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New Innovation Trumpets Africa’s Growing Interest in Metaverse
Africa’s first and only Metaverse venue, SodaWorld is a technology platform developed to serve as an entertainment emporium in the Metaverse- a resource through which artists can create new virtual worlds, customise fan engagement, as well as create and sell NFT and merchandise.
SodaWorld was founded by long-time technology and creative industry innovator Mic Balkind during lockdown in 2020. It recently secured investment by Switzerland-based CV VC and was selected as one of just two projects to be featured as a Special Project at the Venice Biennale, Venice VR programme, as part of the Venice Immersive 2022 event.
SodaWorld streams live from its SodaStudio in downtown Johannesburg. SodaStudio is an offline-to-Metaverse high-tech studio that serves as a connection point between creators and the Metaverse.
Balkind, CEO of SodaWorld, has worked within the technology and creative industries for over 20 years.
SodaWorld describes Balkind as “a fore-runner in the broadcast and entertainment industry” and the creator and owner of digital nightlife website JHBLive, an online community of over 120,000 active participants.
The project involves two phases. The first – and current phase – is centred around the construction of basic metaverse functionality, which includes the near-automated production SodaStudio to enable high-quality real time broadcast to the Metaverse.
“We are broadcasting to our Virtual Reality digital twin of the studio in VRCHAT. But in between is where things are interesting. We are busy developing a social layer that will interact between the real world and the virtual.
“Music and especially live performers represent the ability to filter through culture. If there is a band that you really like it is highly likely that if you go to their live performance you will meet like-minded people,” said Balkind.
“Our focus is on how to facilitate interaction between the fans be it in the real world, in VR or online. The social layer is a key to us. We have hacked together a version of this in the studio where we have been practicing what it is like for an artist to feel the people from the outside world in the studio. Phase one has been around experimentation and implementation of our blueprints.”
Phase two is a stand-alone tech stack that will represent the ability for artists and cultural institutions to create virtual worlds and the ability to perform inside of them.
“The system will also include the ability for artists to create tokenomics and for fans to get behind artists’ projects by owning a slice of the initiatives proposed to SodaWorld community persons,” developers added.
SodaWorld said at the moment, artists can submit their band for review.
“We are going to select around up to thirty artists where we partner with them to launch a Metaverse strategy. We will enable the artist to build an audience and perform to them on a regular basis. Also the tools and expertise to develop digital assets and tokenomics,” the platform stated.
According to Balkind, SodaWorld performs the role of a new-world agency that partners with the artist. “Our model is to split proceeds with the artists from projects undertaken in our partnership. It is a sliding scale so the first year where we share 50% and then it slides down to 15%. By year four we take our standard fee of 15% ongoing for the duration of the relationship.Our aim is to raise significantly more investment and to build our tech stack and launch it as a stand-alone offering.”
Olaf Hannemann, Chief Investment Officer and Co-Founder of CV VC said: “CV VC is a blockchain tech early-stage VC headquartered in the world’s most mature blockchain hub, ‘Crypto Valley’, Switzerland. We invest in start-ups who demonstrate a capability to transform the way the world interacts and transacts using blockchain technology.
“The dynamic team at SodaWorld have shown an energy, determination, and industry expertise to do just that for artists and creators. Core to blockchain is its ability to build trust. The entertainment and performance sector need to rebuild trust especially from the creator’s perspective. The SodaWorld platform can achieve this and more, new revenue streams for creators.”
CV Labs Africa MD, Gideon Greaves added:“As the incubation business pillar of CV VC, we at CV Labs Africa are stoked to work with the team at SodaWorld who are building on blockchain to enable artists to monetise immersive fandom.
“Their enriching platform empowers African creators to connect with global audiences via the brave new world known as ’the metaverse’ which in simple terms is an interactive and augmented digital reality world, accessible by fans anytime and anywhere and where fans can actually interact with artists and visa-versa.
“The opportunities are endless. Africa is blessed – it has in its hands a facility – SodaWorld which can facilitate creators access this Metaverse!”
QNET, leading global wellness and lifestyle direct-selling company, has successfully concluded V-Malaysia 2025, its flagship annual convention, at the Penang SPICE Convention Centre in Malaysia. Held from 21–25 June, the five-day event drew over 8,000 participants from more than 30 countries, including Nigeria, reinforcing the company’s global reach and strong foothold in the African market.
For over a decade, QNET has chosen Penang as the destination for this transformative event, which blends business networking, entrepreneurial development, and immersive personal growth experiences.
The 2025 edition underscores the continued collaboration between QNET, its event partner V Global Management (The V), Tourism Malaysia, the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), and its state-level affiliate, Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB).
In Nigeria, QNET has steadily gained recognition as a key player in the direct selling and wellness space, empowering thousands of Nigerians with entrepreneurial opportunities, health-conscious products, and financial education.
Through its innovative business model, QNET has fostered a growing community of independent distributors across states like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. Events such as V-Malaysia provide distributors a platform to connect with the global QNET network, learn from top leaders, and gain exposure to cutting-edge tools and products that can be leveraged in their local businesses.
V-Malaysia has evolved into a premier platform for business networking, entrepreneurial development, and cross-cultural collaboration. The synergy between QNET and The V — an internationally recognised organisation specialising in large-scale training and events has been pivotal in building the convention’s global draw.
YB Wong Hon Wai, Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACH), emphasised the regional impact of V-Malaysia: “Penang’s vibrant tourism and business events ecosystem continues to attract top-tier events like QNET’s V-Malaysia.
In 2024 alone, Penang recorded an estimated RM1.29 billion in economic impact from such events – a testament to their significance. QNET’s long-term commitment brings not only economic value but also strengthens Penang’s global reputation.”
Trevor Kuna, Chief Marketing Officer of QNET, added: “For QNET, Penang is more than just a venue; it’s a home for inspiration, collaboration, and transformation.
“Our strong base in Nigeria and across Africa makes this event especially meaningful, as we bring together entrepreneurs from across the continent to share ideas and build cross-border relationships that accelerate personal and economic growth.”
The Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), a government agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and parent body of PCEB, plays a pivotal role in Malaysia’s business events ecosystem. In 2023 alone, MyCEB facilitated 248 business events, brought in over 180,700 international delegates, and generated about RM 2.8 billion in economic impact.
For V-Malaysia 2025, MyCEB’s expertise in destination marketing, strategic facilitation, and coordination between federal and state levels (through PCEB) has been instrumental in elevating Penang’s standing as a premier MICE hub.
Complementing this effort is Tourism Malaysia, whose targeted incentives and logistical backing helped deliver V-Malaysia 2025 as a high-impact global event. Their support underscores the government’s broader commitment to positioning Malaysia as a top-tier host for international conferences and high-impact corporate events.
As part of the event’s activities, QNET also unveiled new wellness innovations, including Harmoniq, a bio-signaling patch designed to enhance energy and well-being, and QWIK, a line of oral health and nutrition strips — products set to expand into markets like Nigeria in the coming year.
V-Malaysia 2025 is not just a celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship; it is a dynamic platform that exemplifies how global vision and local action, especially across Africa, can reshape the future of direct selling. For more information about V-Malaysia 2025, please visit QNET’s official website.
In today’s digital world, teens are using social media to connect with their friends, learn and explore their interests.
Instagram has developed a variety of tools to give parents peace of mind, support safer interactions, and empower teens to make thoughtful decisions online. Whether you’re new to the platform or want to stay informed, here are essential safety tools every parent should know about:
Teen Accounts: Teen Accounts were designed to support parents better and give them peace of mind that their teens have the right protections in place. Teen Accounts have built-in protections that limit who can contact them and the content they see. By default, teen accounts are set to private and teens under 16 can only change this default setting with help from a parent or guardian.
Supervision tools (parental controls): As part of Teen Accounts, Instagram offers supervision features that allow parents to stay involved in their teen’s experience on the app. With this feature, parents can monitor how much time their teen spends on Instagram, view who they follow and who follows them, receive updates when their teen reports accounts or content, and set daily time limits or scheduled breaks to help manage usage.
Daily time limit: The daily time limit feature is also part of Teen Accounts. It allows parents and teens to set limits on app usage, encouraging healthier and more mindful engagement over time.
Block, restrict and report feature: Teen Accounts include tools that allow teens to block or restrict people they don’t want to interact with and report harmful content or behavior. Restricted users won’t be able to see when your teen is online or if they’ve read messages.
Sensitive content control: This safety feature, also available through Teen Accounts, lets users filter out potentially upsetting or mature content in Explore and other surfaces. content across Explore and other surfaces.
Educational Family Center: Instagram’s Family Center is an educational hub that provides articles and guidance to help parents have meaningful conversations with their teens about their online experiences and how to make time spent online a positive experience. The hub focuses on providing parents with practical tools from online safety experts, organisations and academics on everything from bullying to cybersecurity.
Take time to explore these features with your teen and use them as a starting point for open, ongoing conversations about their online life. When parents and teens navigate these digital spaces together, everyone wins.
In a bold move to blend digital empowerment with fun and entertainment, the Anambra State ICT Agency, in partnership with the Geeks and Founders Alliance for Soludo (GEFAS), announces the availability of free WiFi at the Anambra Mega Fest/Grand Opening of Solution Fun City.
Powered by Pine Heights Systems (PHSWEB), this initiative reinforces the state government’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and bringing connectivity directly to the people.
Set to hold on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 1 PM, the grand opening of Solution Fun City will light up Awka with a mix of tech-forward innovation and high-energy entertainment, all under the distinguished hosting of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR.
Attendees are in for a tech-enhanced experience featuring music, dance, comedy, games, and electrifying performances from Flavour, Umu Obiligbo, JeriQ, Jennifer Eliogu, Ugoccie, Apete, Ojadili, Ogbuefi I Go Tuk, Onye Obodo, Prince Neche, and many more.
“Technology is one of the greatest equalizers of our time.
Through digital access, we are not only empowering citizens, we are deepening civic participation and driving progress,” said Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, MD/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency and Convener of GEFAS.
The event signals a new chapter in Anambra’s smart governance journey, where technology, inclusivity, and community celebration come together in one dynamic space.
To connect to the Free WiFi: turn your phone’s WiFi, select Soludo Solution WiFi and follow the prompts on the landing page
For details, call: 0201 410 1240
Follow the conversation: @gefasoludo across all social media platforms.
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