Media entrepreneur and host of the viral talkshow #WithChude, Chude Jideonwo has announced his brand new content and culture group of companies, FourthMainland, bringing together the content, media and creator businesses he has built over the years into one media group. The announcement follows two years of work behind the scenes to bring the companies, which previously operated independently while sharing some services, into one central operation. Reflecting on the vision behind the work, Chude wrote, “Over the past two years, my team and I have been building out behind the scenes the rails of a huge vision: a content and creator hub for the most compelling contemporary storytelling and IP from mainstream African culture.”
At the centre of FourthMainland is a growing ecosystem of companies, each with its own focus. YNaija is a digital media company interpreting the news, people and events shaping Nigeria through the lens of culture. Joy Inc. is a media and teaching company focused on happiness, resilience, learning and well-being. The Masterlist is a media-tech platform providing culture data and intelligence for media creators and campaigns. Chude Jideonwo Presents tells stories about the emotional lives of Nigerians and Africans through Chude’s voice.
The group also includes the FourthMainland Creator Fund, which provides capital to identify, incubate and invest in standout creators across the African ecosystem; the FourthMainland Agency, which helps companies and organisations reach audiences through the influence of its content network; and the FourthMainland Academy, which trains and develops media, content and storytelling professionals and leaders. Together, they form one ecosystem built around a simple focus: Content. Creator. Culture. Explaining the thinking behind the consolidation, Chude said, “What we have done is bring together our established content companies and our new content startup that were all run independently, even though many shared services, into one central operation, one group of companies.”
For Chude, the launch marks the coming together of a vision that is now ready to operate as one. He expressed his gratitude to the management teams, advisers and wider network that helped make the transition possible, describing the process as demanding but deeply rewarding. FourthMainland is now home to the entire ecosystem, with its companies, platforms and initiatives brought together under one roof.
To learn more, visit www.fourthmainland.com
