Basic Lead, the Los Angeles-based organisers of DISCOP AFRICA 2012, last week announced that Jason Njoku, CEO and co-founder of iROKO Partners, will be opening the event as the keynote speaker.
DISCOP AFRICA 2012 is billed as “the premier digital content market and co-production forum targeting Africa”. It is also the only African industry gathering dedicated to the production and distribution of multi-screen television content.
As the chief executive of the world’s largest digital distributor of Nollywood movies and YouTube’s biggest partner in Africa, Njoku will present the opening morning’s keynote event on October 31 which will focus on the benefits of digital migration.
Njoku said: “I have a very simple vision for digital Africa and the Diaspora: we are setting the content free by streaming it online. For too long, the content was restricted to a local market. We’ve made it global, for everyone to access.”
Patrick Jucaud-Zuchowicki, general manager of Basic Lead, said: “Welcoming the founder of the fastest-growing video-centered internet company in Africa to kick start DISCOP AFRICA 2012 will provide our attendees with a better understanding of the continent’s rapidly expanding digital entertainment marketplace, and most importantly, of its potential inside Africa and outside.”
This session will also celebrate Africa’s dynamic entrepreneurial spirit. Jason Njoku was touted by Forbes Africa as one of Africa’s young millionaires to watch, and his example is certainly one to follow, he added.
iROKO Partners, through its iROKO TV platform, is the world’s largest online distributor of African movies and music (through iROKING), streaming 193 million minutes of content across its platforms every month.
Earlier this year, the company announced that it had completed a two-part funding round of US$8 million with US-based hedge fund, Tiger Global, who were also early investors in Facebook. The investment was used to purchase content as well as move into the US market, with a New York business development team now in place.
DISCOP AFRICA 2012 will also feature the largest contingent of prominent producers and distributors ever available, to sell content created in Africa under the same roof.
This year’s event will take place at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa from October 31 to November 2.
