David Oyelowo on Building Black Systems (Not Just Stories)

David Oyelowo’s story shows what happens when an African creative refuses to just play the part and decides to own the platform.

Because he’s realized something: The people who profit from our stories don’t look like him/us. The gatekeepers still decide what gets funded, whose faces get seen, and whose stories get told.

So he decides to build his own platform. This episode is a reminder that we’re no longer waiting to be discovered, we are building our own discovery engines. No matter how hard it gets.

As usual we bring you another masterclass—in creative sovereignty, cultural storytelling, and the business of representation. David unpacks how Africans can build global film ecosystems, own our narratives, and leverage technology to rewrite the economics of Black storytelling in this episode.

He’s had to navigate racism and its influence both at home and beyond. When his father whispered, “I cannot believe they allowed a black man to play the King of England. And it is my son.” after watching him play Henry VI for a twelve hour film OR when his eldest child asked him if he’d be playing “the best friend” in a Disney movie, David didn’t shrink.

But instead, he said: “That made it even more imperative to do the movie and to make sure that she sees the transcendency of what is possible as a young Black girl” He also said something shifted for his father and he was able to dream bigger for him

Today, David Oyelowo is not just an award-winning actor and producer. He’s also the founder of Mansa, a Black-owned streaming platform built to celebrate global Black storytelling. And like he says, it’s time to build something for ourselves

No matter how hard it gets.

What You'll Gain From This Episode:

• From Representation to Ownership - Why visibility isn’t enough if you don’t control the pipeline, pay and platform.
• The Gatekeeper Myth - “Squid Game wasn’t championed by Netflix; it proved the audience is always ahead of the industry”
• Building Mansa - How David turned frustration into innovation, raising $8M to build a global, Black-owned streaming platform with all engineering done in Lagos.
• Beyond Woke - “Five years can’t undo 500 years” His powerful reflection on why real progress means building systems, not slogans.
• Abundance Over Scarcity - How collaboration among Africans and the diaspora can break generational competition and create shared prosperity.
• Equality Isn’t Access - Hollywood celebrates diversity, but gatekeeping still controls capital. He is proving that true equity lies in building platforms, pipelines and pay models that reflect our values and serve our audience.
• Abundance Beats Scarcity - David urges us to link arms early. “ The goal isn’t just to leave the door open—it’s to blow the hinges off and build your own house.”

LISTEN TO OUR CONVERSATION WITH DAVID ON SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS

If you’ve ever wondered how culture, technology and purpose can merge to build systems that last, this conversation is all you need!

It’s raw, real and full of moments that will make you laugh, reflect, rethink and reevaluate what’s possible.

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Warmly,
Chika & Eche
Co-Hosts, Afropolitan Podcast