The NXT Honors Voting Committee is a distinguished panel of 30 respected industry voices spanning film, music, media, culture, and beyond. Each member brings a wealth of experience, perspective, and influence from across the African creative landscape, ensuring that every nomination and selection reflects both excellence and authenticity.
Handpicked for their proven impact and credibility, the committee represents a rich blend of trailblazers, innovators, and cultural custodians who continue to shape the continent’s creative evolution. Together, they serve as the backbone of the NXT Honors process, evaluating nominees across multiple categories with integrity, fairness, and a shared commitment to spotlighting the very best of African talent.
Through their collective insight, the Voting Committee ensures that every honoree isn’t just celebrated for popularity, but for genuine contribution, creativity, and cultural relevance, reinforcing NXT Honors’ mission to recognize those defining the now and inspiring the next.
CHAIRMAN
OBI ASIKA
NIGERIA
Obi Asika is nothing short of a titan in Africa’s creative, cultural, and public service arenas. As the current Director-General of Nigeria’s National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), appointed by President Bola Tinubu, he commands a vast legacy spanning music, media, and national cultural development.
With his visionary leadership and unparalleled contributions to Africa’s creative ecosystem, Obi Asika is the natural choice to oversee the most selective honor roll in Africa. His commitment to integrity and excellence, combined with his ability to elevate African narratives on both local and global platforms, brings legendary gravitas and trust to the Voting Committee for NXT Honors.
MEMBER
AKINYEMI AYINOLUWA
NIGERIA
Akinyemi Ayinoluwa is an entertainment and IP lawyer who advises labels, artists, producers, studios, and tech platforms on dealmaking across Africa’s creative economy. As a partner at HighTower Solicitors & Advocates, he negotiates recording, publishing, distribution, and brand endorsement agreements and structures rights management frameworks for catalog monetization.
He is also a sector educator and policy voice, simplifying complex issues like neighboring rights, metadata, split sheets, and collective management for creators. His practice bridges artistic intent with business discipline, helping clients scale responsibly and protect long-term value.
MEMBER
ALEXON AUDAX
UGANDA
Alexon Audax is an East African director and cinematographer behind EliteShootersug, working across Tanzania and Uganda. His music videos and commercials are known for crisp lensing, dynamic blocking, and a strong sense of location, using the region’s landscapes and urban textures as narrative tools.
He is also an award-winning actor, and acting coach, renowned for his significant contributions to the film and television industry in the East African region. He is the visionary founder of The Artistry360, a premier acting academy and casting agency that has trained over 300 individuals.
MEMBER
AMANDA UZOAGBA
NIGERIA
Amanda Nneoma Uzoagba is an entertainment lawyer and rights executive who serves as Head of Licensing, West Africa, at Mdundo. She leads negotiations with labels, publishers, and rights societies, operationalizing compliant content acquisition and retention across Nigeria and Ghana. Her background spans legal advisory for creators and founders, authorship, and conference speaking on music business. She focuses on equitable contracts, pragmatic enforcement, and scalable processes that balance creator remuneration with platform growth.
MEMBER
AMAZING KLEF
NIGERIA
Amazing Klef is a Nigerian photographer, director, and creative entrepreneur whose portraiture and brand campaigns have shaped contemporary visual culture in Nigerian music, entertainment and fashion.
As founder of AKtivated, he developed a recognizable look defined by bold lighting, confident color, creativity, and artist-centric storytelling. His studio practice extends into content IP, events, and brand collaborations, translating artist narratives into compelling visuals for album cycles and product launches. He is widely regarded for mentoring young image-makers and pushing standards in the ecosystem.
MEMBER
AZEEZAH HASHIM
KENYA
Azeezah Hashim is a young, celebrated multi-award winning media personality from Kenya. She is a multi-faceted Queen hence dubbed ‘The Media Messiah’ by her fans. She is the host of the most watched TV entertainment show in East Africa, 10over10 on Citizen TV, A radio host on Hot96, the most sought after Kenyan Corporate and events MC, Voice over artist and DJ.
Having over 8 years experience in tech, having worked with the second largest mobile phone brand globally, Xiaomi (the third largest mobile phone brand globally), she is currently their official spokesperson in Kenya.
MEMBER
DAMI ELEBE
NIGERIA
Dami Elebe is a Nigerian writer, showrunner, and director associated with some of Nollywood’s most beloved web and TV series. Her credits include writers’ room leadership and showrunning on breakout titles that defined the streaming and YouTube era for Nigerian audiences. Elebe’s work centers on character-driven comedy-drama, sharp dialogue, and contemporary Lagos life. She builds inclusive rooms, nurtures new writers, and prioritizes audience feedback loops from development through release.
MEMBER
DEMOLA ADEDOYIN
NIGERIA
Demola Adedoyin is a Nigerian actor and producer best known for standout turns in prestige and blockbuster features, including roles that showcase range across drama and thriller. Trained in film and media, he brings an exacting craft to character study and on-set collaboration.
He also develops content, supports festival and academy initiatives, and advocates for training that raises performance standards in Nollywood. Adedoyin is committed to stories that pair commercial appeal with social texture.
MEMBER
DIRECTOR CHRISS
TANZANIA
Director Chriss is a Tanzanian filmmaker and music video director active in the Bongo Flava and Afro-pop scenes. His reels reflect a hybrid of performance-forward direction, inventive VFX, and editorial rhythm calibrated for short‑form virality and broadcast rotation.
Working closely with artists, he emphasizes visual identity, choreography, and location design to make songs travel beyond their primary markets. His production approach is nimble, collaborative, and attuned to platform aesthetics.
MEMBER
DOWE BIYERE
NIGERIA
Dowe Biyere is a West African music executive and A&R who joined The Orchard as Label Manager, West Africa, after a career developing talent within labels and distribution. He previously worked in A&R capacities at notable Nigerian music companies, shaping rosters and releases.
At The Orchard, he manages label partnerships, release strategy, and catalog growth across the sub-region, bridging market knowledge, streaming platform relationships, and artist development to scale independent music.
MEMBER
ESSE AKWAWA
NIGERIA
Esse Akwawa is a Nigerian media executive, producer, and director, and the CEO/co-founder of WEBEK Studios. She previously led production at Accelerate Studios, overseeing a slate of original films, series, and documentaries that raised the bar for corporate-backed storytelling. Her work spans development, production management, and international partnerships, with a focus on amplifying African narratives for global distribution. Akwawa mentors emerging producers and builds pipelines that pair creative ambition with operational rigor.
MEMBER
EZEGOZIE EZE JR.
NIGERIA
Ezegozie Eze Jr. is a Nigerian music executive whose leadership helped global majors establish meaningful operations in West Africa. He’s currently the VP, Strategy and Market Development of Empire. As the inaugural General Manager of Universal Music Nigeria, he led market entry, local A&R strategy and marquee signings partnerships.
Beyond majors, Eze has advised startups and artist-led ventures on distribution, marketing and cross-border growth. He is regarded as a connector who translates global standards into locally resonant strategies.
MEMBER
FRIDAOUSSE IFFABI
BENIN
Fridaousse Iffabi is a Beninese media and culture professional engaged in cross‑border creative projects and talent development. His work spans content operations and partnerships that link Francophone West Africa with Anglophone markets.
He is focused on building sustainable opportunities for young creators, with particular interest in training, rights literacy, and encouraging participation in the creative economy.
MEMBER
GIVEN ZULU
SOUTH AFRICA
Given Zulu is a South African music producer, composer and broadcast audio engineer operating under the banner ‘Premium African Music.’ His catalog includes production for emerging and established acts, fusing classic sensibilities with contemporary sonics.
Zulu’s studio practice extends to scoring and sound design for visual media. He champions meticulous audio standards, efficient session workflows, and mentorship for up‑and‑coming engineers.
MEMBER
HUMPHREY NABIMANYA
UGANDA
Humphrey Nabimanya is a Ugandan social entrepreneur and media producer, best known as the founder and CEO of Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU). Through film, campaigns, and festivals, RAHU delivers sexual and reproductive health education and youth empowerment at scale.
Nabimanya builds partnerships with broadcasters, brands, and development agencies, turning cause‑driven content into measurable social impact. He continues to incubate young storytellers and leverage media as a tool for public health.
MEMBER
JIDE SIPE
NIGERIA
Jide Sipe is a Nigerian marketing leader who has led communications and brand transformation for major financial institutions, including GTBank, Ecobank Nigeria and the Bank of Industry. His work blends storytelling with performance marketing to position brands for digital adoption and Pan‑African trade.
An active industry educator and conference speaker, Jide advises on brand architecture, sponsorship strategy, and experiential platforms. He has helped teams modernize content, elevate design systems and drive measurable customer engagement.
MEMBER
JOEL WILLIAMS
CÔTE D’IVOIRE
Joël Williams is an Ivorian entrepreneur and media figure known for his multifaceted involvement across media, hospitality, and social initiatives in Côte d’Ivoire. He currently serves as the Creative and Publishing Director for Mile Magazine, while also holding ownership of the hospitality venue Cavally Lounge in Abidjan.
Furthermore, he demonstrates a commitment to social causes as the President of the Fondation Samuel Williams and is listed as an Associate of the Mother Africa Festival.
MEMBER
JUDE ARTHUR
GHANA
Jude Arthur is a Ghanaian sports and entertainment mogul and also the founder & CEO of Propeller Sports Group. He leads innovative projects at the intersection of athletics, media, and culture, positioning sports as both a commercial force and a platform for youth empowerment. Through Propeller Sports, Arthur drives talent development, brand partnerships, and cross-border collaborations that amplify African sports and entertainment on the global stage.
MEMBER
KASSIM DANGOTE
TANZANIA
Kassim Dangote is a Tanzanian Artist Manager. He creative executive engaged in the country’s vibrant music and digital content scenes. He collaborates with artists and labels on release rollouts and audiovisual storytelling.
He is known for hands‑on artist support, organizing shows and events from visual mood boards to platform strategy, and for building bridges between Tanzania’s home market and the wider East African ecosystem.’
MEMBER
KWAMINA QUANSAH
GHANA
Kwamina Quansah is a visionary creative architect and the CEO of Q Bespoke Africa (@qafrica.co), where he crafts compelling narratives and immersive brand experiences for Africa’s most coveted brands.
With over a decade of expertise in the creative and marketing industry, he has developed brand strategies, design and experiential campaigns for more than 50 leading local and global brands, including YouTube, Diageo brands, MoetHennessy, Martell amongst others.
MEMBER
LIONEL TALON
BENIN
Lionel Talon is a Beninese entrepreneurial force, and the founder of the EYA Centre in Cotonou, an arts and community hub with studios, training spaces, and programming for creatives. The center has hosted international collaborations and high‑profile cultural visits that showcase Benin’s creative renaissance. Talon’s work sits at the nexus of culture, tourism, and youth development. He invests in infrastructure and experiences that position Benin as a destination for creation and exchange.
MEMBER
MAMODIBE RAMODIBE
SOUTH AFRICA
Mamodibe Ramodibe is a film and television actress who has offered a range of substantial and intriguingly diverse roles. Some of her appearances in leading and support roles include the SAFTA Award-winning MTV Shuga Down South S2, BET’s Black Tax and a few of MNet’s Mzansi Magic films.
Mamodibe made her Netflix debut in February 2024, starring in a South African Netflix Original, ‘A Soweto Love Story. This debut has been followed by the hit series GO! and Unseen S2. She has been in the Television industry since she was 16, first gaining prominence as a presenter for SABC’s YOTV.
MEMBER
BETTY ‘MISS’ KITHINJI
KENYA
Betty ‘Miss’ Kithinji is a Kenyan communications and culture professional working across media, talent, and brand partnerships.
She curates youth-facing initiatives that blend music, fashion, lifestyle, and digital conversations. Her focus is on community building and creator enablement, linking emerging voices to opportunities with broadcasters, platforms, and consumer brands
MEMBER
NOEL MANGOMA
TANZANIA
Noel Mangoma (often known as simply Mangoma) is a prominent Tanzanian music executive, artist manager, and business consultant who plays a critical role in positioning East African artists on the global stage.
By devising comprehensive career strategies, forging crucial strategic alliances, and creating international partnerships, he is actively expanding the reach of East African artistry, successfully positioning regional projects on the global stage
MEMBER
OMOWALE OZOLUA
NIGERIA
Omowale “Wale” Ozolua is a Nigerian music executive serving as Manager, Content Operations & Artiste Services at Audiomack Africa. He drives creator education, platform programming, and artist support that help catalog travel across the continent. Through workshops, university talks, and partner activations, he demystifies streaming-era best practices, metadata discipline, release calendars, and fan-building while advocating for sustainable creator incomes.
MEMBER
SHEM NYAKUNDI
KENYA
Shem Nyakundi is a Kenyan business and media professional involved in community and county‑level initiatives alongside creative industry interests. His work spans entrepreneurship, public engagement, and youth development. He is passionate about mobilizing local talent and linking them to opportunities in production, events, and digital storytelling.
MEMBER
STANLEY KHOZA
SOUTH AFRICA
Stanley Khoza is a prominent South African music executive and entrepreneur renowned for his significant contributions to the country’s entertainment industry. He is the founder and Vision Leader of Showthemflames Productions, an independent record label recognized among South Africa’s top 10.
With over two decades of experience, Khoza has played a pivotal role in developing artists and entertainment companies across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. His company collaborates with recording artists, producers, and songwriters, aiming to elevate South African music both locally and internationally.
MEMBER
THOTLOETSO MOGOTSI
SOUTH AFRICA
Thotloetso Kutlwano Mogotsi is a contemporary visionary and creative entrepreneur based in Gauteng, South Africa. He is known for his work as a photo and film creator, as well as a Setswana sartorialist, blending traditional cultural elements with modern aesthetics.
His creative expressions often draw inspiration from global fashion icons and cultural movements, reflecting a deep appreciation for heritage and innovation. Through his multifaceted talents, Mogotsi continues to shape and influence contemporary African culture, merging traditional influences with modern creative expressions.
As NXT HONORS continues to celebrate Africa’s most influential voices and groundbreaking talents, the role of the Voting Committee remains vital, ensuring that every decision reflects integrity, representation, and the spirit of true excellence.
Together, they uphold the standard that makes NXT Honors a movement that honors those redefining the culture and inspiring the future.
