Africa's creative industry gap being tackled by Selar, a platform supporting content creators
Selar Bridges the Gap for African Creators in the Global Economy
Selar, a digital commerce platform designed for African creators, is addressing the structural inequalities faced by creators on the continent in the global creator economy. The platform, launched in Nigeria and now expanding into East Africa and francophone Africa, enables creators to sell various digital products in multiple currencies and payment methods tailored to the African market.
Douglas Kendyson, the CEO of Selar, explains that the platform was built to provide African creators with a straightforward, dignified way to monetize their knowledge and skills, without needing hacks to do global business. Selar has paid out over $5 million to creators across Africa, demonstrating significant support for creators and aligning platform incentives with creator earnings.
The inequality faced by African creators is due to structural issues such as unequal platform payouts, limited access to global payment systems, and platform designs that don't consider African financial realities. Major platforms like TikTok have payout structures that rely on systems like PayPal and Stripe, which are either not fully supported or limited in many African countries. This lack of support for global payment systems in Africa has created a divide in the global creator economy, where African creators often have to find workarounds to get paid.
Selar's approach helps creators overcome these challenges. By focusing on local payment solutions and financial accessibility, Selar breaks down barriers that typically limit African creators in the global economy. The platform supports local payment systems and international card payments, making it easier for creators to receive payments from their audiences.
Creators across Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda are using Selar to bypass restrictive global platforms and earn directly from their audiences. They are launching digital products like writing guides, business templates, or niche workshops and selling them directly through the platform. African creators have produced culture-defining content globally, but earn less than their Western counterparts. Selar continues to scale and address gaps in the African creator ecosystem.
Selar has strategic partnerships with fintech players like Kikiapay to strengthen cross-border payments. This focus on collaboration and partnerships reflects Selar's commitment to building a sustainable ecosystem for African creators. The question isn't whether African creators are ready; it's whether the global ecosystem is finally willing to meet them halfway.
In Ghana, PayPal is not fully supported for receiving payments, cutting off a major revenue stream for creators. Selar's focus on local payment solutions ensures that creators in Ghana and other African countries can still earn from their work. The platform's ease of use in selling both digital and physical products globally empowers creators to reach a wider audience without the usual complexities tied to foreign payment processing.
By providing a platform that considers the unique financial realities of African creators, Selar is bridging the digital divide and empowering African creators to monetize their work more effectively and sustainably within the continent's unique economic environment. The future of the African creator economy looks brighter with Selar leading the way.
Selar's focus on local payment solutions and global business integration within the African market leverages technology to address the financial challenges faced by African creators in the global economy. The platform's partnerships with fintech players like Kikiapay further strengthen its role in bridging the digital divide, enabling creators to monetize their skills and knowledge in the technology-driven business landscape.
