Strengthening Our Collective Power: It’s Time We Invest in Each Other
Imagine you are an African diaspora entrepreneur. The truth is that you are already spending valuable resources on services like video editing, website design, or social media marketing, and you are most likely outsourcing these tasks to professionals around the globe. But what if you could redirect that money to African talent instead? What if, by hiring professionals from the continent, you could elevate your business, support African economies, and contribute to the collective growth of your community?
Want to learn more about storytelling? Start by downloading the first chapter of The Storytelling Mastery.
As an African diaspora entrepreneur, you are part of a powerful network, a global force with the potential to significantly impact both the global creative economy and local economies back home.
The African diaspora, numbering hundreds of millions of people worldwide, wields substantial economic power, with remittances alone contributing over $80 billion annually to African countries.
But your impact can extend beyond personal remittances. By hiring skilled African professionals for business services, collaborating with other diaspora entrepreneurs, and building business networks, you can strengthen your community and create long-term economic growth that benefits everyone.
In this article, we will explore three actionable ways you can invest in the African community, help create jobs for African creative minds, and strengthen your own business in the process.
Why Investing in Each Other Matters as Africans
As an African diaspora entrepreneur, you are in a unique position to help unlock the full economic potential of your community. The African continent is rich in talent, innovation, and creativity.
According to a 2020 study by the African Union, the creative industries across Africa have the potential to generate billions in revenue and create millions of jobs if properly supported.
See also Collaborations and Networking: How to Build a Creative Ecosystem That Can Fuel Your Business
However, many talented professionals on the continent struggle to find opportunities that match their skills, often because businesses in the African diaspora tend to outsource work to non-African countries.
But the tide is changing. More and more African diaspora entrepreneurs are beginning to realize that they can get top-tier work at competitive prices by hiring professionals from their home countries.
Is for this reason that at AClasses Media, we established the AClasses Creative Studio with a powerful mission: to unlock the immense potential of African talent and meet the needs of businesses in Western countries, particularly those owned by members of the diaspora community. Our goal is to bridge the gap and empower businesses with innovative and tailored creative solutions.
What we are telling diasporan businesses is that by hiring fellow Africans, they are not only investing in their own businesses but also contributing to the collective growth of their communities.
The message is simple: “Every dollar you spend on African talent strengthens the continent’s position in the global creative economy, creates jobs, and fosters innovation.”
Also, the ripple effect is real. When you hire an African video editor, graphic designer, or social media manager in AClasses Creative Studio, you are not just getting a service, you are creating economic opportunities, empowering African professionals, and helping to grow local economies.
As these professionals grow, so does their ability to invest in their own communities, creating a cycle of prosperity that benefits everyone. Here are some considerations to achieve this:
1. Hire African Talent for Business Services
One of the most direct ways you can invest in the African creative economy is by hiring African professionals for your business services. Whether you need a video editor, a website designer, a copywriter, or a social media manager, countless skilled professionals across Africa can deliver high-quality work at competitive prices.
Consider this: many African countries are home to a growing number of freelancers and small business owners in the creative and tech industries.
For example, Nigeria is becoming a hub for tech talent, with Lagos often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of Africa.” Countries like Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana also have booming creative industries, with skilled professionals in fields like graphic design, digital marketing, and content creation.
By tapping into this talent pool, you not only get exceptional service but also contribute to the growth of these industries.
Hiring African talent is easier than ever thanks to platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, where you can find freelancers from all over the world, including Africa.
But there are also African-based platforms like AClasses Creative Studio, designed to connect diaspora entrepreneurs like you with vetted African professionals in fields like video production, website design, content creation, and much more.
By choosing African talent over international providers, you can often get more competitive rates, faster turnaround times, and work that is deeply culturally aligned with your business.
You are also helping to create jobs in Africa, which is crucial for reducing poverty and driving economic growth.
See also Investing in Small and Medium-Scale Farming: A Sustainable Pathway to Economic Growth in Nigeria
According to the African Development Bank, Africa needs to create 12 million jobs annually to keep up with the growing youth population. Your investment in African talent can be part of the solution.
2. Collaborate on Joint Ventures
Another powerful way to invest in the African community is by collaborating with other African diaspora entrepreneurs on joint ventures. By pooling resources, skills, and networks, you can create stronger businesses and help one another grow.
These partnerships are not only beneficial for your business but also foster a sense of unity and shared success within the diaspora.
Joint ventures could take many forms. For example, you could partner with another entrepreneur to co-host an event, launch a new product, or cross-promote your services. By collaborating, you expand your reach, tap into each other’s networks, and build a stronger presence in the marketplace.
It’s important to note that joint ventures often lead to innovative ideas and solutions that wouldn’t have emerged if you were working alone.
There are already numerous success stories of African diaspora entrepreneurs coming together to create impactful projects. Take, for instance, the African Diaspora Network, a Silicon Valley-based organization that connects African innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs to drive development on the continent.
By working together, these professionals are not only advancing their businesses but also creating meaningful change in Africa.
By collaborating with others in your community, you can also create job opportunities and invest in African talent. For example, if you partner with another entrepreneur to launch a new product, you may need to hire African creatives for branding, marketing, or product development.
This creates a win-win situation where you both grow your businesses while supporting African professionals.
3. Build and Support African Diaspora Business Networks
A third way to invest in the African community is by building and supporting African diaspora business networks. These networks allow you to connect with other entrepreneurs, share resources and opportunities, and create a support system that encourages growth within the community.
A strong network can also help you access new markets, find collaborators, and get advice from others who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of being a diaspora entrepreneur.
Creating or joining a business network can be as simple as starting a WhatsApp group, hosting a virtual meetup, or attending industry conferences.
See also Celebrating African Diaspora Heritage: An Insightful Conversation with Loretta Green-Williams
There are already several organizations dedicated to connecting African diaspora entrepreneurs, such as the African Diaspora Business Network, which helps entrepreneurs share resources, opportunities, and knowledge.
By participating in these networks, you can share ideas, collaborate on projects, and find new ways to invest in each other. You can also create mentorship programs, where experienced entrepreneurs guide younger professionals or those just starting out. This helps build a stronger, more resilient community of African entrepreneurs, both in the diaspora and on the continent.
Remember that these networks can be a platform for showcasing African talent to a global audience. For example, by hosting events or creating online communities where African professionals can present their work, you help raise awareness of the incredible talent coming out of the continent.
This not only benefits the professionals involved but also helps shift perceptions of Africa as a hub of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
Unlocking the Full Potential of the African Diaspora
The African diaspora is one of the most powerful economic forces in the world. With a collective income of over $500 billion, the diaspora has the financial resources to significantly impact the continent’s future. But economic power alone isn’t enough.
To truly unlock the full potential of the African diaspora, we need to invest in each other—by hiring African talent, collaborating with other diaspora entrepreneurs, and building networks that support our collective growth.
Imagine what we could achieve if every African diaspora entrepreneur redirected just a fraction of their business spending to African professionals. Not only would we be investing in the continent’s future, but we would also be strengthening our own businesses by gaining access to top-tier talent, cultural alignment, and cost-effective services.
And the impact wouldn’t stop there—by creating jobs and supporting local economies, we would be contributing to long-term, sustainable growth across Africa.
So, what can you do today to start making a difference? Begin by evaluating your current service providers and considering how you could empower African talent to meet your business needs.
See also Harnessing the Power of African Diaspora Heritage for Positive Change
Seek out opportunities to collaborate with other diaspora entrepreneurs, whether through joint ventures, co-hosted events, or cross-promotions. And most importantly, engage with African diaspora business networks to build connections, share resources, and support the next generation of African entrepreneurs.
Together, we can create a thriving, interconnected global economy that benefits us all. Let’s not just build successful businesses—let’s build a better future for the African continent and its people.
Want to learn more about storytelling? Start by downloading the first chapter of The Storytelling Mastery.
