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The evolution of African culture and entertainment has grown too loud in recent times for the world to ignore. Afrobeat now commands international airwaves, with our superstars filling stadiums in cities like Paris, London, and New York.
Meanwhile, once-sidelined African fashion now walks confidently down runways at Paris Fashion Week and inspires collections in Milan and Tokyo. Nollywood has topped its game in visualizing African stories through cinematic productions, while African cuisine, dance, and digital art have carved out space in global conversations around culture and identity.
But amid these rising accomplishments, one question that lingers in the hearts of many diasporic Africans is: How can we easily access all this richness in one place? What platform makes this content readily available to us without much hassle?
For twin brothers Joel and Jeffrey Ezugwu, that question became the foundation of a mission that birthed ZuguTV, a growing digital platform designed to bring authentic African content directly to audiences around the world, especially those in the U.S. and North America.
In this interview, The Love Central had the pleasure of speaking with the brothers, exploring their journey from growing up in Nigeria to launching a media platform in the U.S. that is poised to change the way the world experiences African entertainment. 
Q: Let’s get to know you both. Tell us a bit about your upbringing and what it was like growing up as twins.
We were born in Nigeria and spent the first part of our lives there before moving to the U.S. in 2010 at age 14. Growing up in a traditional Nigerian household, we had lesson teachers after school and lived a structured, family-oriented life. Both of us were into sports, especially soccer, and we were always competing academically and athletically.
As twins, people often compared us, but while we share similarities, we each have our unique vibe. I, Joel, tend to be more expressive and humorous, while Jeffrey is more focused and structured; he’s the one handling things with precision. But together, we balance each other out, and that synergy shows in our work on ZuguTV.
Q: When did your entrepreneurial journey begin? How did the idea for ZuguTV come about?
The idea for ZuguTV had been with us for years. It really started forming around 2016 or 2017. Back then, as college students, we could feel there was a major cultural gap. Nigerians in the diaspora didn’t have easy access to live Nigerian TV or authentic content from back home. But at that time, we didn’t have the resources or a plan to bring the vision to life. Still, the idea never left us. It just kept growing stronger.
We’ve never really been the type to follow a traditional path —we’ve always had the mindset of builders. That desire to create something meaningful has always been with us, so as we gained more life experience and built connections both in the U.S. and in Nigeria, it became clearer that we could actually bring the ZuguTV idea to life.
Anyone could think that it’s been all rosy working together as twins, but we sometimes argue just like any siblings. However, our shared vision and mutual respect have kept us united and going. We know each other deeply, and we maximize our individual strengths to balance things out, which has been a huge part of why ZuguTV has come this far.
Q: Was there a defining moment that pushed you to finally build ZuguTV?
Yes, there was one moment that really cemented everything. A few years back, our dad came to visit us from Nigeria, and he kept asking to watch Nigerian news channels like AIT and NTA. But we had nothing like that here in the U.S. No easy way to stream it, no central hub for live Nigerian television. So, we kept asking ourselves, “Why isn’t there a platform that lets Nigerians abroad stay connected to home?”
Fast forward to last year; we stopped talking about it and finally decided to build it. We pulled together the right team, poured our vision into the platform, and laid the groundwork.
It hasn’t been easy. There have been long nights and tough conversations. But the support we’ve received from people who believe in the mission and platforms like Culture Custodian amplifying our story has been such a powerful affirmation. We’re still early in the journey, but we know we’re building something that matters.
Q: You’ve mentioned before that this goes beyond entertainment. What does ZuguTV really represent to you?
African entertainment is already on the global stage, especially with music. Afrobeat has captured the world’s attention, thanks to legends like Fela Kuti and today’s superstars who put in so much work to ensure that our sound is everywhere. But music is just one part of our story.
With ZuguTV, we want to go further. We want to showcase African life in all its dimensions, be it movies, reality shows, food, fashion, sports, news, and even travel. We want people who were born abroad, especially Nigerian Americans, to feel seen and represented. We want them to stay connected, to learn, and to take pride in where they come from.
ZuguTV is more than entertainment. It’s about identity. It’s about making African culture accessible, relatable, and visible, not just to Africans, but to the world. We are building for Africa what Latin America has had for years — a dedicated media platform that celebrates its culture. And in five years, we see ZuguTV becoming a global household name. A media empire rooted in African excellence.
Q: What advice would you give to other young African entrepreneurs, especially those looking to build businesses that promote African culture?
If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s the importance of putting God first. Prayer is everything. Building something from the ground up is hard, and setbacks will come. But with prayer, consistency, and a strong team around you, you can keep going even when things get tough.
Stay resilient. Take time to reflect, rest, and enjoy the journey. But don’t stop moving. It’s important to note that you can’t build anything meaningful alone; you need people who believe in you and in the mission you’re trying to create.
And if we could speak to our younger selves, we’d say this: Don’t wait until everything is perfect. Start now. Dream big. Ask for help when you need it. Your vision is bigger than you, and it’s worth pursuing.
Reimagining the Future of African Entertainment
As the world continues to turn its attention toward Africa, Joel and Jeffrey are ensuring that the lens is no longer foreign. With ZuguTV, they’re inviting the world to see Africa through African eyes — in its full complexity, joy, excellence, and truth. And in doing so, they’re not just promoting African content; they’re changing how diasporic Africans connect and stay grounded to their roots.
Further Reading 👇
From overcoming racial barriers in 1960s America to pioneering African and African-American studies, Prof. Jacob Gordon has thrived in environments that consistently challenged his identity. Read his story of navigating academia as an African in the diaspora.
