Freeway Golf Course — Photo by LPETTET/Getty Images

by Edwian Stokes

July 31, 2026

Beyond The Green: Modi Oyewole Built Golf Collective ‘Swang’ Into A Cultural Powerhouse

The former Def Jam executive partnered with creative studio Cthdrl to establish Swang to make golf more accessible.

When Modi Oyewole first tried golf in 2023, he did not plan to start a business. As vice president of creative at Def Jam Recordings, he sought a meaningful pursuit beyond corporate entertainment, according to Inc.

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His viewpoint changed after attending a Hypegolf Invitational hosted by Hypebeast. Seeing the combination of streetwear culture with golf, Oyewole recognized the sport’s ability to foster community instead of exclusivity.

This insight led to the founding of Swang, a Los Angeles-based golf collective co-founded by Oyewole and Josh Hubberman, a creative strategist at Cthdrl. What began as an informal group of 15 at a local driving range has grown rapidly to more than 1,200 active members and hosted over 50 events in its first year. The group’s biweekly gatherings regularly attract hundreds, showing Swang’s momentum and ability to bring new faces into the golf community. By focusing on making golf more open and culturally connected, Swang has attracted substantial corporate support.

Dismantling Barriers on the Fairway

Golf participation has reached record highs in recent years, according to the National Golf Foundation. However, Oyewole and Hubberman saw Swang’s main opportunity in broadening the sense of welcome on the course.

“The actual game wasn’t the problem,” Hubberman said. “The barriers around it were — the etiquette, the assumptions, the feeling that you had to know the rules before you could even show up.”

To address these barriers, Swang launched biweekly “Free Range” sessions at Rancho Park Golf Course in Los Angeles. These events include free golf balls, club rentals, professional instruction, music, and hospitality. Without dress codes or performance pressure, attendance now regularly exceeds 300 participants, from beginners to LPGA professionals. Swang also extends its reach to younger generations by offering youth-focused clinics and working with local schools to introduce golf to kids who might not otherwise have access.

Culture Before Capital

During the post-COVID golf boom, many startups focused on securing venture capital and sponsorships. In contrast, Oyewole and Hubberman prioritized building trust and audience engagement before pursuing revenue.

“There were definitely moments when it would’ve been easier to pursue revenue first,” Oyewole said. “But we believed if we built something people genuinely cared about, everything else would follow.”

This strategy proved successful. Swang secured long-term partnerships with established brands without jeopardizing its vision.

Callaway Golf agreed to supply equipment for Swang events, providing newcomers with access to premium gear. At the same time, Jordan Brand partnered with Swang to support community expansion.

“I came into golf being myself — Jordans on, baggy shorts, a jersey, music blasting,” Oyewole said. “From day one building Swang, we literally had Jumpman on the top of our ‘Mount Rushmore of Brands’ Google doc. They’ve always pushed sport into culture, and that’s exactly where Swang lives.”

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The ROI of Belonging

Swang’s rapid growth demonstrates a broader change in consumer behavior. Research from McKinsey & Company shows that organizations building strong emotional connections with customers regularly outperform competitors in loyalty and prolonged growth.

By replacing traditional gatekeeping with cultural authenticity, Oyewole and Hubberman have demonstrated that increasing golf’s openness can also drive commercial success. Going forward, Swang plans to expand its programming with new community tournaments, youth participation initiatives, and collaborations with local artists, striving to further diversify the sport and make it welcoming for even more people.

Melanin Money co-founders George Acheampong and Carter Cofield (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Melanin Money)

by Selena Hill

July 30, 2026

‘Melanin Money’ Tops $1B In Community Wealth, Launches $100M HBCU Initiative

The wealth-building platform is empowering Black communities and HBCU students with financial education tools and strategies.

Melanin Money, a financial education and wealth-building platform, is one step closer to its goal of closing the racial wealth gap.

Building Black Wealth

Launched in 2017 by George Acheampong and Carter Cofield, the organization blends education, advocacy, and actionable strategies to help individuals and families achieve financial freedom through coaching, investing, and entrepreneurship. Through live events, online courses, and advisory services, the organization has equipped thousands of people with the tools and strategies needed to build generational wealth.

“Melanin Money was born out of urgency and purpose,” Cofield told BLACK ENTERPRISE last year. “We discovered an article predicting that Black wealth would hit $0 by 2053. While alarming, it highlighted a real issue—our community’s lack of advanced financial literacy. We’re not just talking about budgeting and saving but higher-level concepts like investing, tax-saving strategies, and entrepreneurship,” he continued.

“What sets Melanin Money apart is the expertise we bring. George is the No. 1 financial advisor in North Carolina, and I am among the top certified public accountants in the country.”

The 35-year-old self-made millionaire added that Melanin Money clients have increased their net worth by over $100 million in just a few years.

“Our ultimate goal is to prove the 2053 prediction wrong—not just slightly, but by $100 billion.”

Wealth Weekend 2026

Earlier this month, the organization held its annual Wealth Weekend 2026 conference in Atlanta, where it announced that members of its community surpassed $1.1 billion in collective audited net worth. The achievement marks a significant step toward Melanin Money’s goal of helping 100,000 people of color build their first or next $1 million in net worth.

“This weekend wasn’t simply about celebrating financial success—it was about proving what’s possible when education, community, and intentional action come together,” said the co-founders in a statement shared with BE. “Every milestone we announced represents another step toward helping more families build lasting wealth and changing the financial trajectory of future generations.”

The two-day event drew more than 600 entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and professionals from around the country. It featured live panel discussions and workshops centered on AI, investing, entrepreneurship, tax strategy, and estate planning. Speakers included Blavity and AfroTech Founder and CEO Morgan DeBaun, wealth coach, investor, and entrepreneur Cedric Nash, and investor and financial educator Larry Jones. Acheampong and Cofield also took the stage, sharing expertise on investment and finance strategies along with tax tips for individuals and small business owners.

George Acheampong Carter Cofield — Source: **(L-R) Chris Sain, Carter Cofield, Terrence J, and George Acheampong at The Melanin Money Awards Gala**

The conference culminated with The Melanin Money 100 Awards Gala, which recognized Melanin Money clients who’ve obtained significant net worth milestones ranging from $100,000 to $10 million. Hosted by celebrity host, actor, entrepreneur, and investor Terrence J, the ceremony also honored influential Black leaders, founders, investors, innovators, executives, and community builders named to The MM100 List. Each year the list spotlights both established and emerging changemakers across categories like finance, tech, wellness, media, sports business, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurship.

At the end of the gala, the co-founders announced the launch of MMvestED in U, a new initiative designed to provide 100,000 HBCU students with financial education and funded investment accounts before graduation. The long-term vision includes entrepreneurship training, investment capital, mentorship, scholarships, internships, and university partnerships nationwide.

“Our vision is simple,” the founders said. “Education creates opportunity. Opportunity builds wealth. And when you invest in 100,000 students, you invest in generations.”

The initiative launched with a $50,000 contribution from investor Chris Sain II and The Chris Sain Foundation, which the Melanin Money Foundation immediately matched to establish a $100,000 founding fund ahead of an anticipated Fall 2027 rollout.

Next year, the co-founders plan to bring Wealth Weekend 2027 to Dallas, where Melanin Money is headquartered, as part of its national expansion strategy.

Tyla — photo credit:Janeirohy, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

by Sidnee Michelle

July 30, 2026

Tyla Named Global Brand Ambassador For Kate Spade New York

Tyla will showcase the brand's Duo Mini Shoulder Bag in new seasonal colors.

Two-time Grammy Award-winning artist Tyla has been named the newest global brand ambassador for Kate Spade New York, expanding the South African singer’s growing presence in the fashion industry through a yearlong partnership with the accessories and lifestyle brand, according to a recent press release.

The collaboration will include global advertising campaigns, social media content, and in-store marketing, with Tyla making her debut in Kate Spade New York’s Fall 2026 campaign. According to the company, the campaign is inspired by the idea of finding joy in everyday moments while incorporating references to the singer’s recently released sophomore album, APOP.

Throughout the campaign, Tyla will showcase the brand’s Duo Mini Shoulder Bag in new seasonal colors, including Beet and Laurel Leaf, which Kate Spade said are available beginning July 28. The company said additional campaign images and creative details will be released in the coming days.

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“Tyla’s confidence, creativity, and distinctive sense of style make her an ideal partner for Kate Spade New York as we continue to evolve the brand for a new generation of consumers,” Eva Erdmann, CEO and brand president of Kate Spade New York, said in a statement announcing the partnership.

The announcement comes as Tyla continues to expand her profile beyond music. Since earning international recognition with her Grammy-winning hit “Water,” the singer has become a fixture at major fashion events and has collaborated with several global brands, helping establish herself as one of music’s most influential style figures.

The appointment also marks Kate Spade New York’s latest effort to pair its products with high-profile artists and entertainers. Under Erdmann’s leadership, the brand has increasingly centered its campaigns around musicians, creators, and cultural figures to strengthen its connection with younger audiences while emphasizing optimism and self-expression.

Additional campaign imagery and marketing assets are expected to be released as the Fall 2026 campaign rolls out.

AI, artificial intelligence, trends, technology, skills, HiBob, career advancement — (Image: iStock)

by Sidnee Michelle

July 30, 2026

Claude’s AI Chats Made Public In Google Search Results, Raising Privacy Concerns

The issue came to light after users discovered that a Google search could surface shared Claude conversations and AI-generated content.

Shared conversations created with Anthropic’s Claude AI assistant appeared in Google search results, raising questions about how generative AI platforms handle shared content and whether users fully understand the privacy implications of making chatbot conversations public, Fortune reports.

The issue came to light after users discovered that a Google search could surface shared Claude conversations and AI-generated content, including documents, applications, and other projects created through the platform.

Some of the indexed pages reportedly contained sensitive information, including cryptocurrency wallet keys, resumes, legal discussions, and personal details. There is no indication that Anthropic’s systems were hacked or that users’ private conversations were exposed through a data breach.

Anthropic said the indexed pages stemmed from conversations that users had made public using Claude’s “Share” feature, which generates a public webpage that anyone with the link can view.

“We give people control over sharing their Claude conversations publicly, and in keeping with our privacy principles, we do not share chat directories or sitemaps with search engines like Google,” an Anthropic spokesperson told the outlet.

“These shareable links are not guessable or discoverable unless people choose to share them themselves. When someone shares a conversation, they are making that content publicly accessible, and like other public web content, it may be archived by third-party services.”

Search engine experts have long noted that a robots.txt file, which tells search engines whether pages should be crawled, does not guarantee that public webpages will remain out of search results. Publicly accessible pages can still be indexed under certain circumstances unless additional technical measures are implemented.

By July 27, the Google search query that surfaced the shared Claude pages no longer returned the same results, suggesting Anthropic had taken steps to reduce the pages’ visibility in search results. Existing public share links, however, remained accessible to anyone who already had the URL or received it directly.

The episode highlights the growing importance of understanding how AI sharing tools work as consumers and businesses increasingly rely on generative AI for writing, coding, research, and strategic planning. While many users assume a shared link functions like an unlisted document, public webpages may still be discoverable or archived by third-party services unless appropriate safeguards are in place.

For businesses, the incident also serves as a reminder to establish clear AI governance policies. Employees who share chatbot conversations containing financial analyses, proprietary code, internal strategy documents, or customer information could unintentionally expose sensitive business data if those conversations are made publicly accessible.

As organizations continue adopting generative AI tools, cybersecurity experts recommend reviewing a platform’s sharing settings before including confidential personal or business information in chatbot conversations.

nursing school, Tuskegee University, Alabama,HBCU Nursing Apprenticeship Program — (Photo: CarlosDavid.org/Getty Images)

by Ashlei Stevens

July 30, 2026

Bowie State University Launches 1st Ph.D. In Nursing Education At An HBCU

The public university will welcome its inaugural cohort in fall 2026.

One of the nation’s first doctoral programs in Nursing Education at a historically Black college and university (HBCU) has just launched at Bowie State University. The public university will welcome its inaugural cohort in fall 2026, also making it the state of Maryland’s first Ph.D. in Nursing Education, according to Bowie leaders.

“This marks a pivotal moment for Bowie State University and for nursing education nationwide,” Bowie State University President Dr. Aminta H. Breaux said in a statement. “The curriculum reflects our commitment to innovation, academic excellence and service.”

The Nursing Doctoral Degree Was Launched To Address Faculty Shortage

The news comes at a critical time, when the industry is facing a serious shortage of nurses and nursing faculty. According to a Health Workforce Analysis published by the Health Resources and Services Administration, federal authorities project a shortage of 63,720 full-time registered nurses (RN) in 2030. To train RNs, more skilled nurse educators are needed, of which there’s also a shortage. And that’s where Bowie’s new program comes in.

“By expanding opportunities for advanced nursing scholarship and educator preparation, Bowie State is helping to strengthen the healthcare workforce and improve health outcomes for generations to come,” Dr. Breaux said.

U.S. nursing schools turned away nearly 93,000 qualified applications from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2025 “due to an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints,” according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, with most nursing schools responding to the survey pointing to “faculty shortages as a top reason for not accepting all qualified applicants into their programs.” Related to this, legislation was introduced in both the House and the Senate earlier this year—the Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act of 2026—to provide financial support to new and early-career faculty members, thereby bolstering the number of qualified nurse educators in the field. And Maryland is among a handful of states offering a tax incentive for healthcare workers in shortage areas.

Bowie State’s doctoral degree “prepares experienced nurses for careers in academia, research and leadership through advanced coursework, original research, dissertation study and individualized mentorship,” the university said in a statement. Graduates will be prepared to “educate future nurses, advance nursing scholarship and help address increasingly complex healthcare challenges.”

Bowie State University Has A Stellar Success Rate In Nursing Education

The Ph.D. announcement comes on the heels of other major milestones for Bowie State’s nursing program. The school’s December 2025 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduating class achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), with all 14 graduates passing the exam on their first attempt. These NCLEX-RN results place Bowie State among Maryland’s top-performing nursing programs. Additionally, last month, the university received more than $2.3 million in competitive state grants to expand nursing education capacity, enhance simulation training, support student success, strengthen faculty development and advance nursing education research. The university said these investments will help bolster enrollment, improve student outcomes and strengthen Maryland’s nursing workforce pipeline overall.

“This is truly a transformative achievement,” said Dr. Monique Alston, chair of Bowie State’s Department of Nursing, noting the launch of this program was a vision that took years to come to fruition. “This accomplishment not only elevates our department and university but also positions us to shape nursing education across Maryland and beyond. Preparing the next generation of nursing leaders is both a responsibility and a privilege.”

Applications are being accepted for the inaugural fall 2026 cohort.

Federal Literacy Grant Program, Reading Scores, D.C. — (Photo: pixdeluxe/Getty Images)

by Sidnee Michelle

July 30, 2026

Black Students Still Face Barriers To Advanced Mathematics

The organization argues that unequal access to rigorous math instruction has contributed to persistent disparities in college readiness

Black students continue to face significant barriers to advanced mathematics education, limiting access to college pathways and high-demand careers, The 74 reports.

The report referenced by the outlet called Calculated Barriers, found that although Black students represented 15% of the nation’s public school enrollment during the 2021-22 school year, they accounted for just 6% of students enrolled in Advanced Placement, or AP, math courses.

The organization argues that unequal access to rigorous math instruction has contributed to persistent disparities in college readiness, STEM careers, and long-term economic opportunity.

“Quality math education prepares you to fully engage in society,” Andrea McChristian, Just Equations’ national policy director, said in a statement.

She said strong mathematics instruction equips students with analytical, problem-solving, and digital skills that are increasingly essential in today’s workforce.

The report found Black adults made up 12% of the U.S. workforce in 2021 but represented only 9% of workers employed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, occupations. Researchers said access to advanced math courses plays a key role in that disparity by shaping students’ academic preparation and career options.

One of the report’s primary concerns is limited access to Algebra I in middle school. Students who complete Algebra I by eighth grade are more likely to progress to higher-level math courses, including calculus, in high school.

However, many schools serving large populations of Black students do not offer the course. Just Equations cited data from the New York Equity Coalition showing that 27% of New York schools serving seventh- and eighth-grade students did not offer Algebra I during the 2024-25 school year, disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic students.

The disparities continue through high school. During the 2021-22 school year, 62% of schools with high Black and Hispanic enrollment offered advanced mathematics courses, compared with 71% of schools with lower enrollments of those students. By 2019, white high school graduates completed calculus at three times the rate of Black graduates, while Asian graduates completed the course at more than seven times the rate.

The report says unequal math preparation also affects college outcomes. Black students are more likely to begin college in calculus prerequisite courses, extending the time and cost required to complete STEM degree programs.

“We lose new ideas, perspectives, and solutions that could benefit everyone,” Lya Snell, a director at the Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin, said in a statement.

Just Equations recommends expanding access to advanced mathematics coursework, reforming college admissions practices that reinforce inequities, and increasing investment in culturally responsive math instruction.

Uterine Fibroids, Non-Profit, Black women health — (Photo: Sora Shimazaki/Pexels)

by Black Enterprise

July 30, 2026

The White Dress Project Brings Fibroid Awareness And Healing To Atlanta

The event emphasized patient-centered conversations, wellness, and community support throughout Fibroid Awareness Month.

Women living with uterine fibroids, healthcare professionals, advocates, and supporters gathered in Atlanta from July 24-26 for The White Dress Project’s 2026 Empowerment Experience, a three-day conference dedicated to education, advocacy, and healing around one of the most common gynecological conditions affecting women.

The event’s theme, “The Softness We Deserve: The Healing Power of Our Stories,” emphasizes patient-centered conversations, wellness, and community support throughout Fibroid Awareness Month.

Hosted by The White Dress Project, a nonprofit organization focused on increasing global awareness of uterine fibroids, the conference aims to educate attendees about treatment options, advance research, strengthen patient advocacy, and create a community for people navigating the condition. The organization says its work is led largely by women with firsthand experience of fibroids, alongside an advisory council of physicians and researchers working to improve women’s health outcomes.

The initiative began Friday, July 24, with registration, educational programming, and wellness experiences designed to introduce attendees to the latest developments in fibroid care, research, and patient advocacy while incorporating restorative activities focused on whole-body wellness.

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On Saturday, July 25, attendees participated in expert-led discussions, including the organization’s “Dialogue with the Doctors” panel, where physicians and women’s health specialists discussed reproductive health, fibroid treatment options, and patient advocacy. The day also included the Empowered Patient Luncheon before concluding with the annual Night in White Gala and Blossom Awards, recognizing individuals advancing awareness, research, and women’s health.

This year’s honorees include Academy Award-winning actor Lupita Nyong’o, U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, journalist Zinhle Essamuah, entrepreneur Necole Kane, Georgia state Rep. Park Cannon, and several leading physicians and researchers.

The weekend concluded Sunday, July 26, with the Legacy Brunch, bringing together women across generations to celebrate shared experiences and encourage continued advocacy for uterine health.

The organization’s name reflects a reality many women with fibroids face. Because heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the condition’s most common symptoms, many avoid wearing white clothing. The White Dress Project says the white dress has become a symbol of hope and resilience, and of its mission to end the silent suffering associated with fibroids through research, education, advocacy, and community support.

Remembering Black Feminist Artist, Betye Saar, On Her 100th Birthday

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

July 30, 2026

Remembering Black Feminist Artist, Betye Saar, On Her 100th Birthday

The Black feminist artist liberated Aunt Jemima.

Betye Saar, the visionary Black feminist artist whose pioneering assemblage art dismantled racist stereotypes and redefined 20th-century American sculpture, died peacefully in her sleep July 26, 2026, at her home in Los Angeles. She was 99, passing away just four days before her 100th birthday. Her death was confirmed in an official statement by Roberts Projects, the Los Angeles gallery that represented her for nearly two decades. Celebrated internationally for transforming discarded domestic items and derogatory Jim Crow ephemera into potent symbols of Black liberation, Saar leaves behind a monumental artistic legacy anchored by her iconic 1972 masterwork, The Liberation of Aunt Jemima.

Betye Saar Revolutionized Assemblage Art

Born Betye Irene Brown in Los Angeles on July 30, 1926, the acclaimed Black feminist artist emerged as a central figure during the Black Arts Movement and second-wave feminism of the late 1960s. Drawing early creative motivation from the architectural majesty of Simon Rodia’s Watts Towers and Joseph Cornell’s boxed constructions, Saar pioneered a unique form of assemblage art that merged personal memory, mysticism, and radical socio-political critique.

According to gallery representatives at Roberts Projects, Saar possessed an uncanny capacity to collect vintage antiques, discarded window frames, and racial collectibles at swap meets, elevating ordinary objects into spiritual altars. Her breakthrough 1969 piece, Black Girl’s Window, utilized a salvaged window frame to explore themes of identity, astrology, and grief following her father’s early passing.

However, it was her seminal 1972 assemblage art piece, The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, that catapulted her into national prominence. Created in direct response to the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the work weaponized a racist mammy caricature by equipping her with a rifle and hand grenade. Activist Angela Davis famously heralded The Liberation of Aunt Jemima as the artwork that effectively launched the Black women’s movement, establishing Saar as a premier Black feminist artist.

Why Betye Saar Remains a Monumental Black Feminist Artist

Throughout her seven-decade career, Saar interrogated historical trauma while asserting the agency, dignity, and spiritual resilience of Black women. Institutional recognition expanded significantly in her later years; in 2019, at age 93, she was honored with concurrent major exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Her commitment to narrative sculpture influenced generations of contemporary creators, including her daughters Alison Saar and Lezley Saar. As documented by Roberts Projects, Saar maintained an active studio practice well into her late 90s, completing the sweeping garden installation Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight for the Huntington Library in 2023.

Today, Saar’s work resides in more than 90 museum collections worldwide. Current centennial exhibitions, including Betye Saar’s Black Dolls at the New-York Historical Society, continue to showcase how her revolutionary assemblage art transformed offensive cultural relics into enduring weapons of empowerment. As public interest in The Liberation of Aunt Jemima endures, art historians and curators affiliated with Roberts Projects affirm that Betye Saar will forever be remembered as an indispensable Black feminist artist whose courage reshaped American art history.

Chance the Rapper, Chicago, New Year's Eve — Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney

by Kenneth Meeks

July 30, 2026

Chance The Rapper Leveraged Partnerships To Do Business His Own Way

He’s known for making deals on his own terms.

In 2017, Chance the Rapper was the first independent artist to win three Grammy Awards for a streaming-only mixed tape, earning statues for Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Album. Shortly after, marketing agencies approached him for a string of endorsement deals. But as he’s lived his life growing up in Chicago, he would only make deals on his own terms.

BLACK ENTERPRISE revisits his exclusive XCEL Summit for Men’s conversation with BE CEO Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr. on location at his House of Kicks. Chance shares how he built a multifaceted career on his own terms and redefined what it means to be an independent artist. Considered a Generational Voice by GQ Magazine, to this day he has never signed a record deal, instead opting to make his music available for free to everyone. No wonder former President Barack Obama called him an “outstanding role model.” In celebration of the 10^th anniversary XCEL Summit for Men, we see his passion for music and family fuels his commitment to giving back.

a man holding a movie camera — Photo by CineDirektor FILMS/Pexels

by Sidnee Michelle

July 29, 2026

The African Export-Import Bank Launches $1B Film Fund To Finance Africa’s Creative Industry

The fund will invest through equity, quasi-equity, and structured financing.

The African Export-Import Bank (also known as Afreximbank) is expanding its investment in the continent’s creative economy with the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), designed to mobilize up to $1 billion for Africa’s film and television industry, Deadline reports.

The bank announced July 8 that its development impact investment arm, FEDA, officially launched the Pan-African Film Fund. The initiative will provide financing for film and television productions, production facilities, postproduction infrastructure, digital distribution platforms, and exhibition networks while helping African content compete in global entertainment markets.

Publishing executive and producer Lavaille Lavette was named chief executive officer of the Pan-African Film Fund. FEDA also appointed One Street Studios as co-general partner to help manage the fund’s investment strategy and operations. Lavette serves as managing partner of One Street Studios and co-founded JVL Media alongside Academy Award-winning actor Viola Davis and producer Julius Tennon.

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According to FEDA, the fund will invest through equity, quasi-equity, and structured financing to support commercially viable film, television, and immersive media projects with international distribution potential. Officials said the investment platform is intended to strengthen Africa’s creative economy by increasing access to long-term capital for creators and production companies.

“Africa’s creative industries are entering a defining moment,” Lavette said in a statement. “Through the Pan-African Film Fund, we will mobilize long-term capital that supports creators, strengthens production capacity, and builds sustainable global distribution pathways for African storytelling.”

The Pan-African Film Fund expands Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) initiative, which aims to grow the continent’s cultural and creative industries into drivers of economic development, job creation, and exports.

The fund, first introduced under the CANEX program in May 2025, is expected to become one of the largest investment vehicles dedicated to financing Africa’s film and television industry, according to FEDA.