Swedish artist, Yajna Aurora Panes, known professionally as Yajna, is an entrepreneur, film producer, and cultural advocate. She is the founder and chief executive officer of Africa Rising TV and Rising Phoenix Music Group, organizations focused on promoting African creative talent and cross cultural collaboration between Africa and international entertainment markets.
Early life and background
Yajna Aurora Panes was born in Sweden. She developed an early interest in music, performance, and visual storytelling, later expanding into media production and cultural initiatives.
Career
Africa Rising TV
Yajna founded Africa Rising TV, a digital streaming platform created to showcase African creators and cultural content to international audiences. The platform features programming across music, film, sports, documentaries, and talk shows, with the stated goal of expanding global access to African storytelling and creative expression.
Rising Phoenix Music Group
She established Rising Phoenix Music Group, a creative development and production company that supports emerging artists through production, distribution, and creative guidance.
Afro Vision initiative
Yajna is developing Afro Vision, a music and cultural event initiative aimed at promoting African artists and highlighting the global growth of Afrobeats and contemporary African music. The project is intended to provide performance opportunities and foster collaboration between African and international industry professionals.
Engagement with Nigeria and the Global Entrepreneurship Festival
Yajna has participated in activities within Nigeria’s creative and entrepreneurial sector. In 2024, she performed at the Global Entrepreneurship Festival (GEF) in Akure, Ondo State, and spoke at the Women Congress session during the event.
In September 2025, she returned to Nigeria as a board member of the Global Entrepreneurship Festival delegation for the GEF Business Mixer held in Lagos.
Music career
Performing under the name Yajna, she records music blending soul and R&B influences with global and African sounds. She has expressed interest in collaborating with Nigerian artists and producers and has worked on recording projects in Lagos, Nigeria. Her musical themes include empowerment, healing, and creative expression.
Film and media production
Yajna works as a video producer and filmmaker. She produced the documentary film WOMAN, which is available on Amazon Prime Video.
She has also developed a documentary project featuring a road trip across Sweden with her children, documenting her personal life journey and recovery from clinical depression.
Advocacy and public speaking
Yajna is involved in youth empowerment initiatives and speaks on women’s empowerment, creativity, personal development, and mental health awareness. Her advocacy includes sharing personal experiences related to overcoming depression and resilience.
Personal life
Yajna is a mother of two children. She is an action sports enthusiast and participates in activities including dirt biking, skateboarding, snowboarding, and horseback riding.
Artistic style and themes
Her work combines music, film, and cultural initiatives centered on cross-cultural exchange, empowerment, and storytelling. Her projects frequently emphasize collaboration between African creatives and international markets.
See also
African diaspora in European arts
Afrobeats global expansion
Cultural exchange in entertainment
