Rolling Stone Africa, ON Kenya Launch ‘Voices in Motion’ for Young Sports Storytellers

Rolling Stone Africa (RSA) and ON Kenya have officially launched Voices in Motion, an innovative storytelling platform aimed at nurturing and empowering the next generation of African creatives who will shape how the continent’s sporting achievements are documented, shared, and celebrated.

The initiative seeks to close the gap between Africa’s world-class athletic accomplishments and the often-overlooked stories behind them by creating opportunities for emerging photographers, filmmakers, writers, videographers, and digital content creators to develop their skills and tell authentic African narratives.

Built on the belief that every athlete’s journey deserves to be seen, understood, and celebrated, Voices in Motion will culminate in a first-of-its-kind Creative Summit scheduled for July 29 to August 2, bringing together athletes, journalists, storytellers, industry leaders, and aspiring creators for mentorship, learning, networking, and collaboration.

Despite producing some of the world’s most accomplished athletes, Africa’s sporting stories are frequently told through external perspectives, leaving many personal sacrifices, triumphs, and cultural influences behind these achievements untold. Voices in Motion aims to change this narrative by investing directly in the storytellers responsible for preserving and amplifying these experiences.

Speaking during the launch, Navalayo Osembo of ON Kenya emphasized the importance of empowering African creators to tell their own stories.

“Across Africa, we have extraordinary athletes whose achievements inspire millions, yet many of their journeys remain unseen. Through Voices in Motion, we are creating pathways for young creators to develop the skills, networks, and opportunities needed to tell these stories authentically and powerfully. We believe that the future of sports storytelling in Africa should be shaped by Africans themselves,” she said.

The platform will offer aspiring storytellers access to industry professionals, mentorship opportunities, practical training, and collaborative experiences designed to strengthen Africa’s growing creative ecosystem.

According to Gwen Madiba, Editor-in-Chief of Rolling Stone Africa, storytelling remains one of the most powerful tools for shaping culture, preserving history, and inspiring future generations.

“Every record broken, every sacrifice made, and every triumph achieved deserves to be documented by storytellers who understand the communities and cultures from which these stories emerge. Voices in Motion is about ensuring that Africa not only produces world-class athletes but also world-class storytellers capable of sharing these journeys with the world,” she noted.

The launch event attracted leading creators, athletes, journalists, media personalities, and cultural influencers, highlighting the growing importance of authentic African storytelling in sports and culture.

Following the launch, applications will open to aspiring creatives from across Kenya seeking to participate in the Voices in Motion programme. Successful applicants will gain access to mentorship, industry exposure, professional development opportunities, and participation in the Creative Summit.

The initiative marks a significant step toward strengthening Africa’s sports media landscape by ensuring that the continent’s stories are told by those who best understand its people, cultures, and aspirations.