Unveiling the Tapestry of African Sports

Dear Silverbacks Community,?

As we delve into the heart of African sports, I'm thrilled to share the latest highlights and insights from Silverbacks Valley. Our mission to make the future of sports more evenly distributed is gaining momentum, and we're just getting started.

Nelson Mandela's profound words, "Sports have the power to change the world," resonate deeply with us. Let Silverbacks Valley be your guide into the beating heart of the continent's sports scene. Within this immersive journey, we skillfully intertwine the stories of legendary athletes and visionary minds, individuals whose indomitable spirit has left an everlasting imprint on the rich landscape of African sports.

Investing in the Future: The Cape Town Tigers Chronicles

Our investment in The Cape Town Tigers marks the beginning of exciting opportunities contributing to value generation through sports in Africa. Hear from the four founding members, Chante Butler , Dia Martin, CFA , Raphael Edwards , and William “BJ” McFarlan, as they share profound insights at the intersection of sports, business, social media, and merchandising. Beyond being a basketball entity, the team is shaping sports into a thriving industry with economic and cultural significance for Africa. The Cape Town Tigers are not just excelling in basketball but are also championing progress and well-being for the entire African continent through the transformative power of sports.

Watch the episode on How to Build a Sports Franchise in Africa with The Cape Town Tigers.

The Power of Sports Business Ownership

Paxton Baker is a mentor and legend. He is a leading business owner of various US sports teams and one of the few African Americans serving as Chairman of a US baseball team, the Washington Nationals Baseball club. He is also a partner in the ownership group of the Washington Kastles World Team Tennis League and a governing board member of the Global Sports Summit. He reflects on the power of sports investments as an asset class and the remarkable evolution of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and its swift elevation into a top-tier experience. A seasoned investor in US-based teams in NFL, soccer, tennis, and rugby, he divulges his enthusiasm to see the NBA expand in Africa and his excitement to join the Cape Town Tigers as an investor. Listen to his episode to learn how the media plays a crucial role in allowing African talent to be detected early.

Watch the episode on How to Build a Winning Sports Franchise with Paxton Baker.

?

Recognizing African Talent: A Shift in Global Leagues

We explore the recognition of Africa's human capital by global leagues, such as the NBA, with African sports pioneer Amadou Gallo Fall, also known as the Godfather of African Basketball. He is one of my favorite persons in the globe and also a country mate. I have him seen start this journey almost couple decades ago. One word can describe the man … “Persistence”. Catch our chat with Amadou, during which he sheds light on the transformative power of sports as major leagues invest in local operations and initiatives. He points to the economic benefits arising for local governments and the opportunities for the youth.

Watch the episode on How the NBA Built its African Vision with Amadou Gallo Fall.

?

Transformative Influence and Ownership: Osi Umenyiora's Perspective

In a compelling episode, Osi Umenyiora , a 2-time Super Bowl champion and former NY Giants player, shares his invaluable thoughts on the transformative influence of ownership stakes in African teams. The work conducted by NFL in Africa and the Uprise program he launched are already bearing fruits as many dozens of young Africans are already leaving these programs to head to NFL teams or US colleges, thus opening new wealth creation avenues for their families back home Join us in exploring limitless possibilities for growth and development in African sports.?

Watch the episode on Growing the NFL in Africa with Osi Umenyiora.

Global Sports Summit Highlights: Panel Discussion with Pioneers

Take advantage of the insightful panel discussion featuring Paxton Baker, Amadou Gallo Fall, and Osi Umenyiora, who are united for a compelling conversation at the Global Sports Summit. Tune in for a wealth of knowledge shared by these African sports trailblazers.

In the conversation, Osi Umenyiora highlights how the US leagues openly acknowledge the exceptional talent residing in Africa, signaling a profound shift as they invest in local operations and initiatives. Their commitment extends beyond mere acknowledgment; both the NFL and NBA are actively fostering the growth of their sports at both grassroots and professional levels on the African continent.

Amadou Gallo Fall mentions that the BAL is broadcasted in 215 countries and counts media partners such as ESPN, Canal+, BeinSports, and Tencent. He emphasizes how the media industry’s technological innovation has made it possible for sports competitions to be broadcast around the world.

Paxton Baker highlights how the BAL has swiftly elevated into a top-tier experience for players, coaching staff, and stakeholders. Upon joining the Cape Town Tigers' investors group, Baker fielded interest from prominent figures in the American entertainment industry and is excited about the future of sports business on the continent.

Watch the episode on Shaping Africa's Sports Industry with Amadou Gallo Fall, Osi Umenyiora and Paxton Baker.

?

Sports as a Catalyst for Nation-Building: Gbemisola Abudu's Vision

Gbemisola Abudu , Vice President and Country Head of NBA in Nigeria see expanding the reach of basketball as a national duty, emphasizing its role as a tool for nation-building. She envisions utilizing basketball programs to shape the next generation of leaders, drawing inspiration from the Basketball Africa League (BAL) transformation. Abudu believes that, given time, more African governments will recognize sports as a catalyst for development, nation-building, and economic growth.

Watch the episode on How Nigeria & its Diaspora will take the NBA to its next level with Gbemisola Abudu.

?

Untold Economic Story of African Sports: A Conversation with Victor Williams and others

At the 2023 AVCA summit, Silverbacks Valley moderated an eye-opening conversation on the untold economic story of African sports with Victor Williams , former CEO of NBA Africa, Laureen Kouassi-Olsson (CEO, Birimian Ventures) and Lethabo Sithole (Partner, Impact fund for African Creatives). In this enlightening discussion, Williams draws parallels between the pivotal role of sports in driving industries, content creation, and media rights in the US and Europe. He envisions a transformative path for African sports. Tune in to the panel discussion on the historical oversight of sports' economic potential in Africa and the transformative path it presents for the continent.

Watch the insightful episode on Investing in Africa's creative economy with Victor Williams, Laureen Kouassi-Olsson, and Lethabo Sithole.

?

Journey into the Business of Sports with Sandrine Nzeukou

Explore the domain of sports business with Sandrine Nzeukou, MBA , founder of Tessa, a pioneering Africa-first sports business platform. Hear her captivating narrative as she transitions from the locker room to the boardroom. She also eloquently highlights the importance of investing in sports teams. She recently launched a sports media platform called Playbook, and we invite you to check it out.

Watch the episode on Why sports ownership matters for Africa with Sandrine Nzeukou.

?

Sport is a fast-growing sector in Africa. According to PwC, the continental sports sector was worth an estimated USD 7 billion in 2018, which should cross USD 12 billion by 2027. As the global spotlight increasingly shifts toward the vast potential of sports, it is imperative for a growing number of Africans to discern the abundant opportunities for value investing within the sports arena, teams, academies, agencies, and more. Stay informed and engaged with Silverbacks Valley's podcast as we continue to deliver insightful discussions and keep you updated on the latest developments in the dynamic world of sports investment. And get ready to enjoy in a few days the long awaited Africa Cup of Nations 2023. We promise some nice surprises on the soccer front for the upcoming season ??

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Spotify to be a part of the conversation that celebrates the dynamic spirit of Africa in sports, tech & media, entertainment, and fashion.

#WeOnlyGettingStarted

?

?

?

?