African Digital Art Network, a global network of Black digital artists, launches Nandi, a NFT marketplace.
The platform is intended to allow Black creators and artists to show their talent, and to provide an opportunity for them to experience the financial benefits that Web3 offers across the African diaspora.
African Digital Art Network (AfricaNXT) announced the platform at the AfricaNXT conference in Lagos. Chinedu Enekwe, also an entrepreneur, co-founded the Nandi NFT Marketplace. African Digital Art Network co-founder. The Nandi Marketplace is named in honor of Queen Nandi (the mother of Shaka), the legendary king of the Zulus.
Enekwe says Decrypt The idea for the Nandi Marketplace was born out of a conversation he had with JepchumbaCo-founder of the African Digital Art Network, Enekwe said Jepchumba was initially hesitant about getting involved with NFTs because no one had approached her to offer a true focus on community.
Enekwe is a Howard University School of Law alumnus with a bachelor’s of engineering from Maryland. He said: “I explained how I envision launching an NFT marketplace and creating an ecosystem. This ecosystem would include a studio for creators, which has the ability to fundraise. It’s a way to get creators and brands paid.
NFTs (or non-fungible tokens) are created on a blockchain to prove ownership of a digital data file. African artists love OsinachiThese people have discovered innovative ways to thrive in this medium. Osinachi used Microsoft Word for art creation. An Osinachi collection called “Different Watercolors” sold for more that $200,000 at Christie’s London
Black artists and creators have a long history of not being able to capitalize on their work—many were forced into unfair contracts or unwittingly signed away their IP rights. Russell Simmons, co-founder of Def Jam, launched Masterminds of Hip Hop, a series of NFTs to compensate artists. He stated that it was time for “respect for the founding fathers of Hip Hop” and called it Masterminds of Hip Hop.
The African Digital Art Network also launched the NFT marketplace. They also introduced the Nandi Cowry Community, which Enekwe described as a global network of cultural leaders and tastemakers. Johannesburg-based artist designed this collection of 10,000 NFTs. Sindiso “R!OT” Nyoni, minted on Celo proof-of-stake blockchainThe community will be able to join by signing up for the following: Enekwe says the NFTs will have three membership levels—the lowest tier will be Tribe, then Chief, then Founding. Each tier will have a price range of $25 to $10,000 with the Celo stablecoin CUSD.
Enekwe explained that the Celo blockchain can be used when there is a commitment not to be carbon-negative or carbon neutral. The Nandi NFT Marketplace will add the blockchain to Ethereum once it has reached proof-of-stake.
He says, “There are so many Black people who have suffered environmental injustice that it just doesn’t sit right with us to add to their degradation.”
Enekwe says that while a marketplace is a good place to start, it’s not the solution. What is the solution is having opportunities through our studio to work through us with brands and other creators—being able to highlight the best Black creators.”
Source: Decrypt
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