By Staff Writer | Fortune Afrika
Zimbabwean-born entrepreneur and investor Dr. Edd Branson has launched a new book titled “The Business of Art,” published by Edd Branson Publishers in a Swahili-language edition. The book is aimed at artists, creatives and entrepreneurs across Africa’s creative industries, teaching them how to turn raw talent into sustainable business.
Over the years, Dr. Branson has built a reputation as one of the most engaged investors in the development of creative industries across emerging markets. He has actively supported creative sectors in Eswatini, Zambia, the United States and Jamaica, backing initiatives designed to nurture artistic talent and strengthen value chains within those industries.
“Talent alone is not enough. Artists must understand the business of art,” Dr. Branson writes in the book.
Dr. Branson is now turning his attention to Kenya and East Africa more broadly, a region he views as holding significant opportunity given the rapid growth of social media, mobile technology and digital payment platforms such as M-Pesa. Through his investment network, he has begun backing Kenyan companies and startups, with a focus on the creative, technology and financial services sectors.
Business analysts say Dr. Branson’s entry into Kenya could open the door for other international investors seeking opportunities in the East African market, particularly within the creative economy, a sector that has often been overlooked by traditional investors.
Dr. Branson is also known as a “nation builder,” a label earned through his long-standing work helping build economic systems that empower artists, entrepreneurs and communities to achieve lasting success rather than short-term wins.
“The Business of Art” is now available through Edd Branson Publishers, and is expected to become an important reference for artists and creatives looking to build their careers as genuine businesses, not just dreams.