Friends with Benefits: How African Women Are Building Big Dreams on Strong Bonds
When people hear “friends with benefits,” business might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but in Africa’s rising creative, tech, and lifestyle sectors, friendship is fast becoming the foundation for some of the most impactful ventures on the continent.
From fintech founders to fashion changemakers and motherhood driven innovators, these women didn’t just build brands, they built with people they trust. The result? Purpose led platforms powered by mutual respect, emotional safety, and a shared sense of legacy.
Below, we spotlight five (out of many, might we add) African duos whose friendship became their greatest business asset.
Feyi Bello & Ibi Ibru
Co-founders of The Mum Fund
Close friends turned business partners, Feyi and Ibi founded The Mum Fund out of a shared vision to help African women secure financial independence, especially after becoming mothers themselves.
What started as private conversations about wealth building and legacy evolved into a continent wide movement rooted in care, community, and capital. Today, The Mum Fund equips women with tools to build, sustain, and grow wealth for themselves and their children. Because love is not the only thing worth passing down.
Dr. Inya Lawal & Dr. Yetty Ogunnubi
Longtime collaborators across FashionEVO, ACM & Science of Trade
In the world of creative entrepreneurship, few partnerships are as quietly powerful as that of Dr. Inya Lawal and Dr. Yetty Ogunnubi. Their alignment has given rise to lasting partnerships between FashionEVO and Dr. Lawal’s many initiatives, particularly Africa Creative Market (ACM) and Science of Trade, a pan-African project under Ascend Studios Foundation.
Through ACM, FashionEVO found space to amplify the fashion and lifestyle stories within Africa’s creative economy. Through Science of Trade, the two platforms co created learning experiences on the realities and opportunities in sustainable fashion, indigenous trade, and textile innovation. Read more on our Science of Trade coverage here, here, and here.
Khanyi Dhlomo & Sibu Mabena
Creative collaborators behind iconic South African campaigns
While they may not be formal co-founders, Khanyi Dhlomo and Sibu Mabena exemplify the power of creative sisterhood, one that blurs the line between mentorship, collaboration, and enduring trust.
Khanyi, the iconic media mogul behind Ndalo Media (home to Destiny and Destiny Man), and Sibu, a dynamic choreographer turned businesswoman and founder of Duma Collective, have worked together on high impact projects that fused storytelling, media, and performance. Their synergy was most visible in campaigns and live events that celebrated African excellence with flair and precision.
Sibu has credited Khanyi’s work (and by extension, their relationship) as a key influence in her career evolution. In return, Khanyi created platforms where voices like Sibu’s could be spotlighted and amplified. Their story is one of intergenerational creativity: where legacy meets fresh vision, and where collaboration becomes a vehicle for collective power.
Jola Ayeye & Feyikemi Abudu
Childhood friends turned podcasting powerhouses
Long before they were household names, Jola Ayeye and Feyikemi Abudu were just two childhood friends with sharp minds, great banter, and a shared love for meaningful conversations. In 2017, they launched I Said What I Said (ISWIS), a lifestyle podcast that has since become one of Africa’s most listened to audio platforms.
Their friendship is the magic behind the mic, evident in their sold out live shows across the world and a fanbase that hangs on to every hot take, life update, and deep cultural commentary. Together, they’ve built a community rooted in humor, honesty, and sisterhood.
Yasmin Belo-Osagie & Afua Osei
Founders of She Leads Africa
When Yasmin Belo-Osagie and Afua Osei first met at business school, they didn’t just hit it off, they found alignment in ambition, purpose, and perspective. That bond eventually birthed She Leads Africa (SLA), a trailblazing platform designed to bridge the gap between African women and opportunity.
At a time when most professional content was either Western or male centered, SLA emerged with bold storytelling, culturally relevant tools, and a refreshing tone that spoke directly to African millennial women. From bootcamps to pitch competitions and brand partnerships with global giants like Facebook and Huawei, Yasmin and Afua scaled SLA into one of the continent’s most trusted voices for women’s empowerment.
Behind the glossy campaigns and powerful panels is a friendship built on honesty, long haul vision, and the kind of respect that turns shared ideas into continent shifting action.
