ANF June Newsletter

Hello Reader, 

Meet our first African funder, find out what our Narrative Champions did next and meet women breaking glass ceilings in politics, sports, and music.

What's happening at Africa No Filter

1. We’re empowering creative hubs to use art for climate justice: We’re harnessing the power of art and creativity to change the narrative on climate change in Africa and bridge the gap between communities who will most be affected, and policymakers who will determine our climate future through the WeARE Climate Justice campaign. It’s delivered in partnership with Crtv Development. It will culminate with showcases at COP27 in Egypt.

2. We’re shining the light on the spirit of entrepreneurship in Africa: Our partnership with our first African funder, African business leader and philanthropist Tony E Elumelu, celebrates entrepreneurship in Africa the best way we know how to; through storytelling. The Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund will award grants worth $500 to $2000 to journalists, filmmakers, content producers, visual and performing artists to work on projects that amplify African entrepreneurs. Applications close on 29 July. More info.

3. We shifted the narrative on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Our first Storify Africa cohort is complete. Storify Africa is a storytelling initiative that partners with organisations to shift narratives on issues they care about. The cohort partnered with the Hewlett Foundation to amplify sexual and reproductive health and rights beyond stereotypes and resulted in compelling stories about this rural women’s centre that’s leading the fight against period poverty in Zimbabwe, how intersex persons in Kenya are making their voices heard in an effort to access healthcare, the mobile App that’s improving responses to gender-based violence in Nigeria and a shelter that’s changing the lives of survivors of gender-based violence in Kenya.

4. We were out and about: We were at the DW Global Media Forum to discuss the power of stereotypes and how storytellers can combat their own prejudices. We also attended the Virtual Skoll World Forum Ecosystem Event, where we spoke about the importance of storytelling, how it allows us to connect and expand our imaginations and how it helps us understand narratives. We were also invited to the second edition of the Creative Business Series to discuss the barriers and opportunities for trade and investment in Africa with a focus on the African Creative Economy.

5. This is how to sell climate action in Africa: The disaster narrative around climate change in Africa has done little to catalyse climate action, so we need a new script. The starting point should be that the climate crisis – despite appearances to the contrary, and despite the warnings of activists like Greta Thunberg – is not all doom and gloom. Like the COVID-19 pandemic, it is an opportunity for a global reset that could greatly benefit Africa. Read more.

6. We’re mentoring the next generation of narrative-shifting journalists: The Africa Union launched its inaugural Media Fellowship designed to provide a platform for African journalists and content creators to enhance their capacity to reframe African narratives, and to ensure that stories about the continent are balanced and true to the experiences of its people. We are one of the mentors for the Fellowship.

Meet our latest Narrative Champions

Impact is the name of the game for these ANF #NarrativeChampions.

1. The often neglected contributions of people of African descent to the development of global health and wellness were highlighted at the 2022 LitFest Harare symposium. Over 140 people attended this 3-day event.

2. Getting global media to think about how they decolonise their newsroom was on the agenda at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy, when The New Humanitarian hosted a sideline event to unpack Decolonising Global Media Coverage. It was attended by 22 representatives from a group of international media that cover the Global South, regional media representatives from the Middle East, Africa and Asia, academics who study global journalism, and media funders. Watch here.

3. 18 African writers got a chance to spend a month honing their skills at the West African Writers Residency hosted by the Library Of Africa and The African Diaspora (LOATAD). The residency is part of LOATAD’s mission of shining the light on the wealth of storytelling in Africa through initiatives that promote reading, and access to books by African writers and those of African descent.

4. One of Johannesburg's monuments got a make-over recently when Keleketla! Library worked with various municipal, regional and governmental stakeholders to rehabilitate the Drill Hall - an art, culture and heritage infrastructure in Johannesburg. The archives and data gathered through their grant are being put into active use in diplomatic strategies and creative engagements.

Shifting Narratives
- documenting the narrative progress we’re seeing 

Colombians elected the country’s first Black vice president. Francia Marquez,40, is a formidable leader and activist whose work includes working with the women of La Toma to stop illegal gold mining on their ancestral land.

Sampa the Great is putting Zambian music on the world stage. The rapper, songwriter and poet’s latest feat? Becoming the first Zambian artist to perform at Glastonbury music festival. It’s one of the biggest live stages in the music world. The 2022 edition also featured Seun Kuti, Angelique Kidjo, Burna Boy and Tems, whose status as a global rising star was sealed with a BET Award in the Best International Act category.

25-year-old Maxine Wahome made history by becoming the first Kenyan woman to win the WRC Safari Rally Kenya. The rally dates back to 1953 and is considered one of the toughest in the world.

Belgium returned the gold tooth that’s believed to be the last remains of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba back to his family. Lumumba, who was DRC’s first Prime Minister, was killed by a firing squad in 1961, and his body dissolved in acid. The gold-capped tooth was received by her daughter.

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

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