ANF February 2023 Newsletter

Hello Reader, 

Find out why African media gathered in Nairobi, meet our latest Narrative Champions and how Ghanaian heritage showed up at the NAACP Image Awards.

What’s Happening at Africa No Filter

We opined on why African leaders shouldn’t mince their words: Gone are the days when African leaders featured on global platforms as the tail instead of being the head, speaking up and confronting uncomfortable truths about the West’s relationship with Africa. Read Moky’s Musings  in the New African to find out how Africans are beginning to influence what’s being eaten and who gets to sit at the table. It has to do with leaders who are challenging the old perceptions and sending a clear message that their country, and this continent, are no longer the poor relative with no place at the table.

We’re taking your idea for a TV show from pitch to production:Africa No Filter Academy Presents: From pitch to TV Show with Multichoice is a deep dive into the world of television. It will be delivered by Sanele Shibe, a commissioning editor at Multichoice. Shibe will help you understand storytelling for TV, the kind of content that broadcasters are looking for, and share his expertise on how you can empower yourself with skills and networks, and how to connect to other storytellers. Join us on 15 March at 3 PM SAST | 2 PM WAT | 4 PM EAT. Register here.

We partnered with Wiki Foundation to increase African content: And for March, it’s about climate change and the environment, so join us this Friday, March 3rd, for Wiki Africa Hour Special Edition to launch the Africa Environment WikiFocus Drive. The webinar unpacks media coverage of climate change in Africa, takes a deep dive into Wiki projects on Climate Change, unpack climate change policies and environmental policies and find out how you can become a Wiki contributor. Time: 5 PM WAT | 6 PM SAST | 7 PM EAT. Register here.

Keeping up with ANF Narrative Champions

1. How do you turn young people into agents of change for the communities and country? Youth-led Africa Matters Initiative was founded in 2015 to empower African youth leadership skills. They also support social entrepreneurship and advocacy. In addition to workshops and webinars, our partnership will help them build a media department that showcases their work. Listen to their podcast here.

2. The story of Sierra Leone is often defined by conflict, underdevelopment and poor leadership — a narrative that journalist and content creator Sal Jallow is transforming through content that celebrates the beauty and charms of Sierra Leone. See more.

3. Sinatou Saka had a dream; to stage a podcasting festival that brings together established and emerging podcasters to network, expand their skills and share their journeys. The dream was realised with  OXO PodFest, the first Francophone African podcasting festival.

4. The adage that laughter is the best medicine has turned vlogger, Moses Kiboneka, into a comedy sensation. His YouTube channel, I am Uncle Mo, offers relatable and witty observations that have turned the channel into a favourite. We’re correctly laughing out loud at this episode, called Signs That You Need to Work Harder in 2023.

5. How do you create a robust media industry that’s innovative, profitable, independent and offers news perspectives that go beyond the usual stereotypes of doom and gloom? These and other critical issues were discussed at the Africa Media Festival in Nairobi. And we were one of the partners for the event; bringing together more than 100 delegates made of investors, grantmakers, media owners, social media platforms, journalists, creatives and governments to talk about all things media in Africa. More info.

Shifting Narratives
- documenting the narrative progress we’re seeing

1. Award-winning Abbott Elementary star  Sheryl Lee Ralph took Ghana’s Kente cloth to NAACP Image Awards. Kente, known as the fabric of kings, dates back to the days of the Ashanti empire that rose to prominence in the 1700s. The actress's outfit was made by Ghana-based fashion house, Pistis Ghana.

 2. Proving that Afrobeats is one of Africa’s biggest exports to the world, three of the genre’s hottest stars performed at the NBA All-Star game. Burna Boy, Tems and Rema have been making waves for their various achievements in the global music industry, including winning Grammy awards and an Oscar nomination for Tems, for co-writing Rihanna’s Lift Me Up. Rema is currently enjoying chart-topping success with his hit Calm Down. It features Selena Gomez.

3. Could Africa be on track to reclaim its 2019 status as the second fastest-growing tourism market globally? Some of the world’s biggest hotel brands - Marriott, Radisson Blu, Hyatt and LEVA - think so and are expanding their presence in Africa. Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced plans to reestablish its presence in South Africa with Park Hyatt Johannesburg and enter the Moroccan market with Park Hyatt Marrakech. Marriott International wants to open 30 hotels across Africa by the end of 2024. Radisson Hotel Group opened its first safari resort in Africa, Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort, Zambia, as part of its strategy to open 150 hotels in the market by 2025, while Dubai-based brand LEVA is eyeing Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Uganda and Nigeria.

That’s it. Remember to follow us on social media at @Africanofilter.

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