A level up for Namibian creatives

Namibian content creators now have a new way to turn local audiences into income, with the launch of a digital streaming and payment solution designed to make it easier to earn directly from their work.

Last Friday, during the CST Expo, Emeraldsand Platforms (ESP) launched an expanded version of OneUpTwo, a Namibian streaming platform that allows local creators to host and monetise their content while giving viewers the option to pay for premium material using AfriVoucher, linked to the local Afriwallet payment solution.

The initiative targets a familiar problem for local creatives: getting paid for content distributed through international platforms.

For many Namibian creators, accessing revenue from global digital platforms can be complicated, with some international payment systems requiring foreign bank accounts or access to overseas payment services.

ESP chief executive Nangula Uandja said the launch was about creating local solutions to local challenges.

She said Namibians should no longer have to rely solely on international platforms to monetise locally produced content. “Many of you are taking music, putting it on a USB, playing it, and the Namibian who created that music or made that movie gets zero. We are fixing that today with OneUpTwo.

“We are creating a platform where Namibian content is loaded and where our AfriVoucher is connected. You go to that content, click on it, pay with your AfriVoucher, and 85% of whatever you pay there will go to the person who created that content.”

A home for local stories

The platform's first locally produced web series is Omunahambo Wange, executive produced by Namibian creative Jacky Pop.

Pop, who previously won an NIPDB film production competition, said he was excited that his production had become the first user-generated local series to be hosted on OneUpTwo. “It really feels good for Omunahambo Wange to be the first to make it to OneUpTwo,” he said. “We want to create more content like this that can end up on platforms like this.”

The series currently attracts more than 100 000 views per episode on Facebook, according to Pop, where it is available for free.

He believes bringing that audience to a platform where views can translate into direct revenue could help local producers build more sustainable businesses.

“Imagine if we get views like those on OneUpTwo. It means that for every single view, we earn something, which will help us to create more films and be sustainable,” he said.

Pop also confirmed that the third season of Omunahambo Wange, filmed in China, is due to be released soon.

OneUpTwo project manager Richard Botha said the aim was to ensure revenue generated through the platform reaches the people responsible for creating the content. “We want to see that content creators can be paid into their bank accounts and not just have the money sit somewhere and never be touched.”

Creator's Corner

OneUpTwo is an ESP media asset and was initially developed to host content produced in-house across the company's various media platforms. It is now being opened to third-party creators as part of an effort to establish a dedicated digital home for Namibian storytelling.

Through the platform's Creator's Corner, viewers can browse and select episodes. Where content is classified as premium, they can log in and unlock it by paying through AfriVoucher. The system is designed to remove the need for viewers to enter card details, with payments linked to their mobile phones through Afriwallet.

The platform is positioned as a local streaming service focused on authentic Namibian stories while giving creators a direct route to monetisation.

ESP said OneUpTwo will also expand beyond video. By the end of November, the platform is expected to introduce payment functionality for music, potentially giving Namibian musicians another way to earn directly from their work.

The launch marks a step towards a more locally connected digital content economy, allowing Namibians to consume local stories while keeping a greater share of the revenue generated within the country's creative sector.

Creators interested in hosting and monetising their content on OneUpTwo can contact [email protected].