KAMPALA – Digital Company, Smartfoundry has launched a content aggregation platform dubbed ‘Rifaly, aimed at sharing information and knowledge about the continent through digital media.
Rifaly, launched on Wednesday at the Innovations Village in Ntinda, will enable Ugandan content creators to have a platform for getting value for their work.
Riflay is a creation of Smart Foundry, a subsidiary of Tanzania-based Smart Africa Group.
The company says the platform is made available and accessible to anyone with a smartphone and internet access. There is a wide digital collection of content including audio, electronic books (e-books), newspapers or magazines.
“The users will have the ability to sort through content by keywords and interests as well as a personalized library to store publications and audio content of choice,” said Johannes Julius Lutainulwa, Director of Business Development at Smart Foundry Limited.
He told reporters that the platform will empower African content creators, preserve culture, and celebrate the richness of storytelling.
“Today, we embark on yet another journey in Uganda to unite cultures and bridge borders and gaps in e-publishing through our flagship product Rifaly, which we refer to as the “Amazon for African Content”. The platform not only showcases Africa’s diverse narratives but also collaborates with all media and storytellers with viable literature to amplify their voices on a global scale,” Lutainulwa said of the platform.
He said that the mobile-based platform seeks to create a vibrant ecosystem where creativity thrives, stories are shared, and cultural heritage is celebrated.
In the first phase, Rifaly is currently offering audio stories as the new feature and keeping the newspapers and magazines. Books and articles are expected to be live on the platform by mid-February.
According to Mr Israel Ngoda, the Product Manager of Smartfoundry, the platform whose some products are paid for while others are free has a subscription base of over 1.5 million users.
Ngoda said ‘Rifaly App’ provides one-stop electronic platform for African content ranging from newspapers, magazines, books, articles, and audio stories.
“We are happy to invite content creators to register and share their content with the masses using our digital platform, reaching a wide range of people,” he said.
Across the continent, there are increased efforts to build platforms that create and curate African-centered content, a move that’s aimed at reversing the traditional focus on Westernized content.
“Innovation Village is proud to be part of this groundbreaking initiative that drives transformative change in Africa’s media and publishing industry” emphasized Arthur Mukembo, Future Lab Lead at Innovation Village. This is a testament to the power of technology in unlocking the immense potential of African content and how we can use data and the learnings from the platform to be a driving force of influence for the ecosystem to disrupt in digital perspectives.
Also speaking at the launch, Frank Muthusi, the chairman, Uganda Advertising Association said, “The e-publishing industry has experienced an unprecedented disruption on a global scale, and Africa, with its diverse cultures and untapped storytelling potential. When platforms like Rifaly are at the forefront of this transformation, the publishing industry will emerge as a dynamic solution that connects African content creators with worldwide audiences, enabling cultural exchange, fostering creativity, and empowering local literature. Let’s embrace the hard work of content creators as we embrace cutting-edge technology to connect and amplify voices globally and mark a turning point in the future of E-publishing ”.
As Rifaly ignites the spark of change in the African e-publishing landscape, it promises to redefine how content is created, distributed, and consumed. By providing a platform that embraces cultural diversity and encourages collaboration, Rifaly facilitates seamless connections between content creators, readers, and listeners worldwide. This innovative platform fosters cultural exchange, enriches knowledge sharing, and opens new horizons for African and Ugandan publishers.
