Designer Fri Forjindam and writer Taiye Selasi, both African expats and self-identified “Afropolitans”, were featured in a Fast Company interview with Doreen Lorenzo. The two first met in Tangier, Morocco, at 'Between the Two of Us', a gathering of business leaders, artists, futurists, and activists hosted by the House of Beautiful Business. Their conversation with Lorenzo delved into their shared mission of building a new creative economy in Africa and amplifying the continent’s storytelling traditions on a global scale.

Forjindam, chief development officer and executive creative director at Mycotoo, integrates stories into physical spaces, events, and transformative experiences. She shared how her work brings African storytelling traditions to life through immersive entertainment spaces. “Humanity started in Africa. Stories started in Africa—community and relationships and entertainment and folklore,” Forjindam said. She emphasized the importance of showcasing Africa’s diversity, noting, “We are adapting stories that are uniquely African to create physical spaces that can help a city chart a new path culturally and economically. Rather than simply repackaging stories for profit outside Africa, we want to tap into what already exists and use themed entertainment to help a city envision and build a more prosperous future.”

Lisbon-based writer Selasi, whose career in storytelling spans literature, film, and essays, reflected on the shifting perceptions of African identity in today’s global landscape. “It occurs to me that being an African in the 21st century is an interesting exercise in self-building. That powerful beginning that we all had in Africa was disrupted by the political process of colonization. Coming out of that, thoughtful Africans around the world have started building new notions of self. And the concept of Afropolitan experience is my contribution to the self-building project of the 21st century," she explained. Selasi also spoke about the global relevance of African stories and the need for high-quality, authentic content that resonates beyond borders.

Both women recognize the importance of vision in shaping the future of African storytelling; and while investment is necessary, the drive to create is already there.