KENGA: the silicon issue
KORTY EO
LEADING THE NEW CLASS OF CREATORS AND STORYTELLERS
WEB 3.Z THE DIGITAL FUTURE OF AFRO GEN Z
the silicon issue
KENNEDY EKEZIE BUILDING A $10M TECH STARTUP AT 24
WEB 3.Z THE DIGITAL FUTURE OF AFRO GEN Z
the silicon issue
WEB 3.Z THE DIGITAL FUTURE OF AFRO GEN Z
KENGA: the silicon issue
WEB 3.Z THE DIGITAL FUTURE OF AFRO GEN Z
the silicon issue
WEB 3.Z THE DIGITAL FUTURE OF AFRO GEN Z
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Kenga:
1 Cover Interview: Kennedy Ekezie on Building a $10M Tech Startup at 24
SILICON ISSUE
2
How Livestreaming Changed My Life
3
Therap_E: Virtual Therapists as the Future of Mental Health for Afro Gen Zs
4
Feature: Derrick Ikenga on Augmented Reality and the Future of Shopping
INSI 5
Feature: Garnett Achieng on Building a Safer Internet for Minorities
6
A Day in the Life of a Kenyan Afro Gen Z Through Apps
7 Artificial Intelligence: Why We Need More Afro Gen Z Technologists in AI
8
Gen Zoom: Unpacking the Gen Z Remote Work Craze
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Kenga:
9
How Tech is Changing the Way We Bang
SILICON ISSUE
10 Music in the Metaverse
11
Real Time: Navigating Human Connection Online and Offline While Afro Gen Z
12 How Creators Can Use
IDE 13 The Kenga Silicon Class: 10 Afro Gen Zs Building Africa's Digital Future
14 Technology, Our Faith and Change
15 Cover Story - Korty EO:
Leading the New Class of Content Creators and Storytellers
:
Web 3 to Build and Market Their Brands
ON THE COVER
TEAM Publ1sher Ar1nze_0b1ezue Des1gn D1rect0r Jean_Quarc00p0me Creative D1rect0r Andrew_Djan-Samps0n Market1ng Manager N1m0_Wah0me Med1a Ass0c1ate Wh1tney_Ernest
With this issue, we were curious about the different ways technology shapes the identities and cultures of Afro Gen Zs. The stories, photography, and art in the issue are all cohesive pieces of the message in this issue. Gracing our headline cover is the multitalented creative storyteller, Eniola Korty Olanrewaju, more popularly known as Korty EO. Korty’s rise as a YouTuber is a story of grit, genius, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Her journey is a testament to what is possible with technology for Gen Z’s in Africa who are increasingly plugging into the continent’s emerging creator economy. Cover Star
Photographer
Eniola Korty Olanrewaju
Olamide Rufai
ON THE SPINE This issue’s spine design features an artwok created using the Midjourney AI software. As computer generated artworks continue to gain hype and hate on the internet, we’re intrigued by what this new tech means for Afro Gen Z artists and graphic creators.
C0NTR1BUT0RS W0rds
Ph0t0 & Art
Ahmad-Tijani Agbaje Nkechi Anyanwu Jeremiah Nnadi Kena Kamau Melony Akpoghene Ekele Jinanwa Benedict Quartey Nneka Zara Obi Jaynain Panchal Mustapha Enesi
Nana Kwadwo Tk Nana Asomani Marcel Johanssen Maxwell Dewunmi Friday Oba Nana Agyekum Hene Oppong Nana Kwame GT Prempeh Caleb Oheneba Brian Kivuti Olamide Rufai Bidemi Tata Gus Sarkodee Jpearl King Ayomikun Adekoya David Nnogo
Publ1sher’s_N0te Technology connects us just as much as it divides us. As citizens of the ever-expanding digital world, we stagger through many virtual identities, online communities, and internet subcultures on a daily. That’s both a blessing and a curse. As Gen Zs, who grew up with one foot in the ‘real world’ and the other firmly planted in the ‘digital world,’ we’ve lived through the dual extremes of technology. On the one hand, technology has helped create new kinds of jobs while disrupting old cultures. Not too long ago, if you told anyone, “I’m a TikToker”, in response to their question on your profession, they’d look at you like you were crazy. "What is a TikTok?" But thanks to such platforms, Gen Zs and other young people can now build thriving creative careers for themselves anywhere in the world with just a smartphone, an internet connection, and a bagful of conviction. But, on the other hand, technology has introduced new forms of violence with such alarming quickness. In recent years, we’ve confronted
a barrage of digital privacy rights infringements, online gender-based violence, and, even more recently, deepfakes and the many ways artificial intelligence threatens the very concept of truth. For Afro Gen Zs, technology has positioned itself as our saviour and doom in a very warped but poetic way. We taglined this issue 'WEB 3.Z' to emphasise how deeply integrated technology is with the lives and identities of Gen Zs. This issue is a call for better technologies that protect the rights and interests of younger generations. The cover stars for the issue are two members of the Kenga Silicon Class, a group of Afro Gen Zs who are building and inspiring the digital future of Africa. As a diverse class of technologists, creators, investors, and policymakers, they represent the hope of the continent. Just six months after our debut, we're beyond excited to unveil The Silicon Issue: a gift of love from The Kengang to you This issue is yours.
AR1NZE_0B1EZUE Publisher /enter_
Credit : Gus Sarkodee
Credit : Gus Sarkodee
Kenga:
Kennedy
cover inyerview
Ekezie in conversation with Arinze Obiezue
Building a $10m Tech Startup at 24.
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Kenga:
cover INTERVIEw
Kennedy joined our Zoom call looking exactly like what you’d imagine an Afro Gen Z tech CEO would: zen, chill, and stylish. He had his hair braided into neat drooping dreads, wore a looped silver earring on one ear, and had his grey polo shirt loosely buttoned, presenting an overall aesthetic that matched his very relaxed, yet strong, personality. As our conversation began, I thought about how most ‘African parents’ seeing Kennedy’s appearance on the screen would struggle to believe that he’s a highly accomplished debater, a Yenching Scholar at the prestigious Peking University, and the CEO of one of the fastest-growing technology startups in Africa. Wild s*#t, right? In this exclusive interview with Kenga, Kennedy shares the story of Kippa, his thriving tech startup, and his thoughts on how tech founders are changing African youth culture.
ARINZE: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
KENNEDY: I feel like, same with every other kid, that changed from time to time. But there were two things that I knew I loved and really wanted to be, deep down. One of them was a footballer. I wanted to play soccer, and become a soccer star. That dream lingered for quite a while. The second thing I wanted to be was a pastor. I think the similarities between both of those—footballer and pastor —is that they are people who I saw command a lot of influence. I saw how much love, respect, and admiration I had for all the football stars. I used to be a fan of Man United. I was indoctrinated very early because of my cousins. I used to watch the Nigerian Super Eagles a lot, and I wanted to do that. I wanted to be that respected. I wanted to be that competent. I wanted to be that good at what I did, so that people would love and respect me because of it. I think it was definitely the childish part of me that wanted that fame and success. For me, footballers and pastors were the most powerful examples of success I'd ever seen. Going to church, seeing pastors and watching them all over the TV being in charge and telling people what to do. Their authority was never questioned. I was like, if they can be that, I'm definitely going to be that. But yeah, anyways, I think, at some
point I just stopped dreaming about what I wanted to be. That happened when I was in senior secondary school when life started to get a lot more real. Do you think that version of you back then would be surprised by the path that you've taken now? I was actually talking to my mom recently about this. I don’t think young me would be surprised by where and who I am today at all. Because growing up, I knew, deep down, that I was special in many ways, but I did not know how to communicate that. Because you're only special in relation to something else, right? It's almost like you need funnels or channels to discover what that thing you’re special in is. For Ronaldo, he’s special because he's insanely good at football, right? For me, I didn't know what that was. I didn't have anything that I was spectacularly great at. In many ways, I still do not. I think, of course, that's changed from where I was, because I'm in a different place now. But the Kennedy of fifteen years ago would not be surprised at all by who I am now. I think he’ll probably just be surprised by the realisation that everything I wanted to do when I was young, being a glorious person who people know, love and respect, actually doesn’t mean very much.
How did growing up in Calabar shape your academic journey? So my mom just taught me at home until I was three. Then I started nursery one. So I think that’s where it really started. A lot of the things I have always known, I learnt from my mom. Even things as natural as words. My mom used to just read a lot; it was a hobby of hers. She's very smart, honestly. I think everyone would say that about their mom, but it's not true every time. With my mum though, it's so true. So I learnt a lot from her. I think that was the cradle for my educational journey moving forward. I was always the youngest person in my class and that endured until I went to grad school. But growing up in Calabar, in so many ways, shaped my education as an individual. I just don't think it's about formal or informal education, but growing up in a small town like Calabar, there are very few things competing for your attention. Your attention in very many ways can be controlled by your parents and your school. It's the exposure your parents
I don’t think young me would be surprised by where and who I am today at all