TCN Monthly Recap: March 2024 Edition
Here's a recap of the stories—news, events, opportunities, resources, insights, opinions and conversations—we published this March and some other recommended stories for you
Hi there, I hope you’ve had a great month!
Whew!!! March went by so fast. And with that, the first quarter of 2024 has come to an end. I hope you were able to meet some—if not all—of your goals for the month/quarter. If not, don't be hard on yourself. We go again.
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With that out of the way, you already know what time of the month it is. In case you don’t know, it’s that time of the month when we bring you TCN Monthly Recap; a recap of all the exciting stories—news, events, opportunities, resources, insights, opinions and conversations—we published all through the month. Also, watch out for more interesting reads and recommended stories to catch up on everything juicy in the African creative industry across art, design, and film.
In this edition, which is the third edition of TCN Monthly Recap, you will find:
Our conversation with Nonso Eagle, the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of PiggyTech, on leading the creative team at PiggyTech, and how he approaches design;
Two of Google Fonts’ latest additions to its catalogue;
The release of Kugali’s IWAJU on Disney Plus;
The 3 Africans shortlisted for the 2024 LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize;
The new identity for the AFCON 2023 competition that took place in Côte d’Ivoire;
The rebrand of Whogohost to GO54 in its bid to expand across the continent;
Our conversation with Zimbabwean type designer, Taurai Valerie Mtake, on working with Google Fonts to create the Madimi One typeface;
The rebrand of Vodafone Ghana to Telecel Ghana following the acquisition of major shares by Telecel Group
A Conversation with Nonso Eagle
Check out our interview with Nonso Eagle, the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of PiggyTech, the parent company of PiggyVest, PocketApp, and Patronize. In his role, he leads the design and creative team that creates works that cut across product, marketing, social media, and every other touchpoint.
In this interview, you will find out what led him to design, how he got started, what keeps him going, the major challenge he faces as a creative and how he navigates it, the people who inspire him, and a lot more.
Google Fonts’ latest addition to its catalogue
At the beginning of the month, Google Fonts announced the addition of 2 new typefaces—created by a Nigerian and a Zimbabwean designer—to its catalogue.
“Ojuju" by Chisaokwu Joboson, a Nigerian-based brand and type designer, and "Madimi" by Taurai Valerie Mtake, a Zimbabwean visual communicator and type designer are two of Google Fonts’ latest additions to its catalogue of open-source typeface.
Disney Plus premieres IWAJU, the first original animated series set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria
After Walt Disney Animation Studios first announced its collaboration with Kugali, a pan-African entertainment company, during its 2020 Investors Day, last month, Disney Plus, the streaming division of Disney Entertainment, premiered Iwájú, an original animated series set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria.
Written by Olufikayo Ziki Adeola and Halima Hudson, directed by Adeola, and produced by Disney Animation’s Christina Chen, the story follows the exciting coming-of-age story of Tola, a young girl from the wealthy island, and her best friend, Kole, a self-taught tech expert, as they discover the secrets and dangers hidden in their different worlds.
Find out other interesting things about this series.
The 3 Africans shortlisted for the 2024 LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize
Last month, the LOEWE FOUNDATION revealed the 30 finalists for the 2024 edition of the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize, an international award for contemporary craft.
Find out the 3 African artists who are in for €50,000 prize money.
AFCON 2023 Identity: A Beautiful Story of Strength and Unity through Football
Last year, in preparation for AFCON, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Côte d’Ivoire Local Organising Committee (“LOC”) unveiled a new identity for the tournament, being the first time in over a decade the identity was changed.
The new AFCON identity—which was designed by Designwerk, a London-based independent, full-service creative agency—pays homage to the richness of the Ivorian culture and the continent of Africa as a whole, while beautifully representing the essence of African football and the splendour of the host nation.
Find out more about the new AFCON identity.
Nigerian web hosting company, Whogohost, rebrands as GO54 in its bid to expand across the continent
Whogohost, a Nigerian web hosting company, has announced a new name and identity as it seeks to expand across Africa.
This move to rebrand comes six months after acquiring Sendchamp, a customer messaging platform, in September 2023. The company says its rebrand from Whogohost to GO54 is a move to “adapt and expand our offerings to serve the evolving needs of our customers better.”
With big ambitions to become Africa’s largest digital infrastructure company, it added that the rebrand symbolises its commitment to bridging the digital divide and empowering businesses to thrive online.
Nigerian web hosting company, Whogohost, rebrands as GO54 in its bid to expand across the continent
"It's a dream come true" — Zimbabwean visual communicator and type designer, Taurai Valerie Mtake, on working with Google Fonts to create the Madimi One typeface
Following Google Fonts’ addition of Madimi One—created by Zimbabwean visual communicator and type designer Taurai Valerie Mtake—to its catalogue, we caught up with Mtake to discuss how the project came about and her experience designing a typeface and working with the Google Fonts team.
“Last year (2023), out of the blues, I was contacted by Simon Charwey, a very good friend of mine who is also a designer, and he was like, ‘Google is doing a project and they are looking for African type designers, would you like to be a part of this?’ and I said sure why not,” Mtake told The Creatives Note.
“It was a surreal feeling. I was like, ‘Is it really me? Am I really being asked to take on such a project for a company as big as Google?’ I was also like, ‘Yes it is me. I am one of the right people to come to for this project.’”
Read the full story to find out the inspiration behind the typeface and how it all came together.
Vodafone Ghana rebrands to Telecel Ghana following acquisition of major shares by Telecel Group
Ghanaian telecommunication company, Vodafone Ghana, has announced its complete rebrand as Telecel Ghana, after the acquisition of a majority share by Telecel Group, an Africa-focused telecommunication service provider.
“Telecel Ghana has now assumed control over various operations previously managed by Vodafone, including fixed telephone lines, internet services, voice and data services, as well as cash transfer and other business services,” the company announced.
The company said its rebranding efforts include the introduction of the Telecel Play app, aimed at delivering a range of digital innovations and mobile financial services to customers and an opportunity to provide positive disruption, advancement, and innovation in Ghana.
Open call application for the 14th edition of Bamako Encounters closes today
Recommended reading
The Children’s Art Gallery supports young Nigerian artists from low-income families, helping them sell their work around the world and build a better life.
Using technology, Creath wants to help artists reach more audiences while helping them earn from secondary sales of their artwork with its art marketplace.
A new generation of émigrés and diaspora children is escaping Western individualism and building communities in their homelands.
In Nigeria, recycling is largely an informal process controlled by small companies, and waste often ends up in waterways and overflowing landfills. But where others see trash, 37-year-old Nigerian artist Chibuike Ifedilichukwu sees opportunity.
That will be all for this month. Thank you for reading.
We wish you a HAPPY NEW MONTH in advance. Have a productive April!
See you next month. Until then, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay up to date.
