General News
NativeLand and AfroNation: A Tale of Two Cultures?
By Austin Okere
As we start a new year 2020, it is expedient to take stock of the gains in the bourgeoning creatives industry in West Africa’s two biggest economies; Nigeria and Ghana, given their increasing contribution to the GDP of both countries.
Austin Okere
Penultimate December 2018 was a groundswell period in the evolution of young African Artistes in the region. It was also the great year of collaboration between local artistes and their international counterparts of African descent.
The major musical concerts in Lagos and Accra were NativeLand and AfroNation respectively. NativeLand, whose traditional home is the Muri Okunola Park in Lagos is in its fourth year. It is put together by lifestyle platform Native Magazine, founded by Seni Saraki and Teezee to cater mostly to teenagers and young adults, many studying overseas and returning home for the holidays.
AfroNationon the other hand is billed as the first festival to celebrate the African Diaspora and is organised by 34-year-old Nigerian promoter from Dagenham who goes by the name SMADE – real name Adesegun Adeosun Jr. alongside his business partner, Obi Asika.
They rotate their concerts in different countries. The debut event which held on the beaches of Portimao, Portugal, saw 20,000 people of African descent gather for four days of festival, featuring live music from Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Jamaica, the UK and the US.
To consolidate on the solid foundation laid in the penultimate year 2018, both organisers advertised much bigger versions of their shows for Dec 2019. AfroNation opted to host their festival at Laboma Beach at Accra, Ghana, while NativeLand opted to continue at their traditional location in Lagos.
First off the block was NativeLand with a supposed star studded event at the Muri Okunola Park. Like the previous edition in 2018, where the advertised headliner Burna Boy was a no-show, many of the major acts advertised in 2019 also did not show up.
Some claimed that sound quality and other technical issues forced them to cancel . Just for context, this park is at a very busy traffic intersection with very limited crowd capacity and no provision for parking.
It is at best a good location for small to medium sized outdoor events. For some strange reason, the organizers oversold tickets by multiples of the park’s capacity.
The inevitable happened. The park was full to the extent that there was no blade of grass left for an extra person to stand on, and there was still a very large crowd outside waiting to be admitted. In fact, the VIP tickets were so oversold that the stage housing them collapsed, sending them onto an inelegant mangled sprawl on the ground.
The crowd outside surged in a throng and the gate fell. The security personnel hired to man the single gate serving as entrance and exit, went into overdrive, hitting and kicking the paying customers, aka “the crowd” with horse whips and boots.
A stampede ensured, many people fell and were trampled, many lost their eye glasses. Mobile phones, wigs and other customer valuables were snatched. The scenario could best be described as luring people to a rendezvous and then inviting mayhem upon them. Many went home with bruises and lot more ended up in hospitals with broken bones.
The AfroNation event at Accra was an entirely different matter. It was a four day show packed with local and international artistes and timed to coincide with the “year of return” theme of the government of Ghana, wherein Africans in Diasporas are encouraged to return to the continent.
According to Wikipedia, up to 1.5 million tourists were expected in Ghana by the end of the year 2019, with up to 1.9 billion dollars also expected to be accrued in revenue as a result of the Year of Return activities.
The event was very well advertised and organised and was so popular that you could hardly get a flight or hotel room in Accra if you left your booking till three months to the event. The huge success of the 2019 version of Afronation was no surprise.
In their debut in Portugal, no expense was spared when it came to acts, and it boasted performances from Afrobeats and Bashment icons such as Burna Boy, Davido, Busy Signal and Buju Banton. Notable black British artists also graced the stage, such as J Hus, Ms Dynamite, Stefflon Don, Octavian, Mostack and Ms Banks. All the acts advertised in 2019 showed up to perform. This will no doubt solidify the platform for a successful AfroNation 2020; but wither NativeLand 2020?
The major puzzle is that both events were organized by Nigerians; one at Accra, Ghana and the other in Lagos, Nigeria. Is this down to a tale of two cities and their cultures? The Sahara Reporters’ headline; “Police Dismiss Officer Over Killing Of Man At Wizkid’s Concert” was very telling.
The victim attending the Starboy concert at the Eko Atlantic Energy City at Victoria Island, Lagos was shot dead after a heated argument outside the premises. The fact that the same Wizkid performed at AfroNation at Accra without incident fully makes the point.
I attended the AfroNation concert on Sunday Dec 29 at Laboma Beach. The set up was very much like any large concert in Europe or America. There were ambulances, enough conveniences and a generally pleasant party ambiance. Oh! I forgot to add that I did not encounter a single “area boy” or miscreant at the event or in the car park when I was leaving at 3.30am. There was no report of stampede, shooting or death.
While I commend the entrepreneurial spirit of the young men behind NativeLand, they have to learn the ropes about patience in building a brand, offering customer value and reaping full benefits sustainably. The flawed shortcut mentality of maximizing profit at all costs and taking customers for granted is not sustainable in the long-term.
The organisers of NativeLand put out a revised apology statement on twitter a day after the event which was still generally regarded as short on remorse and with no genuine intention to recompense. Without restitution, how can they learn to be accountable, and ensure that this disaster does not repeat in the future.
“Our Youth are our future, we cannot afford to play ostrich while they fall astray. It is not too late to do the right thing. Their progenitors and anybody who wishes them well should advise them to robustly come forward and be the men they want to become when they “grow up”.
As a nation, we need to re-examine the culture of aggression and lawlessness in our cities that has become a major disincentive to tourism and badly needed investments.
Austin Okere is the Founder of CWG Plc, the largest ICT Company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange & Entrepreneur in Residence at CBS, New York. Austin also serves on the Advisory Board of the Global Business School Network, and on the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Innovation and Intrapreneurship. Austin now runs the Ausso Leadership Academy focused on Business and Entrepreneurial Mentorship
Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the Federal Government’s alleged tax evasion case against Binance Holdings Ltd. cryptocurrency exchange, until September 24, 2026, to allow both parties more time to pursue an out-of-court settlement.
Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the new date on Thursday after Moses Ideho, counsel to the Federal Government, informed the court that discussions aimed at resolving the dispute amicably were still ongoing.
Ideho, a deputy director of Legal and Prosecution at the Nigeria Revenue Service (formerly the Federal Inland Revenue Service), told the court that the matter, which had been scheduled for a report on settlement or continuation of trial, could not proceed.
According to him, one reason for the delay was the reported elevation of Justice Nwite to the Court of Appeal, while the second was the continued reconciliation efforts between the parties.
“The parties are still exploring settlement in the charge that led to this case,” Ideho told the court.
Sunday Agaji, counsel to Binance, did not oppose the application for adjournment, following which Justice Nwite postponed proceedings until September 24 for either a report on the settlement discussions or continuation of trial.
The case was previously adjourned on May 12 after both the Federal Government and Binance informed the court that negotiations were underway to settle the matter outside the courtroom.
Binance had first indicated its willingness to pursue an amicable resolution on March 24.
The cryptocurrency company was re-arraigned on July 12, 2024, on a four-count charge bordering on alleged tax evasion.
Ayodele Omotilewa, Nigerian representative, pleaded not guilty on behalf of the company.
The re-arraignment followed the removal of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, from the charge after the Federal Government amended the case to make Binance Holdings Ltd the sole defendant.
Justice Nwite had, on June 14, 2024, discharged and struck out the names of Gambaryan and Anjarwalla after the prosecution filed the amended charge.
Binance is also facing a separate criminal prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accuses the company of laundering about $35.4m.
In addition, the Nigeria Revenue Service is pursuing a separate civil suit against Binance before another judge of the Federal High Court, seeking approximately $79.5bn in alleged economic losses linked to the company’s operations in Nigeria.
Oodua Youth Coalition (OYC), a Yoruba socio-cultural group, has issued a notice to stage peaceful picketing at MTN Nigeria offices nationwide.
This action stems from the company’s alleged failure to publicly condemn recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
This is coming despite statement by Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria, who recently said that MTN may have originated from South Africa, he explained, but MTN Nigeria is a Nigerian publicly quoted company, managed by Nigerians and with a Nigerian board.
However, in a statement jointly signed Olatunji Adejuwon and Olaoye Abolaji,vice president and national secretary respectively of OYC, described MTN Nigeria’s silence as unacceptable, given the company’s South African roots and the patronage it enjoys from Nigerians
The coalition said it would proceed with a peaceful protest if the telecommunications company continued to ignore its demands, stressing that the action was intended to draw attention to the need for corporate responsibility and moral leadership in condemning xenophobic attacks against fellow Africans.
“Consequently, the Oodua Youth Coalition hereby gives notice that we shall, without hesitation, commence a peaceful picketing of MTN Nigeria’s offices if the company continues to ignore our legitimate demands.
“Our action is intended to draw attention to the need for corporate responsibility and moral leadership in condemning acts of xenophobia against fellow Africans,” the statement said.
The group renewed its call on MTN Nigeria to immediately convene a press conference, with representatives of the coalition in attendance, to unequivocally condemn the xenophobic attacks and reaffirm its commitment to the safety, dignity and unity of all Africans.
It maintained that the proposed protest would be peaceful, orderly and in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the coalition, relevant security agencies have been notified of the planned action, while appropriate communications have also been sent to the South African diplomatic mission in Nigeria.
“We once again call on MTN Nigeria to immediately convene a press conference, with representatives of the Oodua Youth Coalition in attendance, to unequivocally condemn the xenophobic attacks and reaffirm its commitment to the safety, dignity and unity of all Africans.
“We emphasise that our proposed action shall remain peaceful, orderly and in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Relevant security agencies have been duly notified, and appropriate communications have also been sent to the South African diplomatic mission in Nigeria.”
Reaffirming its commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Nigerians, the coalition vowed not to relent until its concerns received the desired attention.
“The Oodua Youth Coalition remains committed to defending the dignity of Nigerians and promoting African solidarity. We will not relent until our concerns receive the attention they deserve,” the statement added.
Responding to the controversy, Toriola further condemned all forms of xenophobia and violence against Africans living in South Africa, insisting that MTN Nigeria is a Nigerian company with substantial local ownership.
“We unequivocally condemn any form of xenophobia, violence or attacks against any community in the world. We’re a Nigerian company, through and through. We’re listed on the stock exchange with over 201,000 retail investors, and 11 million people hold shares through their pension funds in MTN Nigeria.
“We provide the digital backbone of the economy, and we have a completely Nigerian entity.
“Yes, MTN was founded in South Africa, and the parent company that is the majority shareholder is South African. But let’s also look at it objectively. The shareholding of MTN Holding South Africa is only 50 per cent African.
“The remaining 50 per cent is from across the world — 27 per cent from the United States, with the rest from the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region,” Toriola said.
By Bidemi Oke
Every civilisation has been built on one invisible infrastructure. The Romans built roads. The Industrial Revolution built electricity. The Internet built information. The next economy may be built on something far less tangible.
Trust
That sounds counterintuitive because we have spent centuries believing that money is the foundation of every economy. It isn’t. Money has never been the foundation; it has simply been the mechanism through which trust is exchanged. Every major financial innovation, from coins and paper notes to credit cards, online banking and blockchain, has been humanity’s attempt to solve the same problem: “how do we help strangers trust one another without ever meeting?”
Seen through that lens, today’s financial revolution looks very different.
Most discussions about digital finance revolve around whether cash will disappear. We debate mobile wallets, central bank digital currencies, cryptocurrency, real-time payments and digital banking. Yet these conversations often mistake the visible change for the actual transformation.
The real shift is not that money is becoming digital. The real shift is that trust is becoming programmable. That single idea explains why the financial landscape is changing faster than many people realize.
For decades, finance has depended on institutions to create confidence. Banks verified identities, governments authenticated currencies, contracts relied on lawyers, payment networks validated transactions and every exchange involved an intermediary whose primary role was to reassure two parties that the system could be trusted.
Technology is quietly rewriting that arrangement
Today, identities can be verified digitally. Transactions can be authenticated within seconds, smart contracts can execute agreements automatically once predefined conditions are met, and artificial intelligence can detect suspicious activity before humans notice it. Increasingly, confidence is being built into the infrastructure itself rather than added afterwards.
This is why I believe we need a new way to think about the evolution of finance, not as a journey from cash to digital payments, but as “three generations of financial trust”.
The first generation was Physical Trust. Trust was tied to tangible assets like gold, paper currency, handwritten signatures and face-to-face interactions. Confidence came from what people could physically see and hold.
The second generation was Institutional Trust. As economies expanded, institutions became the guarantors of financial confidence. Banks, regulators, payment networks and financial intermediaries enabled transactions at a scale impossible through personal relationships alone. Trust shifted from physical objects to established organisations.
We are now entering the third generation: Programmable Trust.
Here, trust is embedded directly into technology. Verification happens automatically. Payments settle in real time, financial services become integrated into everyday experiences instead of existing as separate destinations. Increasingly, people interact with trusted systems rather than trusted institutions alone. That distinction is more profound than it first appears.
Many organisations still measure digital transformation by counting how many services have moved online, but digitising an existing process is not the same as redesigning how trust flows through an economy. Converting paperwork into an application does not automatically create a digital financial ecosystem.
This explains why some economies process millions of digital transactions every day yet continue to face friction, inefficiency and limited financial inclusion. The missing ingredient is rarely another payment platform. More often, it is interoperable infrastructure, trusted digital identity, consistent regulation and systems capable of working together seamlessly.
In other words, the future of finance will not be determined by who builds the fastest application. It will be determined by who builds the most trusted ecosystem.
This has significant implications for Africa. The continent has rightly earned global recognition for accelerating digital financial adoption. Yet the next opportunity extends beyond increasing transaction volumes. The greater challenge is designing financial infrastructure where payments, identity, data, compliance and commerce interact intelligently rather than operating in isolation.
That is where long-term competitive advantage will emerge. Perhaps the greatest irony of all is that the more advanced finance becomes, the less visible it will appear.
People rarely think about the internet protocols that power a video call or the cloud infrastructure supporting an online purchase. Likewise, future generations may hardly think about payment rails, settlement networks or blockchain architecture. Financial experiences will simply happen securely, instantly and almost invisibly.
History suggests that successful technologies eventually disappear from our attention not because they become less important, but because they become so reliable that we stop noticing them altogether.
So, are we entering a fully digital financial economy? Perhaps that is no longer the right question.
A more useful question is whether we are entering an economy where trust itself becomes digital infrastructure because if that is true, then the organisations shaping the future of finance are not merely moving money more efficiently.
They are redesigning how entire economies create confidence at scale and that may prove to be the most valuable innovation of all.
Bidemi Oke is the Chief Executive Officer of FlashChange, a fintech platform focused on secure digital asset exchange. He is an entrepreneur and vibrant leader, recognized for driving innovation and redefining access in the financial technology industry.
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