Musician and entrepreneur Anthonia “Sasha P” Alabi, widely known as Sasha P, recently achieved a significant milestone, securing a $10,000 prize at the CANEX SME Pitch Grant Prize event held in Algiers. Her winning pitch, titled “From Barriers to Bridges: Building Africa’s Creative Backbone,” was presented under the umbrella of the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) initiative, spearheaded by Afreximbank. This initiative is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs who are actively shaping the creative industries across Africa, fostering innovation and growth within the continent's vibrant cultural landscape.

Sasha P, through her company Purplefire Entertainment, has a well-established history of engagement in various aspects of the creative sector, including Pan-African touring, talent buying, events, and casting. This recent grant provides a robust backing to significantly expand her vision. The funding will enable her to focus on developing systems designed to streamline and facilitate greater collaboration among creatives, simplify cross-border touring, and generate new opportunities that extend beyond traditional stage performances. Her strategic plan is meticulously crafted to fortify the foundational structure of Africa’s creative economy, simultaneously boosting vital sectors such as trade, tourism, and cultural exchange throughout the continent.

The announcement of her achievement was made public by Sasha P herself on Instagram, where she shared a series of photos from the event. Among these images was a striking capture of her elegantly adorned in an emerald green outfit, proudly holding a large ceremonial cheque. The cheque clearly displayed her name, “Anthonia Alabi – Alec,” as the recipient of $10,000, with the memo line indicating “SME DEVELOPMENT FORUM PITCH.” Alongside these visual elements, Sasha P shared a deeply personal reflection. She reminisced about her late father and recalled one of her earliest memories of holding a microphone at a family gathering, an experience that underscored his role as her most ardent cheerleader, even during her childhood. She drew a poignant connection between that cherished memory and the unwavering support she continues to receive from various individuals today, eloquently stating, “You are all a reminder of my father’s unapologetic protectiveness of my dreams.”