Google celebrates Alté with a residency program for African creatives
With the launch of a residency program for alternative African creatives this past week, global tech giant Google further solidified its position as a convenor for the continent’s creative digital economy.
The innovative incubator program, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, brought the top creatives from Ghana, Botswana, and Nigeria to South Africa for a two-day boot camp.
The first cohort of the residency received training in cutting-edge marketing, communications, and brand building techniques. They were selected from among 25 top creatives who are successfully managing their enterprises and prospering within Africa’s creative ecosystem.
Tshepo Mohlala, the creator of the denim company Tshepo the Jean Maker, also gave career speeches to the young creative entrepreneurs at the boot camp about how to expand and monetize their brands.
The goal of Google’s Alté residency program is to train these creatives and give them a platform from which to share their cultural experiences with the rest of the globe.
“It’s fantastic to see non-mainstream creators connect with fans on our platform. This comes just after we released an application call for the YouTube Black Voices Fund for 2023, which seeks to elevate underrepresented voices, said Sharon Machira, Google Kenya’s manager of communication and public affairs, during the presentation.
The Internet has provided a priceless opportunity for musicians, artists, filmmakers, and other creatives.
