The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (https://BAL.NBA.com) today announced the lineup of artists and entertainers who will headline the entertainment at the BK Arena when the BAL Playoffs&Finals tips off on May 24 in Kigali, Rwanda. Nigerian global superstar Adekunle Gold will grace the stage alongside some of Rwanda’s hit makers including The Ben, Juno Kizigenza, Alyn Sano, Chris Eazy and more!

Fan Zone
The Fan Zone, situated at BK Arena parking lot, will be open to fans on game days from 2:00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. CAT and during weekends from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. CAT. 

The Fan Zone will offer a range of activities for both the young and adults, including 3-on-3 basketball games, food trucks, a photo booth, and music by DJ Loft and DJ Kim.

In-Arena Entertainment
The Playoffs&Finals fan in-arena experience will feature pre-game and halftime performances by music artists, dancers, drummers, and dunk teams.  Fans can expect some of the biggest Rwandan artists on stage and curated music experience from some of the city’s hottest such as DJ Sonia&Hottempah Collective and an international DJ, Fully Focus (Kenya).

Starting May 24, every game will showcase diverse performers catering to all age groups; Adekunle Gold, Juno Kizigenza, Alyn Sano&Chris Eazy will perform during the opening weekend.  Kivumbi King, Ariel Wayz&The Ben will close the Finals with halftime performances during the closing weekend May 31 – June 1, 2024.

Tickets are now on sale at BAL.NBA.com and TiCQet.com. Single game tickets start at 1600 RWF. Fans can save up to 20% on single ticket prices by purchasing a tournament pass to watch all games during the Playoffs and Finals. Fans who buy tickets will have free access to the BAL Fan Zone at BK Arena. Fans can save up to 35% off single ticket prices for group packages by emailing BalTickets@thebal.com.

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE:

DATE

PERFORMANCES

24 May

Opening Ceremony:

Game One Halftime: Juno Kizigenza
Game two Halftime: Adekunle Gold

Timeout: Dancers

25 May

Game One Halftime: Bwiza
Game Two Halftime: Kenny Sol
Timeout: Dancers

26 May

Game One Halftime: Alyn Sano
Game Two Halftime: Chris Eazy
Timeout: Dancers

27 May

Game One Halftime: Dancers
Game Two Halftime : Ish Kevin

29 May

Game One Halftime: Kivumbi King
Game Two Halftime: Kevin Kade

31 May

Game One Halftime: Ariel Wayz
Elevate Showcase: Dancers

1

June

Game One Halftime: The Ben

Closing Ceremony: Rwandan National Ballet&HipHop Crew
Timeout: Dancers

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).

Liquid Intelligent Technologies (https://www.Liquid.Tech), a pan-African technology group, announces a distribution partner agreement (DPA) with Eutelsat Group that will see enterprise-grade Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services being made available in Africa. Eutelsat Group is the world’s first satellite operator with an integrated GEO-LEO infrastructure.

“Liquid has always been committed to technological innovation in Africa,” said Ahmed El Beheiry, CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, “Our collaboration with Eutelsat signifies a milestone in bringing cutting-edge LEO services to our customers across multiple countries in Africa, empowering them with high-speed solutions and unlocking new possibilities for connectivity.”

“We are thrilled to work with Liquid to introduce new connectivity services throughout Africa. Liquid has a proven track record and a longstanding commitment to connect African businesses. Working together and leveraging Eutelsat Group’s innovative LEO services, we can unlock new opportunities for enterprises and communities. We look forward to the positive impacts we can have to help Liquid’s customers flourish, especially in the mining industry in Central Africa” said Philippe Baudrier, VP Connectivity, Africa.

The strategic integration of the OneWeb LEO satellite network allows Liquid Dataport to deliver not only low-latency satellite services but also introduces a network interconnect that enables services integration across the LEO satellite access and Liquid Dataport core network infrastructure.

The strategic integration of the OneWeb LEO satellites present a paradigm shift in satellite technology, offering lower latency, faster orbital periods, and higher bandwidth. On a continent where satellite technology is relatively new and limited in its reach, for Liquid Dataport’s customers, this translates to enhanced performance for applications like cloud computing, video conferencing, and real time applications, amongst others. Looking beyond these conventional offerings, Liquid Dataport’s LEO services, in partnership with Eutelsat, also include enterprise access with Internet breakout, including Point-to-Point services, providing a versatile and robust solution for diverse business needs.

Beyond the technical advantages, Liquid Dataport’s expanded reach will give its customers an even more streamlined experience, making it the preferred one-stop shop for a range of connectivity and other services.

As Eutelsat’s OneWeb’s network coverage continues to mature, Liquid Dataport is planning a systematic expansion of services, aligning with the evolving demand for low-latency primary and backup services in remote regions of the continent and benefiting a range of businesses across all industries. This strategic move anticipates the expected surge in new LEO satellite constellations over the next three years, providing agile and cost-effective solutions for entering and expanding markets.

For Liquid Intelligent Technologies, the collaboration with Eutelsat is about more than just services; it’s about launching opportunities for businesses and communities in Africa that extend beyond connectivity, fostering progress and innovation across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.

About Liquid Intelligent Technologies:
Liquid Intelligent Technologies is a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group with operations in over 25 countries in Africa. Liquid has firmly established itself as the leading provider of pan-African digital infrastructure with a 110,000 km-long fibre broadband network and satellite connectivity that provides high-speed access to the Internet anywhere in Africa. Liquid is also leveraging its digital network to provide Cloud and Cyber Security solutions through strategic partnerships with leading global players. Liquid is a comprehensive technology solutions group that provides customised digital solutions to public and private sector enterprises and SMEs across the continent. For more information, visit https://www.Liquid.Tech/.

The expansion will help meet the demand for digital infrastructure as data consumption rapidly outstrips supply in Africa.

PAIX Data Centres, a leading provider of data center solutions, today announced the expansion of its facility in Accra to 1.2 MW, in a critical boost to the digital economy that will also spur job creation.

The data centre, now one of the largest in Ghana, will help internet service providers (ISPs), cloud providers, and enterprises take full advantage of robust digital infrastructure and improved connectivity, to create online businesses such as e-commerce that will thrive in the digital era.

The expansion comes at a pivotal time as the demand for reliable and scalable data centers in Africa is expected to exceed supply by 300% over the next two years. The current installed capacity of 250 MW will need to be significantly increased to 1,200 MW by 2030 to meet the rapidly increasing demand for data, with consumption expected to rise by 40% each year until 2025, according to industry estimates.

The upgraded facility boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure and robust security measures, ensuring optimal performance and reliability for mission-critical applications and services. The data center also features advanced cooling and waste management systems, and the increased integration of renewable energy as a power source, to improve environmental impact.

The strategic location in Accra offers low latency connectivity to all major regional and international network routes and subsea cables, further enhancing the overall efficiency and performance of its services.

PAIX Data Centres acquired its first facility in Accra in 2018 and constructed its second data center in Kenya in 2020. Further locations are under development. The company’s mission is to drive digital transformation and foster innovation across Africa, providing world-class data centre solutions that enable businesses to thrive in a digital age.

Africa50, a pioneering infrastructure investor and asset manager, backed by African and global capital, committed $20 million in equity investment to PAIX Data Centres in 2022 to support the company’s expansion into new markets and the upgrade of current facilities.

QUOTES

Bright Tawiah, Managing Director, PAIX Data Centres, Ghana, said: “This expansion reaffirms our dedication to providing best-in-class data center solutions to our customers in Accra and beyond. As one of Africa’s digital economy hotspots, Accra plays a vital role in driving innovation and growth across various industries. We are proud to be at the forefront of this transformation, enabling businesses to thrive in today’s increasingly connected world”.

Alexander Sulzberger, Co-Founder&CTO, Ecoband Networks says: “Ecoband Networks has been one of PAIX’s longest-standing customers, utilizing the RackAfrica datacenter in Accra since its inception in 2013. We have been extremely pleased with the continuous expansion and upgrade plans spearheaded by the PAIX management, ensuring the delivery of world-class data center services with zero downtime. This reliability provides Ecoband and our international carrier partners hosted in Accra with a solid foundation for our ISP operations.”
 
Gregory Eid, CEO of Teledata ICT says: “At Teledata ICT, we are thrilled to see PAIX Data Centres expanding their capacity in Accra. This significant enhancement not only supports our mission to deliver reliable and high-speed internet services but also reinforces our commitment to fostering digital growth in Ghana. The increased capacity and advanced infrastructure provided by PAIX will enable us to better serve our customers, drive innovation, and contribute to the overall digital transformation of the region.”
 
Gershon Dzandu, General Manager, at FTSToday says: “PAIX is at the heart of the colocation industry in Ghana, strategically located in the centre of Accra with expanded state of the art facilities that guarantee safety, security and unparalleled uptime. They are a dream come true for start-ups like FTSToday as they host major international providers in their Accra Facility. They have been an integral part of our growth and continued success and we are very confident that PAIX will continue being the backbone of our drive to provide future-proof ICT and telecommunication solutions geared towards positive Business Growth and value creation for our esteemed customers.”

Wouter van Hulten PAIX Data Centres CEO says: “PAIX’s investment in our ACC-1 data centre positions it as the leading network hub that is created by the aggregation of multiple undersea cable landing points connecting to terrestrial cables, and this makes Accra a highly attractive gateway to West Africa. We are working closely with our connectivity, CDN, social media, and cloud customers seeking to serve this emerging market. We are developing thriving magnetic cloud and content hubs in Accra.”
 

For more information about PAIX Data Centres and its services, visit www.PAIX.io.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of PAIX Data Centres.

MEDIA CONTACT:
For media inquiries, please contact:
info@paix.io
Bright Asiamah Tawiah
PAIX Data Centres
Country Managing Director Ghana
Email: bright.tawiah@paix.co
Phone: +233 277550078

BOILER PLATE
About PAIX Data Centres:
PAIX Data Centres is a leading provider of data centre solutions, offering state-of-the-art facilities and services to meet the evolving needs of businesses across Africa. With a focus on reliability, carrier neutrality, scalability, and security, PAIX Data Centres enables organizations to harness the power of technology and drive digital transformation. From ISPs and cloud providers to financial institutions and enterprises, PAIX Data Centres delivers innovative solutions that fuel growth and success in today’s digital economy to businesses of all sizes.

At this month’s SoCreative Summit 2024, the British Council (www.BritishCouncil.org) launched its hotly anticipated new eLearning platform, SoCreative; a series of free online courses designed to help aspiring African entrepreneurs grow sustainable creative businesses, supporting them in their journeys.

The fifth edition of the annual, highly-popular SoCreative Summit, hosted by British Council and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) in partnership with PACE, took place at the vibrant Victoria Yards venue in Johannesburg. Dubbed a ‘gift’ to the creative industries given that there is no charge, the Summit was attended by cultural makers, artists, fashion designers and anyone deserving of the title ‘creative’ – both in-person and virtually, serving as a platform to nurture innovation and promote the growth and vitality of Africa’s creative economy.

The launch of the SoCreative eLearning platform coincides with the culmination of the SoCreative Summit annual series. Explains Farai Bayai Ncube, Regional Arts Director Sub-Saharan Africa: British Council: “This final summit’s theme, ‘Emergence’, embodies the complete dedication, creativity, and vision of our delegates and partners who have contributed to its success over the past five years.

“By this same token, the emergence of our SoCreative eLearning programme will serve in its legacy, and like the summit itself, is free to those who wish to gain knowledge.”

Ncube says that the SoCreative eLearning programme was developed by academic practitioners within Africa and the United Kingdom’s creative economies, and aims to fill the creative knowledge business gaps that exist in the ecosystem. “The challenges facing creative entrepreneurs have been revealed in previous summits and multiple conversations with our programme stakeholders, and so we have developed the platform in an attempt to address these shortfalls through fostering an ecosystem in which young entrepreneurs can thrive.”

The SoCreative eLearning platform is aimed at early-stage entrepreneurs who want to turn their creative pursuits into sustainable, fulfilling business endeavours. The free, self-paced courses are designed to guide users through the entire process; from learning about Africa’s creative industry to finding the right market for their ideas, distinguishing their businesses, finding investors, business management skills and more. The courses include: Launching your Creative Enterprise, Growing your Creative Enterprise, Social Impact through Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy Policy.

Upon completing the programme, participants receive a certificate of achievement, which makes them eligible to apply for ongoing support through mentoring, coaching, incubation and acceleration creative economy programmes via the British Council’s network within participating countries.

Says Skinder Hundal, Global Arts Director: British Council: “While this may be the final summit in this format, we will continue to create platforms that enable young people to lead innovation, to become visionaries and to shape their futures. The impact of this investment and collaboration will inspire future global leaders, making a positive impact in Africa and the world in the years to come.”

Register for the SoCreative courses here: https://apo-opa.co/3wITzuA

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of British Council.

Issued by:
MSL

Media queries:
Roxanne Manning
roxanne@rvmcommunications.co.za
+27 76 826 8333

About the British Council:
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. In 2019-2020 we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive a 14.5 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. www.BritishCouncil.org