A level up for Namibian creatives as OneUpTwo launches local digital payment solution
Namibian content creators now have a more accessible way to earn directly from their work following the launch of a local digital streaming and payment solution by Emeraldsand Platforms (ESP). The media company on Friday launched the extension of OneUpTwo, a Namibian streaming platform that now allows local creators to host and monetise their content, while enabling viewers to pay for premium content using AfriVoucher, linked to local payment solution, Afriwallet.
The initiative is aimed at addressing one of the longstanding challenges faced by local creatives: accessing revenue generated from content distributed on international platforms. For many Namibian creators, receiving payments from global digital platforms can be complicated, with international payment systems sometimes requiring access to foreign bank accounts or payment services.
ESP Chief Executive Nangula Nelulu Uandja said the launch demonstrates the importance of developing local solutions to address local challenges. She said Namibians should no longer have to rely solely on international platforms to monetise locally produced content. “Many of you are taking music, putting it on a USB, playing it, and the Namibian who created that music or made that movie gets zero. We are fixing that today with OneUpTwo,” Uandja said. “We are creating a platform where Namibian content is loaded and where our AfriVoucher is connected. You go to that content, click on it, pay with your AfriVoucher, and 85% of whatever you pay there will go to the person who created that content.”
The platform's first locally produced web series is Omunahambo Wange, executive produced by Namibian creative Jacky Pop. Pop, who previously won an NIPDB film production competition, said he was excited that his production had become the first user generated local series to be hosted on OneUpTwo. “It really feels good for Omunahambo Wange, our local web show, to be the first to make it to OneUpTwo,” he said. “We want to create more content like this that can end up on platforms like this.”
The series currently attracts more than 100 000 views per episode on Facebook, according to Pop, where it is available for free. He believes bringing the audience to a platform where views can translate into direct revenue could help local producers build more sustainable businesses. “Imagine if we get views like those on OneUpTwo. It means that every single view, we are earning something, which will help us to create more films and be sustainable,” he said. Pop also confirmed that the third season of Omunahambo Wange, which was filmed in China, is set for release soon.
OneUpTwo project manager Richard Botha said the objective is to ensure that revenue generated through the platform ultimately benefits the people responsible for creating the content. “We want to see that content creators can be paid into their bank accounts and not just have the money sit somewhere and never be touched,” Botha said.
OneUpTwo is a media asset of ESP and was initially developed to host content produced in-house across the company's various media platforms. The platform is now being opened to third-party creators as part of an effort to create a dedicated digital home for Namibian storytelling.
Through the platform's Creators' Corner, viewers can browse and select episodes. Where content is classified as premium, viewers can log in and unlock it by making a payment through AfriVoucher. The system is designed to eliminate the need for viewers to enter card details, with payments linked to the user's mobile phone through Afriwallet. The platform is positioned as a local streaming service focused on authentic Namibian stories, while providing creators with a direct route to monetisation.
ESP said the platform will also expand beyond video content. By the end of November 2026, OneUpTwo is expected to introduce payment functionality for music, potentially opening another avenue for Namibian musicians to earn directly from their work. The launch marks a significant step towards building a more locally connected digital content economy, where Namibian audiences can consume local content while a greater share of the revenue generated stays within the country's creative sector.
The platform was launched on the last day of the inaugural Creative, Sports and Tourism Expo, a three day event which brings together the Creative, Sport and Tourism sectors under one integrated platform, creating new opportunities for collaboration, innovation, trade, skills development and cultural exchange.
Creators who would like to host their content and monetise on the channel are encouraged to send an email to [email protected].
