ANF February 2025 Newsletter
 Hello, In this issue, you’ll find out why we were in Lagos, how members of the African Narrative Collective have been advocating for authentic storytelling about Africa, and the new order in sales for African art. What’s Happening at Africa No Filter 1.We’re shaping Nigeria’s future through authentic storytelling: The world is loving Nigerian music, arts, fashion, food, and literature. But this is not the story that the world sees about the country, yet the country’s narrative is not defined by its influence, progress, opportunity, creativity, and innovation. Africa No Filter brought together influential voices in media, storytelling, and creative industries to explore how we can collectively shape Nigeria’s narrative through the NaijaNow initiative, a partnership with Yellow Brick Road. 2. We’re helping African storytellers do away with bias: As custodians of narratives, African storytellers play a powerful role in shaping how the world sees the continent and how we see ourselves. But here’s something to reflect on: Do we also need to be wary of conscious and unconscious bias in our own storytelling? How do you currently check for bias in the stories you tell? And how would you feel about a tool designed to help with this? We were at the Africa Media Festival, where we explored how storytelling and tech shape Africa’s narrative, and to talk about the Africa Bias Buster tool. Check it out here and let us know what you think via this survey. 3. We’re creating working spaces for creatives: Creative Economy Practice at CcHUB, in partnership with ANF, launched the CEP Entertainment Hub in Lagos—the perfect space to support storytellers in developing authentic, gender-equitable narratives representing diverse perspectives. The hub features two fully equipped podcast studios, a media production room with a green-screen filming area, and an editing suite for high-quality production and collaborative workspaces. If you’re a storyteller in Film, TV, or the Creator Economy, this is the place to be! Join the #EntertainmentandMediaHubscommunity to access these facilities and resources and take your projects to the next level. 4. We wrote about how to shift the media narrative on Africa: What if, 100 years from now, researchers trying to understand what life in Africa was like in 2025 used today’s media as their sole research tool? They wouldn’t know what over 70% of the continent thought, did, or cared about. They wouldn’t hear about the young entrepreneurs building businesses out of nothing or the artists, musicians, and filmmakers shaping global culture. They wouldn’t know how the average Nigerian, Gambian, or Ugandan spent their weekends, what they ate, watched and listened to, because so little of the media coverage today reflects everyday life on the ground in Africa. All these are stories that are missing about Africa in traditional media. Read more. 5. We helped storytellers understand what they need to attract funding: Did you miss the Africa No Filter Academy Presents: How Creatives and Storytellers Can Attract Funding fireside chat with George Gachara? Catch up here to find out how you can build your brand, raise funds targeting various sources, how to network effectively, and why it matters to take your creativity and creativity enterprise like a bonafide business even if all you can do is register an entity and open a bank account. The masterclass was hosted by Bertha Tobias of the Spotlight By Bertha Tobias podcast. Keeping up with ANF Narrative Champions  1. Can the creative industry impact national development in Nigeria? Tune into the Difficult Conversation Africa with media, communications and development expert Yinka Olaito as he unpacks the power of youth, creativity and cultural assets in telling better stories about Nigeria. 2. This year, Bantu Film Festival challenges filmmakers to Decolonize the Single Story of African Cinema and bring diverse, bold, and authentic narratives to the big screen. Be part of this year’s edition; submit your film here. Deadline: 31 March. 3. Get ready for the release of Deronke Abdul’s in the Heart of the Flood on archiveofourown.org and Deronkeabdul.medium.com. Two chapters will be unveiled every week from March 1st. That’s 12 chapters with resilience, culture, and the gripping journey of Amina Danlad; a medical school dropout haunted by a traumatic past, finds herself thrust into a reflective journey in the wake of a catastrophic flood. 4.Dating is complicated, not to mention dating on the apps. And for LGBTQI+ people on the African continent, where many countries criminalize queerness, it’s even more complicated. Radio Workshop’s latest podcast episode delves into how queer Africans in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia and Kenya navigate love, community and friendship. Tune in here. Shifting Narratives - documenting the narrative progress we’re seeing From ARISE 30 Under 30 to global recognition, Ghanaian brand Boyedoe made it to the semi-final for the 2025 LVMH Prize—one of the most prestigious awards in global fashion. Founded by David Kusi Boye-Doe, the brand is proof that African designers are redefining fashion on the world stage. It’s inspired by the mythical Sank of a bird, the brand blends deconstruction and reconstruction to create bold, sustainable designs that honor African heritage while shaping the future. African footballers are the ones to watch as the Saudi Pro League season reaches its climax in May. More than 50 African players are in the league’s 18 teams. They include Sadio Mane , Musa Barrow, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Riyad Mahrez, Abderrazak Hamdallah, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, and Myziane Maolida. African women artists are outperforming their male counterparts when it comes to art sales. The top five highest-priced sales of African art were all by women - a shift that marks a significant moment in art market history, particularly as global sales of women artists have not yet reached parity with men,” says Lindsay Dewar, chief operating officer of research company ArtTactic. The top selling artists are Julie Mehretu, Irma Stern Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Toyin Ojih Odutola, and Marlene Dumas. Shifting Narratives 
1. Can the creative industry impact national development in Nigeria? Tune into the Difficult Conversation Africa with media, communications and development expert Yinka Olaito as he unpacks the power of youth, creativity and cultural assets in telling better stories about Nigeria. 2. This year, Bantu Film Festival challenges filmmakers to Decolonize the Single Story of African Cinema and bring diverse, bold, and authentic narratives to the big screen. Be part of this year’s edition; submit your film here. Deadline: 31 March. 3. Get ready for the release of Deronke Abdul’s in the Heart of the Flood on archiveofourown.org and Deronkeabdul.medium.com. Two chapters will be unveiled every week from March 1st. That’s 12 chapters with resilience, culture, and the gripping journey of Amina Danlad; a medical school dropout haunted by a traumatic past, finds herself thrust into a reflective journey in the wake of a catastrophic flood. 4.Dating is complicated, not to mention dating on the apps. And for LGBTQI+ people on the African continent, where many countries criminalize queerness, it’s even more complicated. Radio Workshop’s latest podcast episode delves into how queer Africans in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia and Kenya navigate love, community and friendship. Tune in here. That’s it. Remember to follow us on social media at @Africanofilter. Want to receive this newsletter in French? Subscribehere. |
