OTT Content Streaming Africa

Stanley Similo is an experienced Senior Executive who has worked for the following entities at senior management level: the Road Fund Administration, Anglo-American through the Zinc Project called Skorpion Zinc Mine in the south of Namibia and for FNB Holdings Limited as Group Head of Human Resources – there he was successful in transforming the entity into one of Namibia’s leading banks.

He has worked at the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation in various roles in human capital management.

Similo is currently the Director-General at Namibian Broadcasting Corporation where he brings a wealth of corporate experience to the group.

Benjamin Pius is a visionary technology and media industry executive who helps create, incubate and lead companies and organisations – especially in the Telecoms, Media and Technology (TMT) space – to growth and profitability.

A strategic thinker and doer, Benjamin Pius has over 20 years of C-level experience in business and organisational transformations, fostering innovation and delivering exceptional financial performances.

Through the activities of the BSP Consulting Group, Benjamin Pius extends his influence by providing advisory services to a select group of high-level technology and media services organisations.

Adept at building high-performance teams with a culture of excellence, Benjamin has established a global network of top-level industry alliances.

As he continues to lead and inspire, Benjamin Pius stands as a driving force in the evolution of the TMT industry, leaving an indelible legacy of success and forward-thinking.

Lungile Binza is a distinguished figure in the realm of technology and digital innovation, currently serving
as the Acting COO of the SABC; his substantive role is Group Executive for Technology & Chief Digital
Officer. With a rich academic background and extensive professional experience spanning over two decades, Lungile stands as a prominent authority in the fields of artificial intelligence, digital
transformation, and ICT leadership

Lungile’s academic journey reflects his commitment to excellence and continuous learning. He holds a
Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Mathematical Statistics, laying the foundation for
his career as a software engineer. Building upon this expertise, he pursued a Postgraduate Diploma in
Business Administration (PDBA) to complement his technical acumen with business insights. Further
advancing his education, Lungile earned dual Master’s degrees—a Master of Commerce (MCom) in
Information Systems from the University of Cape Town and a Master in Business Administration (MBA)
with a focus on General Management & ICT from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business
Science

Currently, he is on the cusp of completing his Ph.D. in ethical Artificial Intelligence from the
University of Cape Town, showcasing his dedication to exploring cutting-edge concepts and addressing
ethical considerations within AI

Throughout his career, Lungile has held pivotal roles across diverse sectors, including broadcasting,
investment banking, travel and tourism, retail banking, insurance, central banking, and manufacturing.
Passionate about driving technological advancements and fostering leadership excellence, Lungile
actively engages in mentorship and coaching initiatives. He leverages his extensive experience and
expertise to inspire the next generation of ICT leaders, emphasizing the importance of embracing digital
transformation and harnessing the power of artificial intelligence for societal progress

Lungile’s influence extends beyond the confines of his professional roles, as he is a sought-after speaker
and panellist at prestigious industry events such as Gartner, GovTech, and International Data Corporation
(IDC) Summits and Conferences in South Africa. His thought leadership and insights continue to shape
the discourse surrounding emerging technologies, paving the way for a future where innovation drives
sustainable growth and societal well-being

Wissam Sabbagh is the founder and CEO of Mangomolo and Alpha Technology Group (ATG), a holding with different tech companies and customers in more than 30 different markets and an Advisory Board Member at the Holy Spirit University Kaslik Business School.

With 19 years of technology and entrepreneurship experience serially launching several tech companies in various verticals and industries, Wissam has spearheaded the growth of the group and its subsidiaries, leading them to market leadership positions around the world.

ATG companies and products today reach more than 3 million users per second across the world, while honoring the group’s ethos of creating disruption through innovation and solving real business challenges.Wissam’s vast experience in the Media and specifically in Digital Transformation across the broadcast industry allowed him to successfully drive Mangomolo the streaming technology company he has launched in 2014 into becoming a Market Leader allowing Many Broadcast Networks to transition into the OTT / Streaming Landscape launching more than 50 OTT Platforms in numerous markets.

Aziz Hajiyev holds the position of Chief Business Development Officer at Sweet TV, a technologically advanced OTT platform.

Sweet TV offers subscribers an array of TV channels and Video-on-Demand content. The platform is known for its user-friendly interface, stable streaming performance, an effective recommendation system, and various other features.

Taryn Uhlmann has spent the past 18 years in various capacities across the media, film, television and streaming industries. 

Initially working in marketing and the theatrical distribution of local films for Ster Kinekor and international titles for Warner Bros Pictures, she was compelled by the potential for a much greater audience reach and impact of visual storytelling that the digital formats, specifically OTT and streaming could offer.

Launching the first OTT streaming service in South Africa, Vidi, as GM: Marketing, she joined Discover Digital a year later where she launched and managed several services including MTN Front Row, TelkomONE and SABC+ as well as many partner services for telcos throughout Sub Saharan Africa with Discover’s own service, DEOD.

Taryn founded Bloomburst Consulting in 2023 and now works with media companies to assist them with the development and implementation of new streaming products, commercial partnerships, content acquisition and licensing requirements and marketing strategies.

8 years working experience in middle management with a combination of Administration, Statistics, Strategy, New Business Development and Research within the ICT industry and Broadcasting.

With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, Sumit has established himself as a formidable figure in the realm of broadcast television and a foundational pillar of U-TO. As the Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer, he not only leads the charge in driving U-TO’s technological advancements but also shapes its visionary trajectory, adeptly navigating the dynamic landscape of business demands while instilling a culture of relentless innovation.

Sumit’s primary mission is to redefine the Media & Entertainment (M&E) industry by delivering state-of-the-art, scalable business solutions that set new benchmarks for performance. His unwavering dedication to excellence has played a pivotal role in crafting U-TO’s extraordinary success narrative.

Beyond his strategic roles, Sumit remains deeply engaged in the Research and Development (R&D) endeavours of the company. Renowned for his ability to translate intricate business challenges into sophisticated software solutions, he has garnered widespread recognition and accolades within the industry.

Sumit’s expertise extends beyond his profound domain knowledge; his inventive approach to problem-solving constantly pushes the boundaries of innovation and possibility.

In addition to his leadership at U-TO, Sumit has been instrumental in shaping industry standards and fostering collaborative initiatives. His contributions as a core committee member at TiE for Media & Entertainment, and his current role as an esteemed APAC Council member at ‘The International Trade Association for the Broadcast & Media Industry’, underscore his status as a luminary in the field, further solidifying his legacy of influence and impact.

Makgosi has been a tech-girl for nearly two decades.

Technology has always been her passion and she has gained 20 years of experience in the IT field, with a significant amount of her time spent in the telco industry, although she has worked in other industries (like Insurance and as an IT reseller), she still prefers telco due to its complexity.

She has occupied varies roles within the IT portfolio which includes CIO for Faritec, and that of IT Strategy Executive, over the last 5 years she pivoted her career into Commercial and occupied positions such as Sales Executive in the Public Sector in Service management, she spent 2 years serving as a Chief of Staff for Telkom Group and provided strategic support to the GCEO. Recently employed as Managing Executive for Telkom Business and Home Solutions.

At a personal level she is passionate about leadership and empowering women in corporate environments. She considers it her purpose in life to create leaders through coaching and mentorship, her wealth of experience in the corporate environment enables her to share her insights and knowledge with other women across all industries

Ms Di Rosen is a seasoned – Executive Producer, Producer, and Director and founded DI ROSEN PRODUCTIONS, a prominent South African company specializing in television content production for over three decades. Di has been nominated for 19 awards and received 10.

With a wealth of experience in the Entertainment and Broadcast Sectors, Di has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s success and reputation. Known for her creative vision and ability to bring stories to life on screen, she has been instrumental in delivering high-quality and impactful content to audiences both National and Continental. Di Rosen’s dedication to the craft of storytelling and her commitment to excellence have solidified her as a respected figure in the world of television production.
It all started in the late 70’s as producer in the advertising industry, thereafter, producing and directing non-commercial programmes both locally and internationally. Travelled globally and continently the rest of Africa.
[ ] Producer / Director LIVE EVENTS (music, entertainment, etc, music Documentaries, TV Variety and Game Shows, Award Shows (Live and Packaged) Spiritual / Religious TV series, Corporate events , Live Streaming and Social Media content creator. across media platforms. Conversations/Talk – (traditional and new media) panel discussions/debates/engagement)

PRODUCTIONS
1 HOUR WEEKLY VARIETY PROGRAMME FOR 16 Years. Ngomkibelo/Kamokibelo launched many of our well-known musicians today.
Toured with Bryan Adams, Alanis Morrisette, Luther Vandross, Janet Jackson, Sting, Rodriguez,
Kanye West, Mary J Blige, Brian McKnight, Ronan Keating, Joyous Celebration, Jonathan Butler, and many others.
Israel Houghton and the New Breed DVD “Live in South Africa” This was short listed for a grammy award.
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival for 16 years.
Executive Produced Documentaries for the Both the Cann and Sundance Film Festival.
During Covid produced and directed a 2h30 min programme including hosts to help raise monies for musicians that was streamed and ultimately broadcast. The entire show was produced with cell phones.
To sum up Di Rosen – professional, innovative, creative, visionary, and integral.
.

Andrew Ohio is the Group CEO EIC Group, A Film business, Fintech, and Marketing Communications company with its root in Southern Africa and Nigeria. 

Having studied Film & Television Presenting at the Prestigeous Oncue Communications in Randburg South Africa, Andrew Ohio immediately practices distribution and hands on experience production with Mnet Studios Randburg. A graduate of Computer Engineer from the University Of Benin, Advance PGD in Business Communications from the foremost University Of Lagos, Diploma in Public Relations from The Business Education Examination Council (BEEC), certified member of the Advertisers Practitioner Council Of Nigeria, Grade 8 certificate of Musical Society Of Nigeria (MUSON) to mention a few 

With over 1,000 episodes to his credit on TV platforms as a Producer / Director of tv shows like, Teens Time With Chichi, Teens Hangout TV Show, Ndiisi Oge Nkeanyi, GistMeTvMag, Saka Tawa to name a few, over 1,000 Episodes of tv series, 500 movies of French & Wolof titles across francophone Countries in Africa & 50 English movies in distribution on DSTV and other local channels, most recently Amazon approved distribution company with over 50 movies in distribution across board. 

Andrew Ohio who believes in Public Relations through the eyes of the audiovisual platforms has over the years emerge as a leading Film Businessman expanding the company territories to Toronto International Film Festival, Durban Film Festival, Africa International Film Festival, ZUMA Film Festival, Cameroon International Film Festival & Berlin Film Festival .

With his first Premium TV series 30’s Single & Bored set to premier on Netflix , which already premiered on DSTV, Showcase and ShowMax, Andrew Ohio is forming a formidable alliance across Africa with the likes of Loukman Ali, the Uganda film maker who thrills all at the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Award by winning both categories for best Cinematographer and Director to bring unforgettable creativity to the international film business space, placing Africa on the global map.

Andrew Ohio believes in empowering film makers which brought about the Fintech arm of EIC Group, where film makers can present their scripts for funding and distribution handled by EIC Distribution afterwards, a holistic business approach to film making and film business.

Andrew Ohio Foundation, a Non-governmental platform created to empower the girl child in education as well as empower the mother for continuity is not left out.

Yokow Quansah is an accomplished technology professional and entrepreneur with 13+ years of experience in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications industry. He has successfully developed and launched over 5 OTT and streaming platforms in the region.

Yokow holds a Masters degree in Technology Management and a Bachelor of Business Science. He has worked in various sectors including Telecoms, FMCG, Financial Services, and Transportation, and has also conducted independent research and consulting.

Currently, Yokow serves as the Managing Director at Broadsmart, a consulting services company specializing in the Technology and Media industry.

A Chartered Marketer and a Communications specialist with experience spanning over a decade, Timothy is currently the Chief Executive Officer at the Commission who plays a key leadership role in leading the team at the Commission. He is a marketing and communication professional committed to investing in people, communities and businesses in transforming the society for a sustainable socio-economic development; a professional with leadership and management qualities, strategy formulation and execution, behaviour change, social marketing, sustainable development, media and corporate communications.

Timothy has Board level experience with fully developed analytical skills, people and systems focus, capacity for growing businesses and solid understanding in designing and implementing results bearing business initiatives and strategies. He has a strong ability to influence thinking, forge strategic alliances and build relationships. He is a Champion for good governance with desire to addressing social, economic and cultural issues in the society.

He has an outstanding qualification in all phases of Marketing, Management, Communication and Development and has served in the dynamic sectors including, Marketing, Media, ICT, Development and the entertainment. He has provided his expertise and knowledge previously to Rollout Marketing, Touch Media Solutions Ltd, Mnet East Africa, Multichoice Africa and now Kenya Film Commission.

Mr. Owase is currently a member of Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK), Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) and Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

His academic credentials include Masters in Development and Corporate Communications (MA) from Daystar University, BBA (Marketing) from Kenya Methodist University, Film Marketing from AFCI University, Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Diploma in Marketing from London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Diploma in Business Management from Kenya Institute of Management, Certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation, among other qualifications.

Maggie has over 16 years of experience working in the travel/tourism industry Africa ; Her career in the industry saw her travel to some of the most sought-after destinations in Africa and fuelled the next chapter of her life: sharing Africa with the world through Africa’s first international broadcast and OTT streaming TV channel. Travel Africa Network’s tech division incorporates Virtual-Reality and Augmented Reality technologies that provide unique interactive experiences that promote consumer engagement. 

Based in Cape Town Maggie established the Voyage Studios, a motion picture film studio facility that produces travel and food films. Equipped with an indoor and outdoor premium culinary film studios, video editing, sound, and motion studio facilities, the Voyage Studio works with various brands to create travel and food stories that educate and inspire people to explore Destination Africa. As a travel and lifestyle content agency with complete creative strategy, her company creates premium, fun-to-consume travel and food video content for social, digital, in-flight, and TV audiences. 

I am an innovative business leader with great problem-solving skills and strong business acumen, I have a proven track record of achievement and experience in strategic planning, problem solving, change management, continuous improvement and international business.

One of my convictions is that the organization employees are its greatest asset. As a leader, I hold myself to higher standards and strive to build trust and foster open communication in order to create an
environment that enables people to achieve their full potential.

Gary Shaw, born on November 6, 1961, in Kendall, UK, is a seasoned entrepreneur and
technology innovator with a diverse career spanning decades.

Educated at William Rhodes School in Chesterfield, UK, Gary graduated in 1979 before
pursuing studies in Business at Birmingham University from 1979 to 1981.

In the early ’80s, Gary entered the media industry, making significant contributions, he served
as a Commercial Representative at United Newspapers from 1981 to 1984 and later joined
Johnson Press PLC, starting as the Manager of Derbyshire Times Newspaper, he ascended to
become the Commercial Director of GCBrittain, overseeing 17 regional newspapers in the UK.

In 1994, Gary founded HughesRae, an early-stage Internet Service Application build business.
The company developed pioneering Internet applications for global enterprises in banking,
pharmaceuticals, and media. Notable clients included Janssen Cilag, Boehringer Ingelheim,
Siemens, HSBC, Barclays, Prudential, and Wembley Plc.

Successfully selling HughesRae to Morse PLC for $12 million in 1999, Gary then led Morse
PLC’s Software division, growing it to 600 employees by 2001. In 2002, he established
St-Enodoc, a global provider of lottery and gaming solutions. GTECH Corporation acquired 90
percent of St Enodoc Holdings Limited in 2008 for €28 million, marking GTECH’s entry into
online gaming.

Remaining with GTECH, rebranded as IGT globally, Gary served as Chief Innovation Officer
until 2015, working in New York, California (Silicon Valley), and Oregon.
In 2015, Gary founded Nektan, a mobile Ecommerce Platform. Nektan traded as a listed
business until 2019, when it was sold as a going concern to Capricorn Capital, a global private
equity firm managing approximately $8 billion in assets. The business was rebranded as
Markortech.com.

In 2020, Gary relocated to Africa, engaging in Ecommerce projects in Ethiopia with the
government. Playing a pivotal role in implementing an IPTV solution in collaboration with Ethio
Telecom, Gary established a partnership with Mware, delivering the solution in Ethiopia.
In 2023, Gary moved to Rwanda to collaborate with the RBA on a commercial OTT solution set
to launch in January 2024. Gary Shaw continues to contribute significantly to the intersection of
technology, commerce, and innovation globally

Kunle Bamigboye is the Founder and CEO of Coventi, a streaming and production company based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Coventi is focused on streaming and producing live entertainment events, such as music concerts and tours, and corporate events for large and medium-sized companies. The company works with event promoters, record labels, artists, content distributors, media, and production companies across Africa, Europe, and North America.

Kunle has a wealth of experience in the entertainment and production industry, having worked with some of the biggest names in the business in Nigeria, Ghana, UK, and the US. He is a passionate advocate for using technology to create new and innovative ways to experience live entertainment

Joy Efe Odiete is the CEO of Blue Pictures Entertainment
She is an Award-Winning independent film distributor and film sales agent and aggregator, for
streaming platforms {Netflix/Amazon} and other independent streaming platforms around the
world. who possesses over 20 years’ experience in the film industry across Africa and the
International Market.

She is also a renowned industry Festival speaker, both locally and internationally. Eg, Nigerian
International Film Summit, American Film Market, Monaco Film Festival etc
Joy holds a degree in Business Studies, a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and membership of
the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria

She began her career as a sales executive at NuMetro media store, rising through the ranks to
reach the prominent position of Head of Operations for NuMetro Film Distribution in only six
years

In 2011, she made the decision to pursue her dream of launching her very own independent film
distribution company in a male-dominated industry and has not looked back since then – Blue
Pictures Entertainment has since grown to become the Number 1 leading entertainment
company in West Africa.

Joy is motivated by her passion for making meaningful contributions to the African
entertainment industry, from pre-production to distribution. Her goal is to enhance the viewing
experience for movie fans and place original, well-produced Nigerian entertainment content on
the global stage

Her portfolio comprises a long list of the world’s most successful studio titles, distributed across
Africa on behalf of major studios, including Warner Brothers Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures,
20th Century Fox, NuMetro Studios, Eros International, Studio Carnal, FilmFinity, Black Sheep
Entertainment and a number of independent studios in the US, UK & South Africa. Joy is also a
business consultant to many young and upcoming filmmakers

She has recorded major successes for foreign studios with franchise titles such as Harry Potter,
Star Wars, Thor, Avengers, Batman, Iron Man and has broken box office records with the
runaway success, Black Panther, amongst many more. She has also worked with Nollywood
greats & distributed notable Nollywood box office hits including The Return Of Jenifa, Phone
Swap, Last Flight to Abuja, The Mirror Boy, Anchor Baby, to mention a few

Joy has expanded the Blue Pictures Brand to story telling and film production/Co-Production.
She wrote the story of Netflix 2021 hit ‘GONE’ and also went on to produce/financed other
movies like; MONEY MISS ROAD, TOXIC and most recently TOKUNBO . She is currently
supervising series of productions that will also feature on Netflix and Amazon in 2023/2024
respectively

Joy is the president of the Theatrical Distributors Association of Nigeria and is an active member
of the African Women in Leadership Organization (AWLO), participating in a number of local
and international conferences

Asides, Film Distribution, Joy also ventured into film exhibition in 2021, she sits as the CEO of
Blue Pictures Cinemas. A state of the art cinema located in Lagos Island , Lagos . Following the
establishment of the cinema, Joy became a member of WIE ( Women in Exhibition)international
and have been spotlighted by the global women in exhibition in less than 1year of being a
member

I am a CEO of the NPC Community Media Trust as well as the production company Off the Ground Media OTG (PTY). I direct and produce all forms of media. My latest drama series was The Riviera – a dreamed set in 1989 during SA state of emergency, told through the eyes of a 12yr old girl. (Director/Producer) The Riviera won Best TV Comedy and Best Directing for TV Comedy at the SAFTA’s 2021. The Riviera is now on Amazon Prime for viewing. Season 2 is currently in production.

I also created, produced and directed the award winning prime time coming of age drama series, Jab, set in the world of women’s boxing on SABC 1 and Netfilx. My last documentary was, A Country for my Daughter, a 52 minute documentary on women, violence and the law in South Africa, won the fourth Gender and Media Awards for best documentary in 2010. Off the Ground Media creates commercial media and marketing for brands and companies. Community Media Trust is a not-for-profit media production company specialising in human rights and health. CMT specialises in mass communication from brand development and campaign management and produces all forms of mass media and face-to-face communication.

Specialties: CMT specialises in media production including TV, radio, outdoor, social media and brand design. CMT uses human centred design and behaviour change communication principles to design and implement effective behaviour change campaigns in South Africa and Namibia. Both CMT and OTG do all media production in house from conception to master delivery.

Very passionate about Media, innovation, creation plus repurposing, and tech as a tool for content aggregation and distribution. Been running quite a race across Uganda’s content production, management and distribution space, for over 10 years now. Media is the gel that keeps communities anywhere together. An avenue, that will definitely have lasting implications on populations and generations, depending on how we choose to us it. Let’s push more narratives for positive change and transformation.

Current co-chair of the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO), Honorary Chair of the South African Film Academy and convenor of the YOung Filmmakers programme.

Quinton has more than 20 years of production experience in various formats and oversees up Spier Films productions on the ground with Michael Auret

General Manager- MTN, A meticulous strategy consultant who undertakes complex assignments, meets tight deadlines, and aspires to deliver consistent high quality work.

Combines strong critical thinking and analytical skills with business acumen in order to seek deep insight for crafting sustainable solutions in collaboration with clients.

Film Operations & Account Manager at Filmone Entertainment. With More than six years’
experience with from content conceptualization & creation, film selection, film marketing,
content acquisitions and distribution for film projects through a value chain in order to
generate profits for studios/producers.

Distributing over 100 titles both local and Hollywood in West African Film Market which
includes the highest grossing Nollywood & Hollywood movie in the territory Funke’s Akindele A
Tribe Called Judah & Marvel’s Black Panther; Wakanda Forever is an achievement for the books.

Another feat which is worth celebrating is juggling the daily office system routine and producing
a TV series titled Becoming Abi currently streaming on Netflix.

Sivan Pillay is the CEO Of Trace Studios which is part of Trace with operations based in Cape, Town
Johannesburg and a distribution team based in Paris. He is also the Founder and CEO of 360 Degrees
South and Zero Gravity TV and Media and has over 28 years of experience in Music and Television.

Trace Studios & Zero Gravity TV and Media are content production companies focused on Creative
Development, Production and Distribution of IP for TV, Broadcast Events, Film and Digital locally and
globally. 360 Degrees South is Media Agency focussed on Technology, Digital and Content business.

Pillay’s career started in a music store in Durban and was very quickly drafted into EMI Music South
Africa in music sales and then promoted to International Label Manager and eventually International
Promotions Manager. He worked with an array of international artists in SA including Roxette,
Vanessa Mae, Simple Minds, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Blur and Lynden David Hall amongst others.

He also managed local concert promotion tours with Luther Vandross and Michael Learns to Rock
which became one of the highest selling bands of all time in South Africa with their album Paint My
Love reaching multi-platinum status. Pillay then discovered and signed the SA rock band Watershed
in 1998 which went on to become one SA’s most successful bands. At age 25, Pillay took the leap
into television with media agency Synapse and then onto Endemol South Africa.

Pillay joined Endemol SA in their Sponsorships and Licensing division in 2000 and eventually was
appointed Head of Commercial and Digital business in 2004 and finally MD of Endemol South Africa
in 2008. After the Endemol-Shine global merger, Pillay was appointed CEO of Endemol Shine Africa.

In 16 years and 8 years in charge of the company Pillay spearheaded Endemol’s Creative and
Production expansion with a list of Africa’s largest and most popular TV series including Big Brother
Africa, Isidingo, Survivor South Africa, Fear Factor, Project Fame West and East Africa, All You Need Is
Love and Deal or No Deal. He also led as Executive Producer on over 130 major TV series and
commercial deals in Africa over an 8-year period spanning 2008-2016 and acted as a judge in
SABC3’s 2002 hit series Coca-Cola PopStars.

In 2016, after 16 years with Endemol, Pillay decided to part ways to begin his own new venture to
further fuel his passion for Television, Film, Music, Creativity and Technology in the form of 360
Degrees South and Zero Gravity TV and Media. Now as the CEO of Trace Studios, Pillay aims to
connect Africa’s best creative ideas with the world and with the highest production standards.
Working with Television, Media, Mobile Networks and Advertisers and finding solutions through
innovation.

Sivan Pillay is also an accomplished musician with two solo albums released under the pseudonym
The Eskimo Writer.

Vuyokazi Charity ‘Joseph’ Matu is a Strategic Thinker and Media Executive, who started as a Receptionist and moved through the ranks to the CEO position. Called to step into hard places, her professional journey in testing situations, is a remarkable story.

She is a Transformational Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, Nation Builder, Actress & TV Host, Producer & Content Advisory (Radio & TV). She is a Pioneering Force and Advocate for Cultural Intelligence with a great Passion for Human Transformation, Productiveness & Drawing Out the Greatness In Others. She is at the forefront of transforming culture through empowering individuals and organizations to lead change.

Through her gift of Inspirational Speaking, she equips, empowers and inspires people to impact their world. She is a Certified Leadership Coach. She speaks to all kinds of audiences, Educational Institutions, Corporates, Business, Government, Churches and Communities.

She has twice been selected by the International Emmy Academy of Television to join a delegation of South African Emmy Awards Judges who visited the USA for the ceremony and exposure to latest industry
trends and techniques from the world’s respected TV industry professionals.

She represented South Africa in France, as part of the Western Province and industry’s preparation for the 2010 World Cup. In 2017, she was privileged to view dynamic content from all over the world as part of the judging panel for the AIB’s (Association for the International Broadcasting, London, UK). 2018, she joined the list of Judges for the SAFTAS, South African Film & TV awards as selected by the National Film & Video Foundation. She was in the Judging Panel for AIB’s (UK) again in 2023.

Vuyokazi is the Founding President of Voice of Africa Global Media, a media and special projects company birthed following 18 years of experience and exposure in the Film & TV Business locally and internationally. Vuyokazi is a Magnet for the spirit of Reconciliation & Oneness. She sees people as individual vessels worthy of respect & honor, who are on this earth to accomplish a specific assignment, irrespective of the colour of their skin or religious affiliation. She is driven by ‘seeing people & nations fulfil their divine purpose’.

Vuyokazi is the former CEO and one of the Founders and Directors of Okuhle Media, a Film and Television production company producing content for broadcasters and brands locally and internationally. With her natural ability for responsibility, she has been involved in industry organizations as Board member for Women in Film and Television and later voted into the Board of the Cape Film Commission, as Chairperson.

Her business TV Show, ‘Dream Again Africa’ launched in 2018 in partnership with GOD TV Africa, as a volunteer for 6 years, she produced & hosted the weekly Radio program “Show Me” (It’s no longer just about the Talk, it’s about the Walk) on Radio Cape Pulpit. She won, Best New Presenter Award (2018) for this Program. She graduated in 2020, as part of the 1st class of The Joseph Business School, Africa

Benjamin started his career in television commercials, working his way up in the freelance world from runner to line producing for some of South Africa’s most prolific commercials production companies. In 2007 he made the move into feature film development and production where he partnered with US-Based cult filmmaker Albert Pyun having co-produced a number of independent genre films.

In 2012 he founded Gravel Road Distribution Group, a boutique all-rights sales and distribution outfit based in Cape Town, South Africa and took on the leadership role of CEO. Having started with a handful of titles and clients, he has grown the business to acquiring and releasing over 75 titles per year, including the Oscar winning Parasite. His client base spans the continent of Africa, from regional broadcasters to major broadcasters such as Multichoice, and global streaming platforms including Netflix and Amazon.

His passion for classic cinema, led him to establish Retro Afrika Bioscope in 2013, a film preservation initiative through which lost and forgotten African classics are located, acquired, digitally restored, and re-released for modern audiences around the world. To date, over 250 titles have been acquired, of which 52 have been digitally restored.

Ari Kruger is the co-creator and director of the hugely popular web-series SuzelleDIY which has garnered over 22 million views on YouTube and been broadcast nationally on Comedy Central. He is also the co-creator and director of the sensational mockumentary series Tali’s Wedding Diary, which was awarded five South African Film & Television Awards, including Best Director for a Comedy Series. Both productions epitomise his impeccable comic timing and talent for creating memorable characters.

He has attracted notable attention with his short films, having been a finalist at the world’s largest short film festival Tropfest in 2011, in competition with the notable filmmakers like Joel Edgerton. His films have screened in festivals across the globe with two of his short films having been selected as Vimeo Staff Picks.

His latest short film Waiting for Goldman is currently racking up awards on the festival circuit, winning Best Dark Comedy at IndieX Film Festival and Independent Short Awards in in Los Angeles.

Ari recently directed and executive produced Tali’s Baby Diary for showmax, (the sequel to Baby Diary) which was received with widespread positive reviews and hailed as the best television series of 2021 in South Africa by Media24. He is currently in development on the third season of the series.

He is also the showrunner and director for the popular branded talk show Unklipped

Ari and his wife Julia Anastasopoulos are the co-owners of Sketchbook Studios, a production company in Cape Town where they produce original content, television series, features and commercials.

Wanda is an esteemed strategist with over two decades of experience orchestrating business
transformations across various industries. Her strength lies in formulating pioneering strategies that redefine the landscape of operations and drive profound change.

Wanda actively seeks out and cultivates innovative start-ups, leveraging her extensive expertise to provide
strategic consulting to corporate innovation hubs and start-up businesses. With a primary focus on assisting clients in launching and managing video streaming services, Wanda’s commitment to progress and innovation is evident.

Specialising in guiding organisations through the complexities of entering and thriving in the digital streaming market, Wanda delivers customised solutions that drive growth and profitability.

From content acquisition to platform development and audience engagement strategies, her strategic acumen ensures success in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

In addition to her consulting work, Wanda fosters innovation and growth in emerging sectors. She holds a
postgraduate degree in Digital Business and is finalising her Masters in Digital Business, enriching her
expertise and insights in the field. Wanda has established thriving incubation hubs that enable the
development and adoption of digital lifestyle propositions, particularly within the alternative energy sector.

Her track record reflects an unwavering dedication to forging innovative pathways and driving growth for
small businesses seeking alternative energy solutions, showcasing her commitment to advancing industries through strategic leadership and forward-thinking approaches.

Makkie Slamong brings a wealth of experience to the role of CEO of Cape Town Film Studios.  With a demonstrated history of working in the motion pictures and film industry. His skill set includes expertise in Integrated Marketing, Production Management, Operational Management, Project Management, Advertising, and a deep understanding of Film and Documentaries.

Makkie’s journey in the film industry continued at Cape Town Film Studios in 2013, where he initially served as the Studio Manager. Makkie’s exceptional leadership and management abilities quickly earned him a promotion to General Manager in 2016. Notably, Makkie demonstrated his commitment and leadership by serving as acting CEO for 15 months before officially assuming the role on 1 November 2022.

Under Makkie’s guidance, Cape Town Film Studios continues to be a trailblazer as the first custom-built, high-tech film studio complex of its kind in Africa, offering state-of-the-art facilities that are instrumental in shaping the future of the film industry on the continent.

Bongani Siqoko is the Group Content Development Officer at Arena Holdings – driving the group’s  content strategy across news, music and film production and distribution. He a media professional with over 25 years of experience as a journalist, editor and strategist. Siqoko is a former Publisher of TimesLIVE, former editor of the Daily Dispatch in East London and former editor of the Sunday Times in Johannesburg – a position he held until February 2020.

During his time as editor, he sat on the board member of the World Editors Forum. After stepping down from his role as editor of the Sunday Times, Siqoko became the General Manager for Strategy – tasked with integrating the traditional business of newspapers and magazines with the new business of digital, video and entertainment. He holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London in the United Kingdom.

Samuel is the Chief Executive Officer of Citi FM and Citi TV in Accra, Ghana and has close to three (3) decades of experience in business development and media management practice. He has been involved in the setting up of market-leading media organizations in Ghana since 1995.

He started his career as an I.T. Systems Officer with the then ICL
Computers and Digitronix Systems, combining systems work with Sales
and Marketing. He then veered into Media, first as a passion and eventually building a career out of it. He became the Director of Programmes for Multimedia Broadcasting Ltd, helping with the setup of Joy FM, Luv FM and Adom FM, all in Ghana.

Mr. Attah-Mensah also worked as a Market Development Manager for
Coca-Cola West Africa in Liberia and Sierra Leone where he was involved
in rebuilding Coca-Cola’s presence in these countries after the civil wars.
With his wealth of experience in marketing operations, Samuel also served
as Director of Dannex Pharmaceuticals Limited in Ghana.

He lectured at the University of Professional Studies, Accra in Services Marketing, Tourism Marketing and Strategic Management.

He is a fellow of the Aspen Institute as well as the African Leadership Initiative. He holds a first degree in Computer Science from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology and an MBA from Leicester University in the UK. He has served as panel member of the Association of International Broadcasters and was the Vice President of Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA).

An established filmmaker, Leo’s first notable work was as a Director in the acclaimed
HIV/AIDS documentary ‘A Fighting Spirit’ (STEPS), a special jury prize winner at the
2002 BANFF Film Festival. The year 2001 saw Leo collaborating as co-Director with
South African filmmaker Rehad Desai (‘Miner’s shot Down’) in the internationally
acclaimed documentary film ‘My land My Life’, a story that tackles the land issue in
Zimbabwe commissioned by Australian broadcaster SBS.

In a career spanning 28 years working on African and International projects, credits as
an Assistant Director include Carlton TV’s ‘Soldier Soldier’ HBO’s ‘Generation Kill”
Idrissa Ouedraogo’s ‘Kini and Adams’, Charles Burnett’s “Namibia- The Struggle for
Liberation” and Raoul Peck’s ‘Lumumba’. Visit www.imdb.com/name/nm0681062 for
Leo Phiri’s online resume. To date Leo has worked on projects for both African and
international companies that include Known Associates Entertainment, Endemol
Shine South Africa,Videovision, Stained Glass TV,HBO, Showmax, ETV, VIU South
Africa & SABC.

Leo has become one of South Africa’s most sought-after Television Producers with
producing credits for popular TV shows that include ‘Ubettina Wethu’ ‘Muvhango’ and
‘Isidingo’ and Line Producing credits for ‘Uzalo’, ‘Imbewu’ and the first African Netflix
Original Documentary Crime Drama Series ‘Senzo: Murder of a soccer star’.

Leo is also no stranger to non-fiction and social development content and prides himself in
producing content for clients that include UNICEF, UNHCR and Oxfam.

Leo has worked and shot content in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Rwanda and is currently
based in Johannesburg South Africa. In 2018, he founded ‘Being Mandela’, a content
platform that Produced ‘Nelson Mandela’ themed content in partnership with the
Nelson Mandela Foundation to celebrate Madiba’s centenary year in 2018. The first
film project under the banner ‘Joko Ya Hao’ directed by Mmabatho Montsho and
nominated in the 2020 South African Film and Television awards for ‘Best short Film’
was picked up by Showmax and Mnet. The 2 nd film ‘July 18 th is’ directed by Mandla N
is currently completed. Visit www.beingmandela.co.za for more info.

As Producer, Leo’s first Feature length film ‘Blind Eye’, a drama that explores
municipal corruption in Kwa-Zulu Natal is slated to be released on eVOD in 2023 and
has been picked up for worldwide distribution by Known Associates Entertainment.

Leo’s 2 nd Feature Film ’24 Hours in Yambuku’ helmed by American Actor/Producer
Richard T. Jones is currently in Pre-Production. As of 2021 Leo has been Showrunner
on ‘ubettina Wethu’, a South African adaptation of the popular Colombian telenovela
‘Yo soy Betty, La fea’ produced by Known Associates Entertainment till his appointment as Head of Production for the company in November 2023.

Leo’s pervious stint as Operations Manager at Endemol Shine South Africa and current
role at Known Associates Entertainment reflects Leo’s growth trajectory as a business
Manager and Film/TV Executive who understands the nuts and bolts of Film &
Television Production.

Lindile Xoko has an MBA with Merit from the University of Birmingham, UK. He has 25 years of entrepreneurship experience. He has led businesses in South Africa, UK, France, Portugal, Spain, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Germany and the greater EMEA, with a successful track record in growth, strategy, sales, channel development & acceleration, project management, transformation and business development.

Previously, he has been the General Manager of the Small Medium Enterprise division at MTN. Currently, he is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer at Eden, a digital platform that helps entrepreneurs and small enterprises manage and grow their businesses. Lindile is an expert in growing businesses. He also provides this service to fortune 500 businesses by defining a bespoke growth playbook and helps them implement it to achieve a turnaround and ultimately grow.

Lindile is now the Group Chief Revenue Officer of Primedia Group after being promoted from being the Chief Revenue Officer of Primedia Broadcasting. This is following the successful deployment of the Growth Playbook. Which he is now establishing across Primedia’s group of companies.

In addition to Group Chief Revenue Officer, Lindile has been granted the incredible opportunity to be the Chief Executive Officer of Primedia Broadcasting, ‘the home of great media’. A role that will see him delighting audiences with great content, advertisers with new and innovative ways to connect to their desired audiences whilst enhancing the experience of the existing mediums, employees with an inclusive and creative high-performance culture, the country and the communities we operate in with a socially and environmentally responsible corporate citizen.

After many years spent honing his formula of success in business, Lindile decided to share his insights in The Young Entrepreneur’s Playbook.

He is passionate about empowering women and the youth through entrepreneurship, education and technology.

Communications Expert and Multi Media/Digital Manager with a demonstrable history in the broadcasting industry spanning over ten years. Muriro is a versatile journalist and digital specialist who has worked across different media platforms: television, radio, print and online. She is an editor with Zimbabwe’s largest diversified media company Zimpapers, where she heads the News, Current Affairs and Digital Services department of the group’s Radio Broadcasting Division. She was tasked with spearheading the division’s digital transformation in April 2023, to ensure the radio consortium with four brands under its stable (Star FM, Diamond FM, Capitalk 100.4FM and Platinum FM) remains relevant, prominent and profitable.

Muriro’s achievements include creating new revenue lines for the radio consortium through commercialization of digital services such as livestreaming, monetization of social media platforms, websites and mobile apps. Muriro is the founding editor of the Radio Broadcasting Division’s first-ever digital magazine, The Galaxy, which showcases the radio stations personalities and brands, while also providing a lucrative marketing platform for advertisers. The magazine also unpacks digital trends in the broadcasting sector as well as feature prominent business voices on cross-cutting issues. She has been instrumental in the crafting of Zimpapers policies that ensure the media company adheres and adopts best practices and guidelines while remaining competitive, in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Muriro has moderated and facilitated high level national, regional and international panel discussions across multiple disciplines including dialogue platforms and conferences hosted by countries that include Zimbabwe, China and the US as well as organisations such as SADC, COMESA, UN Women, the EU and the US State Department.

Muriro is a 2021 alumna of the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship (Young African Leaders Initiative-YALI). She holds an MSc in Strategic Management (Great Zimbabwe University), a BSc in Development Studies (Zimbabwe Open University) and Diploma in Communications and Journalism (Christian College of Southern Africa). She is also trained in economics (Thomson Reuters Foundation) and digital media reporting (US Agency for Global Media).

Adaptable media and communications expert with extensive experience in providing first-class leadership for Broadcasting Industry. Meeting business demands and deadlines through a diligent work-ethic and dedication to excellence

Ambitious senior executive with a demonstrated history of accomplishment spanning 14-year media career. Change manager driven to lead continuous improvement in all areas of business operations to enhance revenue and streamline internal systems. Focused on growing profits with multi-pronged strategies

Accomplished professional with a penchant for success

Ladun Awobokun is a seasoned content professional, specializing in filmed content acquisition, sales, and licensing, with 12 years combined experience in financial market research, strategy, film distribution and
financial analysis, she currently leads the distribution and acquisition efforts at Filmone Entertainment, as the General Manager.

Ladun and her team represent the theatrical interests of Warner Bros. Walt Disney, Sony, Empire entertainment in Anglophone West Africa, more so, the team maintains the rights to the most popular Nollywood titles, responsible for distributing 90% of the highest grossing Nollywood titles of all times, as well as the largest aggregator of Nigerian content to the streamers.

Ladun has also been involved in fostering standardization and transparency in West Africa’s movie industry, evidenced with her contribution in onboarding of the comScore platform in the west Africa region.

More recently, she was the Editor in chief of the Nigerian Box Office Yearbook 2022, the official handbook for the Box Office facts in Nigeria.

Jacquiline is an innovation enthusiast with a passion for fostering positive social impact;
committed to finding innovative solutions to Africa’s key developmental challenges.
Currently serving as the Digital Video Manager at Ubongo, Jacquiline plays a pivotal role in
shaping the online video presence of Africa’s leading producer for children’s edutainment,
Ubongo. Ubongo creates top-quality localized educational cartoons to help Africa’s 440
million kids learn and leverage learning. Jacquiline’s role focuses on developing and
implementing a multi-platform strategy to grow Ubongo’s digital video audience, whilst
maximizing revenue.
As a Product Manager, Jacquiline has led a cross-functional team through a successful
development and launch of the Ubongo Playroom App: an OTT platform created to bring all
of Ubongo’s original educational content together in one space – a digital space that is safe
for kids and offers the optimal user experience for kids to watch, listen, read and play with all
Ubongo content.
Adding to her portfolio, Jacquiline is also a Lawyer by profession, with a Bachelor’s degree in
Law and a Master’s degree in Corporate Law.
Jacquiline aims to use her skills as a product innovator to solve Africa’s most pressing
challenges

He has an extensive media experience ranging from print, broadcasting, cinema and now digital, Leslie Adams has previously worked with CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa on the continent.

As Head of Sales, he was part of the launch team that established Stuff magazine, a technology-focused title that still enjoys a steady readership today.

He was also instrumental in the rejuvenation and growth of Africa’s largest movie exhibitor Ster-Kinekor, leading the cinema sales team to doubling its overall market share for the cinema advertising category during his tenure.

In 2021, Leslie Adams was appointed Sales Director at Reach Africa, which specialises in premium gaming, audio and video on demand (VOD) solutions for brands and marketers. Particularly passionate about the fast-paced world of streaming, he considers himself a natural problem-solver who integrates his in-depth understanding of media with hard data and good old-fashioned common sense to drive tangible business return. 

Leslie believes advertising to be the most influential industry today, and cites his vision as being able to lead and cultivate the industry on emerging and innovative advertising solutions.

Danis Dube, aka “Danny that Guy”is an exciting young Zimbabwean leader in broadcast and digital media and marketing, as well as a radio personality, MC, voice-over artist, podcaster and consultant. He currently serves as the Station Manager for the national radio station ZiFM Stereo, on which he built his reputation as a stellar radio host, excelling in high-profile interviews, analysis of technological trends and an ability to connect with audiences.

With a background in Information Technology, Danis has built a career in synergising media and digital platforms. He continues to cement his position in African media as a champion of newtechnologies and excellence in broadcasting.

Danny that Guy began his radio career with the launch of Zimbabwe’s first privately-owned commercial radio station, ZiFM Stereo in 2012. His weekend show Off The Wall was the jewel of radio, featuring interviews with some of the international music scene’s big names such as Eve, Estelle, Wizkid, Diamond Platnumz, Nasty C, D’Banj, Mi Casa, Cassper Nyovest and more.

He was intimately involved in numerous marketing initiatives and outreach programs. Danny that Guy has since hosted the flagship daily breakfast, midday and afternoon drivetime shows on ZiFM Stereo. His understanding of broadcasting and connecting with audiences has propelled him, first to Programs Manager in 2018, then to oversee ZiFM Stereo as the Station Manager in 2022.

Danny is an accomplished Master of Ceremonies for corporate and charity events, conferences & workshops as well as festivals, gigs and concerts. He has hosted such high-profile events, in addition, his ability to connect with audiences has led him to host various TV shows.

Danny that Guy has built a significant following online with 2 Broke Twimbos, a website and podcast he launched in 2014 with his co-host Phil Chard. 2 Broke Twimbos documents African music and events while using comedy to attract an audience and generate engagement.

The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms and to date, has over 300 episodes, 120,000 monthly downloads and 30,000 monthly subscribers. In 2016, 2 Broke Twimbos won the Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA) Award for Best Online Media.

Danny that Guy is passionate about the arts and media in Africa, and he works as a consultant on broadcast media, marketing and digital media, assisting businesses in and outside Zimbabwe to understand the market and maximize their reach on digital platforms.

Danny that Guy is also an accomplished Voice Over Artist, registered with multiple media agencies in Zimbabwe. His extensive vocal range has allowed him to be involved invoicing numerous adverts, infomercials, documentaries, corporate presentations and more.

Danny that Guy’s passion for the arts has moved him to launch the Music Business Series, a series of workshops designed to build the music industry in Zimbabwe and Africa, as well as to empower the artists, producers, managers and creatives in the industry.

The first workshop was held in November 2018, all put together by Danny in his personal capacity. It featured panellists from the highest tiers of Zimbabwe’s radio and music industries. A subsequent workshop was held in collaboration with Shoko Festival in 2019, featuring international music producer Rymez.

Michael (Mike) Aldridge is currently employed as the Broadcast Manager at Cape Town TV. The channel is a community TV station serving the greater Cape Town area and it is also broadcast throughout South Africa on DStv and FreeVision.

Mike is one of the founders of Cape Town TV and has run key areas of the channel since it started broadcasting in 2008. Here he manages several departments including Broadcasting, Programming, IT and Regulatory Affairs. He is currently involved in developing the channel’s online platform and evolving interactive digital broadcasting technologies.

Mike has been involved in community television since the mid-1990s. His research into this third tier of broadcasting helped to shape South Africa’s policy in this area through innovative economic modeling which led to the current funding model for community TV.

Academically, Mike holds Honours and Masters degrees in Cultural and Media Studies as well as a BA, all from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. He is a tech innovator and headed a team that won the Sentech Innovation Prize for his invention of a smart set-top box for digital television reception.