Ghana); Fikile Sokhulu (South Africa)”.

“While we have uncovered creators from many different regions and from different creative paths, they have one thing in common – they all step boldly to the beat of their own drum. They are true individuals who believe in the collective shifting of African culture. Along with Trace, Johnnie Walker™ is proud to be able to contribute by presenting this recognition,” said Adrian De Wet, Marketing Manager, Johnnie Walker.

● #JohnnieWalker #KeepWalking #AfricaTop30

 

● A FULL LIST OF CREATORS WITH SHORT BIOGRAPHIES ARE AVAILABLE HERE AT https://africatop30.trace.tv/

The African Creative Economy

KEEP WALKING: AFRICA TOP 30 comes at a time when trends for Africa’s creative economy are overwhelmingly positive. UNESCO reports indicate that Africa’s still largely untapped film industry could quadruple revenue to $20 billion, and create an additional 20 million jobs, while digital music streaming revenue in Africa is expected to reach US$500 million by 2025.

About Johnnie Walker

For over two centuries Johnnie Walker has been committed to a spirit of progress and moving forward. Through this innovation, the KEEP WALKING: AFRICA TOP 30 platform is part of an ongoing global rollout of the next chapter in the brand’s iconic, global Keep Walking campaign.

About Trace

Launched in 2003 following the acquisition of the eponymous print magazine, Trace is a global multimedia platform dedicated to Hip Hop and Afro-centric cultures and to empowerment of women, and creators. Trace engages with over 350 million fans across 180 countries including 290 million fans in Africa with a mission to Entertain and Empower our people to Stand Up and Shine.

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer, and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray, and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, whose products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.