Twin brothers Joel and Jeffrey Ezugwu, Nigerian-born entrepreneurs now based in the United States, have launched a television streaming platform aimed at bridging the gap for Africans in the diaspora seeking authentic local content.
According to Forbes, the brothers, who moved to Los Angeles at the age of 14, said the idea for Zugu TV was born out of a desire to access the kind of shows they grew up watching in Nigeria.
“Telemundo has it for Latinos, BET has it for Black Americans, but if you think about it, there’s nothing for Africans,” says Jeff.
The 30-year-old co-founders introduced the platform this summer, offering livestreams of Nigerian broadcasts including sports.
They explained that the service targets Nigerians abroad who want to remain connected to their culture.
“There are a lot of people like us,” says Joel.
The brothers said their ambition is to secure rights to popular Nigerian and African programs such as Big Brother Naija, Nollywood films, music videos, and documentaries.
They also plan to produce original programming, including Nigeria Today, a show that will spotlight life in underprivileged Nigerian communities.
The founders have partnered with operations manager, Wisdom Mugudu, who said demand for such content is high among Nigerians living in the U.S.
“They may be far away from home, but many of them really wish to get this local content, our social, cultural content, raw, original, in the U.S., because they could not access it being away from home for 15, 20 years,” says Mugudu.
Meanwhile, the US mission on has applauded the feat of the two brothers.
In a statement on X sighted by Diaspora NG, the mission wrote: “From Nigeria to Los Angeles, twin brothers Joel & Jeffrey Ezugwu are connecting Nigerian sports and culture to the U.S. diaspora, carving a space for African voices in U.S. media.
“Through their platform, Zugu TV, they’re streaming Nigerian sports, culture & entertainment—keeping the diaspora connected to home. A true story of Nigerian American innovation and impact! #AmericanExcellence.
