Storytelling is our craft — but giving back is our responsibility. Through five charitable initiatives, Black Meets World invests in the artists, farmers, students, patients, and communities that make African culture worth celebrating.
Black Meets World was built on the belief that African stories deserve a global stage. But the talent behind those stories doesn’t emerge from nowhere — it’s nurtured in classrooms, clinics, farms, studios, and community fields across the continent.
Our CSR initiatives are how we reinvest in that foundation. We fund the artist who can’t afford training, the student who dreams beyond their borders, the farmer feeding tomorrow, and the patient who simply needs care. This is purpose, made tangible.
01 For the young artists carrying culture forward.
A scholarship for art-inclined young adults who showcase exceptional talent. From the rhythm of traditional drumming to the discipline of fine art, we invest in the creative voices shaping African culture — and give them the means to take their gift to the world.
02 Cultivating Africa’s food security and climate resilience.
A grant for young agricultural and weather enthusiasts in pursuit of agricultural knowledge, application, and growth. We back the farmers, agronomists, and climate thinkers who will feed the continent and steward its land for generations to come.
03 A year of African learning, beyond borders.
A scholarship and exchange program for secondary and university students to study for a year in another part of Africa. Students immerse themselves in the continent’s stories, sciences, and languages — returning home with a wider sense of what it means to be African.
04 Funding care today — and the cures of tomorrow.
BMW Health works on two fronts: delivering life-changing medical care to those who need it most, and funding the research that will redefine what care looks like for the next generation.
Fully funded spinal surgeries, emergency services for cancer patients, and free breast and prostate cancer screening — removing cost as a barrier to treatment and early detection.
A scholarship for traditional-medical research into palliative remedies in hospice care for cancer patients, alongside dedicated research into a cancer cure.
05 Where play becomes purpose.
Charity football matches and the African games we grew up with — ayo olopon, ludo, and tire keke — turned into a force for good. Every year, the proceeds are committed to a different cause, so the impact keeps moving where it’s needed most.
Each year’s commitment is different.
Submit an application or nominate a candidate, community, or cause through any of our five initiatives. Applications open on a rolling basis each year.
An independent panel of artists, educators, clinicians, and community leaders reviews every submission on merit, need, and potential for lasting impact.
Selected beneficiaries receive full funding, mentorship, and ongoing support — from scholarship stipends to surgery costs to community project delivery.
We follow each journey and publish the outcomes. Every cause we back is reported transparently, so our community can see exactly where support goes.
“You cannot tell the story of a people while ignoring the people. The same hands that shape our culture deserve to be lifted — fed, healed, taught, and heard.”— Oladunni Odunewu, Founder, Black Meets World
Eligibility varies by initiative. Arts and farming scholarships are open to young adults across Africa; the Young Readers exchange is for secondary and university students; BMW Health programs are open to patients and researchers regardless of background. Each initiative lists its own criteria when applications open.
An independent selection panel assesses every application on talent, need, and potential for lasting impact. We deliberately keep the panel diverse — spanning the arts, education, agriculture, and medicine — so no single perspective dominates.
No. Applying to and benefiting from any BMW CSR initiative is completely free. We never charge application, processing, or administrative fees.
BMW Play raises funds through charity football matches and traditional African games. The proceeds are committed to a different cause every year — from rural street lighting to women’s health — so support reaches where it is needed most at that moment.
We welcome partners who share our values — NGOs, hospitals, schools, and cultural institutions. Reach out through our contact page and our team will explore how we can collaborate.
Partner with us, nominate a beneficiary, or support an initiative. Together we can turn culture into lasting change.
