ANF Newsletter March 2024

Hello 

Meet Africa’s youngest elected President, keep up with the latest wins by our Narrative Champions, and find out which African city is one of the most delicious places in the world.

What’s Happening at Africa No Filter

1. We brought together visual artists in Venice: The Venice Biennale is one of the most prestigious events in the art world, and an opportunity for artists to network with curators, the media and other stakeholders. For the 2024 edition, we partnered with the African Art in Venice Forum (AAVF) to host a breakfast event that provided new opportunities to discover, learn, discuss, explore, and exchange topics and projects related to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora.

2. We powered emerging authors with tips to getting published: Did you miss the Africa No Filter Academy Presents: Get Your Book Published masterclass with Bibi Bakare-Yusuf.  Tune into this video to find out how you can launch a career as an author. Bakare-Yusuf, in conversation with Sarah Ozo-Irabor, unpacked the intricacies of the publishing world, from how you can find your voice, build a profile, network with audiences and other steps involved in the process of turning an idea into a compelling book. 

3. We are calculating the cost of harmful narratives: Our research has indicated that harmful narratives affect Africa in at least four crucial ways: how aid flows into the continent, how trade and investment comes in, how the world sees Africa and perhaps most importantly, how Africa sees itself. There is also an undeniable impact on tourism, brain drain, etc. which have severe financial implications. We’re undertaking a study to research how much money Africa loses each year by leaving harmful narratives unchecked. How much would you estimate this is? Follow our community to get the scoop once the report is published. How else do you think bad narratives are costing the continent? Share with #BetterRepresentation and tag @Africanofilter to join the conversation.

4. We’re going to the International Journalism Festival: The event, which takes place in Perugia, Italy brings together media stakeholders to discuss all things news. This year, we’re hosting a panel discussion on decolonizing the news about Africa, and why we need new news that highlights the positive side of the continent. The conversation features Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO Big Cabal Media; Sipho Kings, co-founder and publisher The Continent;  Nishant Lalwani, CEO International Fund for Public Interest Media; Moky Makura, executive director at Africa No Filter; and Ebele Okobi, CEO The New Humanitarian. It will be held at Sala Raffaello, Hotel Brufani on 20 April at 10:00. Follow the festival’s YouTube to join the live stream.

5. We were out and about: We joined the Institute for Integrated Transitions webinar, titled Media and Narrative: Building Peace in Polarised Societies, to discuss how digital media can enrich the narrative landscape. We were at the Emerge Story Conference to unpack the role of storytellers in shaping Africa’s narrative for the better. This is why we advocate for them to represent Africa better in their stories. We also celebrated International Women’s Day with the Visiola Foundation.

Keeping up with ANF Narrative Champions

Some inspiration to fuel your desire to tell African stories beyond stereotypes.

1. Media Challenge Initiative’s CEO Abaas Mpindi won the prestigious Elevate Prize 2024. He was recognized for “inspiring the next generation of journalists in Africa on their mission to change the world.” 

2. Yasmine Fofana, the founder of Afrofoodie, Abidjan Restaurant Week and Abidjan Cocktail week, is on the judging panel of Black Women in Food 2024. She was a Black Women in Food honoree in 2019.

3. Emmanuel Mushy of Visually Aided Stories has been nominated in the Mental Health Awareness Creatio category of the Now-Us! Creativity and Innovation Awards 2024. It’s in recognition of his Art for Inclusion Program.

4. Zikora Media’s Diaspora is looking for personal essays about African diaspora experiences. Don't consider yourself a "writer?" That's OK! Their editors will collaborate with you to bring out the best of your story. Essays should be between 800 - 1200 words. More info.

5. The  March edition of Lolwe is now out. It features fiction by Aba Amissah Asibon, nonfiction by Elisha Oluyemi, poetry by Maelynn Ford, and photography by Abubakar Mustapha.

Shifting Narratives
- documenting the narrative progress we’re seeing

Senegal’s recent presidential election gave the country and the continent its youngest elected leader in President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who is 44-years-old. The country’s March 2024 elections also featuredAnta Babacar Ngom, the first woman to run for the presidency.

Adejoké “Joké'' Bakareis the first Black female chef in the UK to earn a Michelin star. It’s for Chishuru, a West African fusion restaurant.

Cairo is one of the best places in the world to experience food tourism, according to Food Eater magazine’s 2024 list of the best places to eat. 

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

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