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Business

Uganda Press Photo Award (UPPA) hosts an exhibition in the metaverse.

Announced as the next frontier of the Internet, the metaverse is projected to reshuffle the cards on the digital scene. The virtual universe is rich in opportunities, and many argue that it must now integrate the African continent. We are already seeing MTN Group maximizing this digital asset by hosting an African music concert in the metaverse on 30th November.

In relation to this, African creators and artists have also become pioneers in utilizing the metaverse. In partnership with the Creative Tribe, the Uganda Press Photo Awards (UPPA) is surfing on this new trend by hosting a virtual showcase for the winners of the East African Photography Award and The Young Photographer Award (YPA) in the metaverse.

The winners set to showcase participated in the 11th edition of the annual Uganda Press Photo Award (UPPA), as well as the fifth edition of the East African Photography Award (EAPA) and the seventh edition of the Young Photographer Award (YPA).

Commenting on why the showcase was hosted virtually, Anthony Jermaine, co-founder of The Creative Tribe, and partner of the UPPA showcase noted that photography belongs in the next digital wave, where people will be and that is the metaverse. 

He added, “The metaverse is currently the next big thing where photographers can market themselves better and find more income opportunities. It is emerging so there is a lot of potential.”

Anna Kućma, one of the UPPA virtual exhibition curators also highlighted, “The exhibition was hosted in the metaverse because we wanted the creative work to be accessed by everyone, not only Ugandans and East Africans. Additionally, with the metaverse, you can make your own avatar and it is way more interactive, it offers different features.”

Under the East African Photography Award, the top prize was awarded to  Amanuel Sileshi, a photojournalist from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His story is titled “Searching For Peace Amidst Chaos’, documenting the civil war between Tigrayan separatists and the Central Government of Ethiopia and its Eritrean allies which continues to grip the northern part of Ethiopia. According to the UPPA Sileshi’s visual account of the war reminds us of a conflict often forgotten by the international media.  

Amanuel also emphasizes that he wanted to show that in wars there are innocent people involved and he was focusing on showing how these lives are affected by the conflict. 

He further stated, “It’s a great opportunity to win the East African Photography Award. I think that it shows that any photographer can do these kinds of stories and tell them to the world. I believe it is important to use photography to show the human aspect of life.”

Sileshi was awarded a Canon EOS R6 with a kit lens, Canon TS 3140 printer, and other prizes. 

Other winners of the EAPA were Ammar Abdallah, a photographer based in Sudan, Badru Katumba from Uganda, and Margaret Njeri Ngigi from Kenya.

The UPPA award was given to Andrew Katende who showcased a story titled “Next Life”, which was chosen as the best effort to picture New Realities in Uganda. The photo essay explores how up-cycling done by makers such as his protagonist, Robert, forms the basis of a micro-economy for people living around Kampala and how it allows them to earn a living while helping to reduce waste and protect the environment.

Isaac Henry Muwanguzi, a photojournalist at Next Media Services was recognized as the winner of the YPA.  

Conclusively, The UPPA showcase is evidence that Uganda and Africa can count on the metaverse for visibility and earning opportunities. Additionally, both Anna Kućma and Anthony Jermaine advise that many photographers (both experienced and beginners) still have a lot to learn and that they need to read a lot to understand how the metaverse works and how it can support their work.

Other partners and sponsors of the showcase include Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Uganda, the Delegation of the European Union to Uganda, Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) and its Miraisha Programme, Future Generation Trust, Visura Media, and MoTIV.

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Business

₿trust to sponsor the Africa Bitcoin Conference

Bitcoin development initiative, ₿trust has announced it will sponsor the maiden edition of the Africa Bitcoin Conference, which will be held in Accra, Ghana, on December 5 – 7, 2022. ₿trust aims to improve Bitcoin’s resilience, reach, and relevance as global money by democratizing its developer base.

Created by Jack Dorsey, Block‘s current CEO and rapper Jay-Z, ₿trust also aims to decentralize the development of Free and Open Source Bitcoin Software. Its main goal is to locate, educate and remunerate Global South developers interested in working on Bitcoin’s technical stack.

An all-African board oversees the ₿trust initiative. It includes Abubakar Nur Khalil, Ojoma Ochai, Obi Nwosu, and Carla Kirk-Cohen. The board members were selected by Jack Dorsey and Jay-Z out of over 7000 applicants, to manage the bitcoin fund last year. They will also be among the notable speakers at the three- days event, which is expected to have over 1000 attendees.

Bitcoin Care Contributor and Board Member of ₿trust, Abubakar Nur Khalil noted, “The Africa Bitcoin Conference presents a novel opportunity for Bitcoiners on the continent to have a place where they can meet and collaborate with the broader Bitcoin ecosystem, further sharpen their knowledge and skills, and build solutions that prioritize the local context”. Khalil is also excited to be sharing the stage with other notable speakers at the conference.

Ojoma Ochai, a Board Member of ₿trust, and also a notable speaker at the conference, added, “There is a range of global imperatives that require a solution like Bitcoin but nowhere are these imperatives starker than on the continent of Africa. It, therefore, gives me great pleasure that the Africa Bitcoin Conference gives us a chance to have an Africa-focused Bitcoin discussion, on African soil, in one of my favorite cities on the continent.”

According to Farida Nabourema, the convener of the Africa Bitcoin Conference, Africa will continue to be the biggest market for Bitcoin. 

He also expressed his appreciation for the collaboration. he said, “We are thankful for the support ₿trust has given the conference so far and the caliber of speakers participating in the event.”

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Business

Instagram Users Will Soon Be Able To Mint And Sell NFTs

Instagram announced recently that starting this month, it will begin allowing a select group of digital creators to mint and sell non-fungible tokens (NFTs) directly from the social media platform.

The image-focused app only just made its digital collectibles feature available in 100 countries, enabling users to link to their digital wallets and display NFTs that they have either made or purchased. The connected NFTs can be shown in your feed and include a shimmery effect to indicate authenticity.

It will initially launch on the Polygon blockchain and will be tested among a small group of creators in the U.S., including Amber Vittoria, Refik Anadol, Jason Seife, Dave Krugman, and several others.

Furthermore, the latest version will give creators an end-to-end toolbox for creating, exhibiting, and selling NFTs by enabling them to create their own digital collectibles and sell them both on and off Instagram.

Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal commented that this move represents a remarkable milestone in the evolution of Instagram’s existing NFT functionality and a natural next step to bring Web3 to the mainstream.

Instagram will also add support for the Solana blockchain and Phantom wallet, as well as permit the display of video-based digital collectibles on its site. Prior to this, the platform connected to third-party wallets like Rainbow, MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Coinbase Wallet, and Dapper Wallet as well as the Ethereum, Polygon, and Flow blockchains.

Additionally, Meta stated that until at least 2024, it will not charge any additional fees for selling digital collectibles or for displaying and sharing them on Facebook or Instagram.

It added, however, that digital collectible purchases made within the Instagram app on the Android and iOS operating systems are subject to applicable app store fees.

In addition, it pledged that neither creators nor collectors will need to pay gas fees for digital collectibles bought on Instagram at launch.

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Social Good

Bitcoin Ekasi Launches Financial Education Center In South Africa

Bitcoin Ekasi, a circular bitcoin economy located in South Africa, has opened the Bitcoin Ekasi Center to provide financial literacy and bitcoin for local youths, entrepreneurs, and businesses.

Ten neighborhood companies have already joined Ekasi’s bitcoin program. The teaching center hopes to double its enrollment soon and has already signed up about 20 young people in just one week. Additionally, during the mornings, the center is open to the entire community from Tuesday until Friday, and all day Saturday.

The youth who are enrolled in the center’s educational program will also have the opportunity to interact with Surfer Kids, a different non-profit founded by Hermann Vivier, that focuses on empowering and fostering character in underprivileged communities.

In the press statement, Vivier said, “We recently celebrated Bitcoin Ekasi’s first anniversary and it’s a surreal feeling to officially open the center.” 

He also emphasized, “ I have witnessed financial empowerment through Bitcoin affecting seemingly unrelated social issues in positive ways. Through the Bitcoin Ekasi Center, I am honored that our team will be able to grow this movement and inspire other communities to think differently about money.”

The Ekasi center is currently backed by a leading fintech, Paxful, and the Built With Bitcoin Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to providing clean water, quality education, and humanitarian support with Bitcoin.

Yusuf Nessary, co-founder and director of Built With Bitcoin Foundation noted that in many communities he has seen first-hand that Bitcoin means opportunity and  a better chance at life.” 

He further emphasized, “That all starts with education and we are proud to contribute to Bitcoin Ekasi’s efforts to empower a local community to take the reins on their financial future.”

Ray Youssef, founder, and CEO of Paxful concluded, “Our society is based around money: who has it, how to get it, ways to grow it, what to do with it. For the millions of people who are unable to access banks and credit, Bitcoin is a real solution for them to be able to join those conversations.” 
Bitcoin Ekasi is an extension of The Surfer Kids Non-Profit. The Surfer Kids is a registered non-profit organization, founded in 2010. The NPO is 100% donation-based and works to create youth empowerment in an impoverished South African township.

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Business

Zimbabwe To Proceed With CBDC Plans While Drawing Lessons From Nigeria

Innocent Matshe, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Deputy Governor, recently stated that the slow adoption of the e-naira, the central bank of Nigeria, will not deter the Zimbabwean central bank from developing its own CBDC. He further stated that while the jury is still out on CBDCs, the institution will still proceed with its digital currency launch preparations.

As previously reported, fewer than anticipated Nigerian adults have downloaded or are using the CBDC when making payments. Some reports have estimated the number of active e-naira wallet users to be around 5% of Nigeria’s adult population. Experts have tied the slow adoption of the e-naira to the digital currency’s failure to live up to the promises made prior to its launch.

Meanwhile, one Nigeria expert, Chiagozie Iwu, the founder of Naijacrypto a local digital currency exchange, stated that instead of competing with fintechs, the Central Bank of Nigeria needs to create a more friendly environment to support fintech and blockchain-based innovations.

However, in Innocent Matshe’s remarks, he acknowledged that while the country may have some hesitation regarding CBDCs, this should not stop the preparations. 

He said, “Certainly it’s a point to consider that there is hesitancy in the market. We don’t think that it is a deterrent at this point, we just think that it is a learning point for us. We can then adopt measures to try and mitigate the factors that are causing that hesitancy in the Nigerian market.”

Additionally, according to the Deputy Governor, the Zimbabwean government has already sent teams to countries like China and Ghana to study their respective CBDC projects. Before this, a team from the RBZ led by Josephat Mutepfa had visited the Nigerian central bank on June 27.

In the meantime, the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe proposed that the digital currency for Zimbabwe will have its own unique features.

He added that while all options are still on the table, the Reserve Bank is not expecting the CBDC to be directly linked to any currency.

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Business

Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO announce plans for Game of Thrones NFTs

According to Warner Bros. Discovery, the Game of Thrones NFTs are coming this winter. Together with HBO, the studio has partnered with NFT platform Nifty’s to launch digital-collectible non-fungible tokens based on the hit series, Game of Thrones. 

Nifty’s statement read, “HBO’s Game of Thrones introduced one of the most fantastical, immersive worlds in television history which garnered a massive and passionate fan community that continues to grow as the universe expands. This is why Nifty’s and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products are thrilled to announce a brand-new collaboration that will bring fans of the global phenomenon into the realm through digital collectibles and experiences.”

Although the official launch date is not yet confirmed, fans can expect the Game of Thrones NFTs in late 2022.

According to Nifty’s, the NFT experience, “Game of Thrones: Build Your Realm,” will allow fans to build a realm by collecting customizable avatars inspired by characters from the series as well as assorted packs with various collectibles like equipable items to strengthen their avatars such as weapons, companions and gear.

“Other collectible types will include iconic moments, locations, characters, and more from the Game of Thrones series that will help each collector build their realm,” Nifty’s added.

Jeff Marsilio, CEO, and Co-Founder of Nifty’s commented, “Every so often, a film or television series comes along that pushes the boundaries of its genre so far, it forever changes the creative landscape, becoming a part of our collective cultural identity. Game of Thrones is that series for this generation. Nifty’s is thrilled to be working alongside Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products to keep pushing the bounds of creativity and imagination, through a new kind of digital collectible that will allow fans of the franchise to connect in ways they never have before.”

Josh Hackbarth, Head of NFT Commercial Development for Warner Bros Discovery, also stated, “Our goal, as always, with the fans, is to create new ways for them to interact with the stories and characters they love. We’re excited to expand the Game of Thrones fandom and franchise with this unique digital collectible program that’ll engage fans on a deeper level, allowing them to immerse into the world of Westeros, and enhance the overall fan experience.”

In its press statement, Nifty’s concluded, “We’re also excited to share that Daz 3D well known for launching and designing NFT projects for CloneX by Murakami and RTFKT, DC’s Bat Cowl Program, and the Friendship Box NFT for Coca-Cola will collaborate on the design, development, and production of the Game of Thrones program.”

According to reports, WBD is likely looking to generate additional revenue with the launch of Game of Thrones” NFTs, arguably one of HBO’s most popular franchises. The company is in need of money after experiencing a net loss of $3.4 million last quarter. Plus, WBD is reported to have a debt load of about $53 billion. 

However, the pricing details of the NFTs haven’t been released by the company yet.

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Business

CZ Suggests Binance Pay For Crypto Payments On Twitter

In an effort to give cryptocurrency a seat at the table, cryptocurrency exchange Binance has invested $500 million in Elon Musk’s takeover of the social media network, Twitter.

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) now appears to be considering a deeper integration of the exchange and the social media platform. He recently stated at the Web Summit, a technology conference in Portugal, that Binance will play a role in bringing social media and Web3 together in order to broaden the use and adoption of crypto and blockchain technology.

He said, “We have all the technologies, we have the know-how, we have the products, so we’re ready to help.”

He also emphasized that Binance pay could bridge the gap for crypto payments on Twitter. He pointed out, “It’s very easy to support a dozen, a couple of hundred cryptocurrencies as payments. We already have a solution that does that, Binance Pay.” 

He added that the service enables users to pay merchants in whatever coin or currency or fiat currency they choose, with Binance handling the conversion to the merchant’s currency of choice at no extra charge.

Zhao added that he has yet to meet Musk in person and that he has yet to ask for a detailed plan of Musk’s plans for Twitter. 

The Binance CEO further stated that he’s prepared to join the board of Twitter, should Musk ask albeit he is reluctant.

“I’m indifferent to it. If I’m asked, I probably would do it just as a favor, but it’s not something I’m dying to do. I’m pretty busy with Binance already.”

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Business

Luno and FoodForward SA partner to allow South Africans to make bitcoin charity donations

Cryptocurrency platform Luno and food distribution non-profit organization, FoodForward SA have partnered up to enable South Africans to donate to charitable causes while using bitcoin.

Andy Du Plessis, Managing Director at FoodForward SA, claims that adopting cryptocurrency for donations promotes openness and guarantees that every payment is fully auditable.

He stated, “Transparency and innovation are central to the way we operate at FoodForward SA. Thanks to our partnership with Luno, SA’s largest crypto platform, donors can contribute Bitcoin to support our food security efforts. The underlying technology prevents corruption and reduces fees, which is vital for any non-profit organization.” 

Christo de Wit, Luno’s SA country manager also noted that another benefit of this partnership is the ability to receive Bitcoin donations almost instantly from anywhere in the world. 

He said, “Bitcoin transactions are transparent so you know that your full donation is going directly to the cause. And there are no charges to the organization other than the standard fee charged by the Bitcoin network. 100% of the amount donated goes directly to FoodForward SA. In this way, FoodForward SA can reach even more vulnerable South Africans.”

FoodForward SA works by recovering good quality, edible surplus food from manufacturers, retailers, and farmers to re-distribute to nearly 2,750 vetted organizations that reach nearly 950,000 vulnerable people daily. In the last financial year, the organization claims to have delivered 48 million meals to vulnerable people across South Africa. 
Delivering one meal costs FoodForward SA R0.68. Donations can be made via http://foodforwardsa.org/donate/. Donors do not have to be Luno customers to contribute.

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Business

Visa and Crypto.com Integrate Football, Art, and NFTs for Fan Experience Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022

Visa, the payments giant, is the official payment technology partner for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The platform has unveiled its “Visa Masters of Movement” initiative in partnership with Crypto.com. This is a hybrid fan experience with a pre-event NFT auction and an immersive activation for fans at this year’s World Cup event.

The initiative is a first of its kind anywhere in the world. The auction will feature digital art inspired by iconic goals from five great footballers: Jared Borgetti, Tim Cahill, Carli Lloyd, Michael Owen, and Maxi Rodriguez. 

The artworks have also been minted into unique NFTs available on Crypto.com, the official cryptocurrency trading platform sponsor of this year’s World Cup.

The dynamic works of art were created by award-winning XK Studios using an algorithm that took famous gestures and turned them into digital artwork.

At the end of the auction, the fans who bid the highest amount for each NFT will receive it in their Crypto.com wallet. Along with the NFT itself, the winner will also get a high-quality printable art file, autographed mementos from the famous player depicted in the NFT, and more.

Furthermore, all auction earnings will be donated by Visa to Street Child United, a humanitarian organization based in the UK with the aim of combating the widespread stigma that street children experience worldwide.

The experience will come to life on an interactive pitch at the FIFA Fan Festival in Doha, Qatar, later this month. Fans will be able to produce digital art at the event that is influenced by their own distinctive styles. In collaboration with Crypto.com, eligible fans will have the chance to mint this digital art into their own NFT.

Andrea Fairchild, Senior Vice President and Head of Sponsorships at Visa, stated,

“As FIFA World Cup 2022™ approaches, we want to celebrate football, art and technology through the lens of what makes the FIFA World Cup™ so special, wildly impassioned fans, legendary athletes, and for a few short weeks, the ability to bring the world together in a uniquely connected way.”

Steven Kalifowitz, Chief Marketing Officer at Crypto.com, also commented,

“The FIFA World Cup™ is one of the most anticipated sporting events in the world, and we are incredibly excited to give fans a new way to engage with this epic event. We are thrilled to partner with Visa in bringing Visa Masters of Movement to life and offering fans the opportunity to create and collect the most unique collectibles at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ that will live forever on the blockchain.”

Football lovers can place bids on the Visa Masters of Movement NFTs on Crypto.com starting on 2nd November (12:00 GMT) and continuing through November 8 (9:00 GMT).

In addition to cutting-edge technologies like cryptocurrency and other digital solutions that give more people access to the global economy, attendees to the event can learn about innovative ways Visa is enabling the transfer of money around the world.

For fifteen years, Visa has provided the official payment processing for FIFA. As a major global supporter of both men’s and women’s soccer, Visa wants to bring fans closer to the action, whether they are among the 1 million spectators anticipated in Qatar or the 5 billion people expecting to watch the tournament globally this year.

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Business

MTN Group announces Africa’s first virtual concert in the metaverse

Although it is not new, the concept of the metaverse is still alien to the whole world and only a handful of people seem to clearly understand exactly how it will eventually turn out. 

For countries in Africa where internet costs and penetration are still far from ideal, the metaverse is merely a strange concept and its promises don’t solve most of the continent’s immediate problems.

MTN Group is however changing the narrative. The telecom company recently announced that it will host an Africa-first virtual concert on 30 November 2022 in Ubuntuland, Africa’s metaverse.

According to Bernice Samuels, MTN’s group Marketing Executive, the metaverse will allow the company to support African innovation.

He said, “The metaverse holds a wide array of opportunities to further enhance and showcase African innovation and are excited to be pioneers of this journey on the continent.” 

He further highlighted, “For our launch event, we will be running a competition with our customers, giving them a chance to win exclusive tickets to the concert. We believe that by tapping into a key passion on the continent, namely music, we can actively draw our customers into the environment to not only experience it first-hand but also to help us to improve altMTN.”

He also noted, “The MTN Group’s presence in the African metaverse will be known as altMTN. altMTN allows us to further support our ambition to lead digital platforms and support African innovation, and will over time feature live events, shopping, gaming, and learning.” 

“To welcome everyone to altMTN we will leverage our partnership with The Mic: Africa, to host Africa’s first virtual music concert in the metaverse to drive awareness and adoption of this new space,” he added.  

According to Analysis Group, the Metaverse could potentially contribute $40 billion to Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP by 2031. Additionally, the metaverse will provide African brands with significant opportunities to tell unique stories in engaging ways.

MTN Group is not the only brand maximizing opportunities, Nigerian music star BNXN (formerly called Buju) also recently held a metaverse listening party in August, reaching out to thousands of his fans globally.

It should be noted that earlier this year, MTN Group became the first African company to purchase land in Ubuntuland with a vision to create dedicated environments for creating unique immersive experiences for its customers.