Online lifestyle television channel, REDTV, which puts the spotlight on Africa with a distinct global appeal, launched its francophone version on Thursday.
The fun-filled event, supported by the United Bank for Africa (UBA), was held at the Azalaï Hotel in Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire.
It was witnessed by distinguished players in finance, public and entertainment industries in francophone Africa’s largest economy and other neighbouring countries.
The impressive gathering also featured the screening and premier of REDTV’s first francophone TV series, Boutique Hotel.
Notable guests who graced the colourful ceremony include the Ivorian Minister of Culture, M. Maurice Bandama, and Ivorian Minister of African Integration, Ally Coulibaly.
With the launch of French language content of REDTV, the lifestyle station has now extended beyond Anglophone Africa into 10 French-speaking countries in which the UBA group operates.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of UBA Cote d’Ivoire, Sarata Kone, noted that the launch is an acknowledgment of the bank’s recognition of its diversity as a pan-African financial institution with presence in 19 African countries in major financial capitals of London, New York and Paris.
This, according to her, is in tandem with the Africapitalism philosophy of the Chairman of UBA Plc, Tony Elumelu’s call on all Africans to take full responsibility in developing the continent.
“Africans should present Africa in a new light, it is up to Africans to change the vision the world has concerning it,” Kone said quoting Mr Elumelu.
Also speaking, Mr Maurice commended UBA’s unique vision, saying “a development where an organisation like REDTV takes it upon itself to reset the Africa narratives by projecting it as a continent that offers opportunities to its ambitious and talented youth, is not only welcome, but is indeed laudable.”.
Boutique Hotel was produced in collaboration with Alexandra AMON, a young producer and actress from Ivory Coast who won the best prize in the television series at FESPACO with Chroniques Africaines in 2015.
Side attractions at the event include stunning performances with Kiff no Beat and TNT, the most famous band in Cote d’Ivoire, thrilling guests who evidently could not resist the enthralling vibes.
