AMPLIFYING BLACK VOICES AND STORIES
Our Lens. Our Voice. Our Story
Kendesi Mohammed Group is a digital media company dedicated to amplifying the voices, stories, and achievements of African Guyanese, African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, and people across the African diaspora. We highlight Black excellence in politics, film, music, entertainment, sports, hospitality, and tourism. Through storytelling, content creation, and event coverage, we showcase culture, heritage, and progress across global Black communities.
We built this platform so that Black people everywhere can tell our own stories through our own lens, in our own voice, and from our own experiences.
kendesimohammedgroup.com - Your Source for the Latest News
Sheila Crump Johnson: Billionaire Businesswoman and Media Pioneer
Sheila Crump Johnson: Billionaire Businesswoman and Media Pioneer
Sheila Crump Johnson: Billionaire Businesswoman and Media Pioneer
Sheila Crump Johnson is an American billionaire, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She is best known as the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), which became a groundbreaking platform for African American culture and entertainment. Beyond media, Johnson serves as the CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, a luxury hospitality company. As of 2025, her net worth is estimated at $1.1 billion, reflecting her impact across media, hospitality, and business sectors.
Oprah Winfrey: Media Mogul and Cultural Icon
Sheila Crump Johnson: Billionaire Businesswoman and Media Pioneer
Sheila Crump Johnson: Billionaire Businesswoman and Media Pioneer
Oprah Gail Winfrey is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for The Oprah Winfrey Show, which aired in national syndication for 25 years from 1986 to 2011, becoming one of the most influential talk shows in television history. Beyond her show, Winfrey has built a media empire, including television networks, production companies, and philanthropic ventures. As of 2025, her net worth is estimated at $3.2 billion, making her one of the wealthiest and most influential figures in media worldwide.
Wealthiest Majority-Black County in the U.S
Charles County Becomes Wealthiest Majority-Black County in the U.S.
CHARLES COUNTY, MD — Charles County, a county in the U.S. state of Maryland with a population of 166,617 as of the 2020 census, has officially surpassed Prince George’s County as the wealthiest majority Black county in the nation. The county seat is La Plata, and the county, part of the Southern Maryland region, was named for Charles Calvert, third Baron Baltimore.
Located south of Washington, D.C., Charles County now has a median household income of about $104,000, topping Prince George’s $86,000. Analysts attribute this rise to its proximity to the nation’s capital, offering residents access to high-paying government and private sector jobs, as well as to a recent migration of high-income Black families from Prince George’s County. Many are drawn to Charles County by new housing developments, expanding job opportunities, and a higher quality of life.
Experts say this shift highlights broader demographic and economic changes in the D.C. metropolitan area, as affluent Black communities increasingly seek suburban settings that provide both space and access to resources. Charles County’s strong economic development strategy, focused on attracting businesses and fostering investment, has further reinforced its status as a leading example of Black economic advancement.
Why Charles County is the Wealthiest Majority-Black County in the U.S.
Charles County’s wealth stems from its proximity to Washington, D.C., providing residents access to high-paying government and private sector jobs. An influx of residents from Prince George’s County has brought additional talent and resources, while the county’s strong economic development strategies have attracted businesses and high-value employment. These factors have combined to create a high median household income, making Charles County the top-earning majority-Black county in the nation.
The $2 Trillion Opportunity
Black Buying Power in the U.S.: A $2 Trillion Opportunity Often Overlooked
Black Americans wield enormous economic influence, with buying power projected to reach $1.8 trillion in 2024 and surpass $2 trillion by 2026. This growth highlights the pivotal role Black consumers play in shaping U.S. markets, from fashion and technology to entertainment and food.
Yet despite this economic clout, advertising targeting Black audiences remains disproportionately low. In 2022, only about 2 percent of a 200 billion dollar advertising spend went to media that serves Black communities and much of that went to white owned outlets. The result is a striking mismatch between Black consumer influence and the marketing dollars aimed at them.
Black Americans are also digital trendsetters. They spend more time on apps, websites, and social media than the average U.S. population and actively seek out Black owned and diverse media outlets. This makes them not just a critical market for brands, but a key driver of cultural and digital trends.
For advertisers and companies, the message is clear. Engaging Black audiences requires more than token efforts. It requires investment in media that reflects and respects their voices, interests, and buying power.
Promote Your Business on Kendesi Mohammed Group
Kendesi Mohammed Group offers businesses a powerful platform to reach targeted audiences across the African diaspora and beyond. Whether you are a small business, entrepreneur, or established brand, we provide tailored marketing and promotional solutions designed to increase visibility, engagement, and growth.
Why African Nations Must Own Their Narrative
Homegrown Media for a Stronger Africa
Across the African continent, media is more than a means of communication. It is a tool of influence, culture, and empowerment. Yet much of the news and storytelling about Africa is controlled by foreign outlets, often portraying the continent through a lens of poverty, conflict, and crisis. This narrative, repeated globally, shapes perceptions, investments, and even policy decisions about Africa, leaving local voices marginalized.
African countries need their own media companies to reclaim their stories and control their narrative. Indigenous media allows governments, businesses, and communities to communicate in ways that are accurate, culturally relevant, and reflective of local realities. It creates platforms that celebrate innovation, highlight economic successes, and preserve the continent’s diverse languages and traditions.
Ownership of media also drives economic growth. From journalism and film production to tech development and digital content creation, homegrown media companies create jobs, stimulate entrepreneurship, and retain revenue within local economies. They also play a critical role in strengthening democracy, holding leaders accountable, and educating citizens on issues that directly impact their lives.
Moreover, African-owned media can project the continent’s voice globally, challenging stereotypes and promoting African culture, music, fashion, and technology on the world stage. By investing in local storytelling, African nations not only assert sovereignty over their narratives but also build industries that foster innovation, resilience, and self-determination.
In a world where perception shapes reality, Africa’s ability to tell its own story is no longer optional. It is essential. Strong, independent media is not just a business opportunity. It is a strategic imperative for the continent’s future.
Music Promotions at KendesiMohammedGroup.com
Kendesi Mohammed Group is home to a talented creative team dedicated to producing high-quality media that amplifies Black voices and culture. The group collaborates with artists, writers, videographers, and digital media professionals to create content across music, film, fashion, and entertainment.
Why Black History Month Matters Around the World
Black History Month is more than a celebration. It is a global recognition of the contributions, resilience, and achievements of Black people throughout history. From groundbreaking advancements in science, politics, and the arts to cultural innovations that have shaped societies worldwide, Black individuals have profoundly influenced the course of history.
The month also highlights the struggles against slavery, colonization, and systemic racism, reminding the world of the ongoing fight for equality and justice. By sharing stories of resilience and leadership, Black History Month inspires future generations and empowers communities to pursue their full potential.
Beyond honoring history, it fosters global understanding, challenges stereotypes, and encourages people of all backgrounds to engage with Black culture, heritage, and achievements. In a world striving for equality and inclusion, recognizing Black history is essential not just in February but every day.
Black-Owned Businesses Thrive in the U.S.
Black-owned businesses generated an estimated $212 billion in revenue in 2022, marking a significant rise from previous years. These businesses supported 3.56 million jobs, highlighting their critical role in the economy.
Between 2017 and 2022, the number of Black-owned businesses surged, accounting for over half of all new employer businesses during that period, reflecting strong growth and entrepreneurship within the community.
An Untapped Trillion Dollar Powerhouse
The Global Worth of Black Talent: An Untapped Trillion Dollar Powerhouse
Black talent is one of the most powerful economic and cultural forces in the world, a trillion dollar engine of creativity, innovation, and influence that continues to shape industries across music, film, sports, business, and technology. Yet, its full market potential remains largely untapped.
According to McKinsey & Company, the U.S. Black consumer market alone represents a $300 billion annual opportunity for brands that genuinely engage with and invest in Black communities. In entertainment, better representation of Black creators could generate an additional $10 billion in annual revenue, while improving diversity in the tech industry could unlock as much as $370 billion per year in new value.
These numbers highlight an undeniable truth: Black talent doesn’t just move culture, it moves markets.
From Beyoncé’s global tours to African Afrobeats dominating streaming charts, and from Black entrepreneurs reshaping digital media to innovators leading in AI, design, and film, Black excellence is redefining the world economy. Yet, barriers such as unequal funding, underrepresentation in leadership, and limited access to global platforms prevent this market from reaching its full power.
Beyond the economics, the influence of Black talent is deeply cultural. It has given rise to new art forms, set global trends, and inspired movements for justice and inclusion. Every beat, every film, every invention tells a story of resilience, creativity, and purpose.
If global industries and investors begin to recognize and invest in Black talent equitably, the world could experience one of the most significant waves of growth, creativity, and innovation in history.
Black talent is not a niche, it’s the future.
Economically powerful, culturally defining, and globally unifying.
@KendesiMohammedGroup.com | 301-500-0440
The Rise of Wealthy Black Talent
Across industries from music and film to sports, fashion, and business, Black talent continues to redefine wealth, influence, and innovation. These individuals are not only breaking barriers but also building empires, investing in real estate, technology, and media ownership. Their success extends beyond personal gain as it inspires communities, creates jobs, and fuels economic growth across the African diaspora.
Today’s wealthy Black talent represents more than entertainment. They embody cultural power, creative genius, and the future of global leadership.
Why Black Communities Need Media Power
Media is one of the most powerful tools in the world. It shapes how people think, what stories are told, and who gets to be seen and heard. For too long, Black voices have been underrepresented, misrepresented, or silenced in mainstream media. That is why media power, ownership, control, and influence are essential for the progress and protection of Black communities around the world.
When we control our own media, we control our narrative. We get to tell our own stories, stories of strength, innovation, creativity, and resilience. Media power allows us to celebrate our culture, preserve our history, and push back against stereotypes that have been used to limit us for generations.
Black media power also means economic empowerment. It creates opportunities for journalists, filmmakers, producers, and entrepreneurs to build wealth through creativity and innovation. It fuels industries like music, fashion, film, sports, and technology where Black talent already drives culture globally.
Most importantly, media power builds connection. It unites African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, African Guyanese, and people across the African diaspora under one global voice, a voice of truth, excellence, and self-determination.
Until we have full control over how our stories are told, our communities will always be defined by someone else’s perspective. Media power is not just about influence, it is about freedom.
EMPOWERING AND ELEVATING BLACK TALENT WORLDWIDE
We discover and elevate Black talent from African Guyanese, African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, and people across the African diaspora, shining a spotlight on their brilliance, creativity, and untold stories. Our mission is to amplify their voices and showcase their skills to the world, creating a platform where excellence knows no boundaries.
Inside the Economic Power of Black Churches
Across the United States, predominantly Black churches play a vital role not only in spiritual life but also in economic activity. While no definitive national figure exists for annual donations and revenue across all Black congregations, available data sheds light on a wide range of incomes and the substantial impact these institutions can have.
For many smaller congregations, annual revenues often fall into the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. One survey found that more than one in four Black churches reported annual incomes under $100,000, and about half were under $250,000. Only a small fraction, around 12 percent, reported revenue above $1 million.
At the other end of the spectrum are larger churches, known as megachurches, with thousands of members that can generate multiple millions each year through tithes, offerings, events, and auxiliary ministries. Aggregated estimates suggest that over past decades, Black churches have collected hundreds of billions of dollars in total giving and revenue, with some reports estimating more than $420 billion since 1980, which would translate to roughly $13 billion per year when averaged over time.
Experts caution that these figures are imprecise. Many churches do not publicly file detailed financials, and the term “Black church” encompasses a vast range of sizes, geographic locations, and mission scopes. Therefore, despite the broad estimate that total revenues span in the billions annually, the data for a single year and across all congregations remains elusive.
Still, the financial footprint of Black churches is clear. Community investment, property ownership, social services, and employment opportunities all stem from their economic capacity. As these institutions continue to evolve, incorporating digital giving, multisite campuses, and commercial ventures, their fiscal significance may strengthen further.
In short, while the exact number for how much money Black churches make yearly is not firmly established, the evidence points to an institution with both deep financial streams and widespread community influence.
Bishop T.D. Jakes: Faith Meets Fortune
Bishop T.D. Jakes is one of America’s most influential religious leaders and entrepreneurs. Estimates of his net worth vary, with some reports placing it as high as $300 million. Jakes has built his wealth through a combination of ministry, media, publishing, and endorsements.
Sources of Wealth:
- The Potter’s House: Jakes’s Dallas-based megachurch, with more than 30,000 members, generates significant revenue through donations and offerings.
- Media and Entertainment: He has produced and directed films and television projects, blending spiritual messages with mainstream media.
- Books: Jakes is a bestselling author whose books on faith, leadership, and personal growth have sold millions worldwide.
- Endorsements: His influence has also led to endorsement deals and partnerships with major brands.
The Global Value of Black Music
Black music is a powerhouse in the global entertainment industry, shaping culture and generating substantial economic impact. While precise figures are not officially tracked, estimates suggest that the combined annual value of Black-driven genres including hip hop, R&B, and Afrobeats likely exceeds $30 to 50 billion worldwide. Hip hop alone contributes over $15 billion annually in the U.S. through music sales, merchandise, and concerts, while Black music also drives billions in streaming revenue, fashion collaborations, advertising, and cultural tourism.
Black music is a major revenue driver in the global music market, dominating streaming charts worldwide. In Canada, for example, 65 percent of the top 100 streamed songs in 2022 were Black music, contributing over $339 million in industry profits. Beyond direct revenue, Black music fuels jobs for artists, producers, managers, and creative professionals, while influencing global trends in fashion, film, and media. Despite challenges in quantifying its full economic impact, the cultural and financial footprint of Black music is undeniable, shaping industries and inspiring audiences around the world.
Several top Black artists have also built tremendous wealth from their music careers and business ventures:
- Jay-Z: Considered the richest rapper, his net worth is estimated at over $2 billion, driven by music and successful investments in alcohol, entertainment, and sports.
- Diddy (Sean Combs): Has a net worth of around $400 million, earned through music and entrepreneurial ventures including clothing and beverages.
- Dr. Dre: A rapper, producer, and record executive, his net worth is approximately $500 million, stemming from music and business endeavors.
- Kanye West: His fortune is estimated at around $400 million, with wealth generated from his music and fashion brand.
Rihanna’s Billion-Dollar Empire
Rihanna, the Barbadian singer, businesswoman, and actress, is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with over 250 million records sold.
Her net worth is estimated at $1.4 to $1.6 billion, thanks to successful ventures like Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty. Beyoncé’s net worth is estimated between $540 million and $826 million.
Africa’s Visionary Leader in Industry and Philanthropy
Aliko Dangote: Driving Africa’s Industrial Growth and Social Development
Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, is transforming the continent through major industrial and philanthropic initiatives. His Dangote Refinery, the world’s largest single train oil refinery, aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuels and position the country as a regional energy hub. Beyond energy, Dangote is investing in agriculture, including fertilizer, sugar, and rice production, to strengthen food security across Africa. His influence extends to cement and manufacturing, with operations expanding throughout the continent, including a major factory in Côte d’Ivoire.
Through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, one of Africa’s largest philanthropic organizations, Dangote supports health, education, and economic empowerment initiatives. The foundation has contributed to campaigns like “Saving One Million Lives” in Nigeria and played a key role in controlling the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Dangote is also a founding member of the Global Business Coalition for Education, reinforcing his commitment to advancing learning opportunities across Africa.
Dangote Group Strengthens Africa’s Food Security
The Dangote Group is making major investments in agriculture, focusing on fertilizer, sugar, and rice production. These initiatives aim to boost food security across Africa, reduce dependence on imports, and support economic growth for local communities..
Ten most successful African actresses in Hollywood
Lupita Nyong’o: Hollywood’s Award-Winning Star from Kenya
Kenyan actress Lupita Amondi Nyong’o has risen to international stardom as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and influential talents. Known for her powerful performances across film, television, and theater, Nyong’o has become a symbol of excellence, representation, and African storytelling on the global stage.
Nyong’o first captured worldwide attention with her role as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave (2013), earning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Daytime Emmy Award. Her performance marked a historic moment for African actresses in Hollywood and cemented her reputation as a fearless, transformative performer.
Following her breakthrough, Nyong’o took on diverse and high-profile roles. She brought Maz Kanata to life in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, appearing in The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). She showcased her range in blockbuster hits like Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), where she played Nakia, a courageous spy and warrior in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Nyong’o has also demonstrated her skill in independent and socially impactful films. In Queen of Katwe (2016), she portrayed Phiona’s mother in the inspiring story of a Ugandan chess prodigy. Her chilling dual role in Jordan Peele’s horror film Us (2019) received widespread critical acclaim, highlighting her ability to tackle psychologically complex characters. Other notable works include Non-Stop (2014) and Little Monsters (2019).
Beyond film, Nyong’o has excelled in theater, earning a Tony Award nomination for her Broadway performance in Eclipsed (2015), which explored the lives of women during the Liberian Civil War. She has also appeared in educational television projects like MTV’s Shuga, promoting awareness on HIV/AIDS across Africa.
Nyong’o’s impact extends beyond the screen. She is a passionate advocate for diversity, representation, and African narratives in global cinema. Through her work, she continues to inspire aspiring actors worldwide, particularly from the African diaspora, showing that talent and determination can transcend borders.
With a career marked by award-winning performances, groundbreaking roles, and cultural influence, Lupita Nyong’o remains a trailblazer, proving that African voices are essential to the future of Hollywood.
If you want, I can also create a condensed version suitable for a CNN headline story or news segment, keeping it punchy and under 250 words. Do you want me to do that next?
Notable Films Starring Lupita Nyong’o
- 12 Years a Slave (2013) – Lupita won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Patsey.
- Black Panther (2018) – Played Nakia, a key member of Wakanda’s elite.
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) – Played Maz Kanata, a wise and mysterious alien.
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) – Reprised her role as Maz Kanata.
- Us (2019) – Starred as Adelaide Wilson / Red, a critically acclaimed dual role in Jordan Peele’s horror film.
- Queen of Katwe (2016) – Played Phiona’s mother, supporting the inspirational story of a young Ugandan chess prodigy.
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) – Returned as Maz Kanata in the final installment of the sequel trilogy.
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) – Reprised her role as Nakia, continuing her involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Non-Stop (2014) – Played Gillian, a flight attendant alongside Liam Neeson.
- Little Monsters (2019) – Played Miss Caroline, a teacher caught up in a zombie outbreak in this dark comedy/horror film.