Sub-Saharan Africa or Subsahara is the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lie south of the Sahara. These include Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the African countries and territories that are situated fully in that specified region, the term may also include polities that only have part of their territory located in that region, per the definition of the United Nations (UN). This is considered a non-standardized geographical region with the number of countries included varying from 46 to 48 depending on the organization describing the region. The African Union (AU) uses a different regional breakdown, recognizing all 55 member states on the continent—grouping them into five distinct and standard regions.
Given the vastness of the African continent, its music is diverse, with regions and nations having many distinct musical traditions. African music includes the genres makwaya, highlife, mbube, township music, jùjú, fuji, jaiva, afrobeat, afrofusion, mbalax, Congolese rumba, soukous, ndombolo, makossa, kizomba, taarab and others. African music also uses a large variety of instruments from all across the continent. The music and dance of the African diaspora, formed to varying degrees on African musical traditions, include American music like Dixieland jazz, blues, jazz, and many Caribbean genres, such as calypso and soca. Latin American music genres such as cumbia, salsa music, son cubano, rumba, conga, bomba, samba and zouk were founded on the music of enslaved Africans, and have in turn influenced African popular music.
MultiChoice is a South African company that operates DStv, a major satellite television service in Sub-Saharan Africa, and GOtv, a minor service operating in over nine countries of this area and Showmax service. MultiChoice was formed out of the subscriber-management branch of the M-Net terrestrial pay television company, and broadcasts the full range of M-Net channels on the DStv service. MultiChoice is owned by the media conglomerate of the same name. One of the subsidiaries of MultiChoice is DStv Stream, formally DStv Now then DStv App, a service that delivers television transmission to mobile devices such as laptops, smart phones and notebooks.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a Nigerian economist, who has been serving as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization since March 2021. She is the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization as Director-General.
Widow inheritance is a cultural and social practice whereby a widow is required to marry a male relative of her late husband, often his brother. The practice is more commonly referred as a levirate marriage, examples of which can be found in ancient and biblical times.
African immigration to the United States refers to immigrants to the United States who are or were nationals of modern African countries. The term African in the scope of this article refers to geographical or national origins rather than racial affiliation. From the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 to 2017, Sub-Saharan African-born population in the United States grew to 2.1 million people.
Merlin is a digital rights music licensing partner for independent record labels, distributors, and other music rights holders around the world. It was founded in 2007 with Charles Caldas as the chief executive. In January 2020, Jeremy Sirota stepped into the role of Merlin CEO. The company is a member-based organization representing the digital licensing rights for hundreds of independent labels and distributors in nearly every country around the globe. As of 2019, Merlin has paid out over two billion dollars.
Alex Okosi is a Nigerian-born, US-educated business executive who has worked for the world's biggest broadcasting, streaming and tech brands. Committed to Africa's digital transformation, Okosi currently holds the post of managing director of Google Africa, where he is responsible for Google's operations in Africa including programs that help businesses and economies on the continent to grow, as well as expanding access and providing tools to help the next billion users get more from the Web.
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu , who is known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He rose to stardom in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013). In 2017, Burna Boy signed with Atlantic Records in the United States to release his third studio album, Outside (2018).
Geoffrey Jideofor Kwusike Onyeama is a Nigerian diplomat and politician who served as the minister for foreign affairs of Nigeria from November 2015 to May 2023. He was appointed minister by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Matthias Chika Mordi is from Delta State, in Nigeria and was a refugee during Nigeria’s civil war. He is an economist by training and a banker. He is the Chief Executive Officer of National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria and is the current Chairman of United Capital PLC. He is an Honourable Senior member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and alternate president of the West African Institute of Bankers (2005-2008).
Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. She rose to prominence after being featured on Wizkid's 2020 single "Essence", which peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of the remix version with Justin Bieber. The song earned her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she was featured on the song "Fountains" by Canadian rapper Drake.
Isoken Ogiemwonyi is a Nigerian entrepreneur in film, television and fashion. She is a producer of the Smart Money Woman TV Show, which was nominated for multiple Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in 2022 #amvca8 She is the founder and CEO of the fashion label "Obsidian" and retail store "ZAZAII". She is known also as the Co-Founder of Winterfell Ltd, which owns Le Petit Marche Nigeria and L’Espace trademarks. She was the winner of the 2012 MTN Lagos Fashion & Design Week/British Council Young Creative Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2013, The Guardian placed her among the 25 most influential women in Africa.
Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, known professionally as Ayra Starr, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Starr achieved mainstream international recognition in 2022, with the release of her song "Rush". The song charted in several territories, including Switzerland, Ireland and the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 24. It earned Starr a nomination at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for Best African Music Performance.
Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc. She joined Fidelity Bank as an Executive Director in 2015 and was appointed Managing Director/CEO in January 2021, becoming the first female MD/CEO in the bank's history.
Warner Music Africa (WMA) is a music corporation of the global record label Warner Music Group, founded on 5 December 2013. with its South Africa arm managing artist development, marketing, and distribution for Warner Music artists in Africa, with its corporate headquarters located in 1 Saxon Rd, Hyde Park, Sandton, 2196, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a public research university located in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. It was opened in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria. The university has four colleges, three schools, 18 faculties, 110 academic departments, 17 centres, and seven institutes with over 600 professors, about 3000 academic staff and over 7000 non-teaching staff. The university has over 400 postgraduate programmes reflecting its strife to become a postgraduate studies-centred university. The university operates from two campuses in the ancient cosmopolitan city of Zaria, the Samaru Campus where the Senate Building and most of the faculties are located and the Kongo Campus, hosting the faculties of Law and Administration. It has been adjudged to be the largest university in Sub-Saharan Africa, in terms of land occupied, owing to the numerous buildings it has.
Temi Popoola is a Nigerian financial services executive currently serving as the GMD/CEO of The Nigerian Exchange Group.
Temilade Salami known as Global Temi is a Nigerian Climate Education and communications expert and author. She was born on the 10th of June Temilade Salami serves as the Executive Director of "EcoChampions" an organisation that provides young people in Africa with the tools, and resources needed for climate action. She was named as a 2020 Nigeria's 25 Under 25 Leader on Energy and Sustainability, 2018 LASEPA Ambassador against Noise Pollution, 2018 Idea Hub Africa Talent of the Future and a 2018 US Consulate's Carrington Youth Fellow.
Rebecca ‘Dimplez’ Ijeoma also known as Dimplez is a Nigerian-American music executive, currently serving as senior vice president at Capitol Music Group. She is also the founder of the marketing consultancy firm IJEOMA. Her career includes roles at Capitol Records, Motown Records, Universal Music Group, BWR PR, and Uproxx.
