Molehi Molekoa, a leading reputation manager, presented a compelling argument at NECLive 2025 that the foundation of creative infrastructure is not physical, but narrative. Speaking on the panel, Molekoa challenged the audience to recognize that external investment is contingent on the story Africa tells about itself.
“Before you have this infrastructure that we’re talking about, it starts with a story,” Molekoa asserted. He explained that investors and policymakers “really buy into a narrative,” making the collective African story the essential pre-condition for attracting the capital needed to build world-class studios and distribution systems.
Molekoa criticized the current situation where African content creators are prolific, but the platforms and data used to share their stories are often externally owned. He called for a strategic shift: “We need to start making sure that we own our platform… so that we can be able to then attract the investment because it’s based on this is what Africa is all about, not somebody else determining what that is.”
Beyond the business narrative, Molekoa also addressed the issue of lifestyle management and mental health, urging creatives to focus on long-term legacy over instant gratification. She stressed the responsibility of industry influencers to be positive role models, ensuring their behavior does not pass on unhealthy habits to the next generation of creatives.
