Mansa, a new streaming platform that features curated global Black cultural content, has emerged from a year-long development and beta phase. The platform, founded by award-winning filmmakers and actors David Oyelowo, Nate Parker, and Chiké Okonkwo, along with tech entrepreneur and film financier Zak Tanjeloff, offers a free, ad-supported streaming service that showcases content celebrating Black culture from around the world. Mansa has raised $8 million in seed funding led by MaC Venture Capital, as well as additional funding from other investors.
Mansa’s core belief is that Black culture is pop culture, and by authentically curating the best in Black culture, it will attract not only Black audiences but broad mass-market audiences as well. The platform separates itself from other platforms by offering a level of transparency unique to the industry, including true ownership and equity for the creators of Mansa Originals.
“Mansa is creating a space for diverse narratives, perspectives, characters and creators that continue to be underrepresented,” said Erika Turner, Mansa Chief Content Officer. “I’m honored to help fill storytelling gaps for audiences still waiting to be served.”
The Mansa team has quietly built a formidable team of nearly 30 employees, bringing in leaders from Netflix, BET, Hulu, Roku, Tubi, Redbox, Complex and Uber. During this period, the team has developed the Mansa platform with a multiscreen interface that enables consumption anytime, anywhere, allowing for conversation and community through the lens of Black culture.
The platform meets its consumers where they are by offering content that is agnostic to any specific format, showcasing curated long-form and short-form film and TV shows, user-generated content, digital linear (FAST) channels, and video podcasts. To date, Mansa has already licensed over 1,500 hours of content, and secured partnerships with upwards of 50 content suppliers with over two dozen licensed FAST channels rolling out as the company prepares for a wide launch during Q2 2023 on Roku, Amazon FireTV, iOS, Android, Samsung, Vizio, LG, and the web.
Mansa is also committed to partnering with other Black culture-focused streamers in the space, positioning itself not as a competitor but as an aggregator of content and channels looking to celebrate, illuminate, and distribute the culture that drives the world.
“We aim to change the paradigm around creator fairness, solving to address long felt challenges in the industry through addressing, ownership, transparency, and community on a foundational level,” said Oyelowo. “Mansa is diligently looking for content creators and companies within entertainment to work with, building a centralized hub where all can thrive together. To this point, that is something the establishment has been reluctant to do as a matter of practice. We will be announcing some very exciting partnerships and shows very soon.”
The platform aims to attract both Black and non-Black audiences by offering a level of transparency that is unique to the industry, including true ownership and equity for creators of Mansa Originals. The team has built a formidable team of nearly 30 employees, bringing in leaders from Netflix, BET, Hulu, Roku, Tubi, Redbox, Complex and Uber. To date, Mansa has licensed over 1,500 hours of content, and secured partnerships with upwards of 50 content suppliers.
Mansa will launch in Q2 2023 on Roku, Amazon FireTV, iOS, Android, Samsung, Vizio, LG, and the web. The platform offers content that is agnostic to any specific format, including long-form and short-form film and TV shows, user-generated content, digital linear (FAST) channels, and video podcasts. Mansa has committed to partnering with other Black culture-focused streamers in the space, positioning itself not as a competitor but as an aggregator of content and channels.
With Black audiences making up nearly 40% of the streaming market, Mansa provides a dedicated platform to access curated Black cultural content for free. In addition to offering films featuring global stars, a clear mission for the company is to identify, surface, and cultivate Black talent from around the world.
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