Abuja, Nigeria, 25 March 2026– Working Capital Partners, Aquarian Consult, and the
Ministry of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and the Creative
Economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis launch a new platform to support creative
industries and provide capital to artists and music companies while preserving
ownership of cultural assets.
Working Capital Partners (WCP), Aquarian Consult Limited, and the Ministry of Small
Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and the Creative Economy of Saint Kitts
and Nevis today announced the launch of the Afri-Caribbean Creative Economy
Development Initiative, a new cross-regional collaboration designed to strengthen
the economic infrastructure supporting creative industries across Africa and the
Caribbean.
The initiative will explore the structuring and deployment of a proposed Asset-
Backed Credit Line (ACL) facility of up to $2 billion USD, designed to provide
working capital solutions for music labels, artists, and creative entrepreneurs
operating within the rapidly expanding Afrobeats and global African music
ecosystem.
Afrobeats has emerged as one of the fastest-growing cultural exports from Africa,
with artists across the continent increasingly shaping global music charts and
streaming platforms. However, despite this international growth, many independent
artists and music companies across Africa and the Caribbean continue to face
limited access to institutional capital needed to expand globally. The proposed
financing platform seeks to address this gap by introducing structured financing
models tailored to the creative economy, allowing artists and music companies to
scale internationally while maintaining ownership of their intellectual property.
The initiative will also support training programs, creative industry workshops, and
professional development initiatives across participating countries aimed at
strengthening the business infrastructure of the Afri-Caribbean music and cultural
sectors.
Aquarian Consult Limited, the originator and strategic architect of the broader Afri-
Caribbean Economic Initiative, will coordinate engagement among governments,
cultural institutions, and private sector stakeholders across both regions. Working
Capital Partners will lead the structuring of the financing framework supporting the
initiative.
The Ministry of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and the Creative
Economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis becomes the first governmental partner to formally
support the initiative, positioning the nation as an early leader in advancing cross-
regional cooperation within the creative industries.
Additional Ministries of Culture and Creative Economy agencies across Africa and
the Caribbean are expected to join the initiative in the coming months, further
strengthening the economic and cultural partnership between the two regions.
Quotes
Darien Dash
Managing Partner and Global Head of Music & Entertainment
Working Capital Partners
“Africa and the Caribbean have shaped global culture for generations, yet the
financial infrastructure supporting our creative industries has not always kept pace
with that influence. This initiative represents an important step toward building that
infrastructure. By introducing structured capital solutions for artists and music
companies, we can allow creators to access liquidity while retaining ownership of
their intellectual property. The creative economy is one of the most powerful
economic engines of the future, and Africa and the Caribbean should be at the
forefront of that growth.”
Aquarian Consult Limited
Aisha Maina, Managing Director of Aquarian Consult Limited, stated:
“Aquarian Consult originated the Afri-Caribbean Economic Initiative to help create
meaningful economic bridges between Africa and the Caribbean. This creative
economy collaboration represents a natural extension of that vision. By aligning
governments, capital providers, and cultural entrepreneurs, we are building a
framework that can transform cultural influence into sustainable economic
opportunity for both regions.”
Ministry of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and the Creative
Economy
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Minister Samal Duggins commented:
“Saint Kitts and Nevis is honored to serve as the first governmental partner
supporting this initiative. Our nation recognizes the growing importance of the
creative economy as a driver of entrepreneurship, innovation, and cultural exchange.
By working alongside partners across Africa and the Caribbean, we are helping
create new opportunities for our artists and creative entrepreneurs while
strengthening the economic ties between our regions.”
Training and Industry Development
As part of the initiative, the Parties intend to collaborate on a series of training
programs and educational workshops designed to strengthen the professional and
business infrastructure supporting the Afri-Caribbean music ecosystem.
Programs may focus on:
- intellectual property protection
- music publishing and royalty systems
- catalog valuation and monetization
- financial literacy for artists and managers
- international music distribution and market expansion.
Strengthening Afri-Caribbean Economic Cooperation
The Afri-Caribbean Creative Economy Development Initiative reflects a broader
effort to connect Africa and the Caribbean through trade, culture, and investment,
building long-term partnerships that support both economic development and cultural
collaboration.
The Parties emphasized that the Memorandum of Understanding represents a non-
binding framework for cooperation, with specific financing arrangements and
program implementation to be defined through future definitive agreements.
About Working Capital Partners
Working Capital Partners is a structured capital platform focused on financing the
global talent economy, providing innovative financial solutions for artists, athletes,
and intellectual property owners across sports, music, and entertainment.
About Aquarian Consult Limited
Aquarian Consult Limited is a business development consultancy specializing in
strategy, advisory services, project structuring, and cross-border investment
initiatives designed to strengthen economic collaboration between Africa and the
Caribbean.
About the Ministry of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and the
Creative Economy
Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Ministry of Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and the Creative
Economy supports entrepreneurship, small business development, and the growth of
Saint Kitts and Nevis’ creative industries as key drivers of national economic
development.
