ANF September 2024 Newsletter

Hello

Find out how we’re helping journalists tell the story of African elections beyond corruption and conflict, why we’ve changed how we partner with storytellers and how Lupita Nyong'o is celebrating African heritage.

What’s Happening at Africa No Filter

1. We’re shifting narratives about African elections: Across the world, elections are one of the most widely covered news stories, due to their far-reaching consequences. But when did you last read an election story about Africa that didn’t focus on corruption, violence, or ethnic tensions? That’s why we are pleased to announce that Africa No Filter, in partnership with fraycollege, has developed a new storytelling guide, How to Write About an African Election: A Guide. It’s aimed at transforming how elections in Africa are reported by offering a comprehensive guide covering African elections, including practical tips, ethical guidelines, and case studies. This guide is about redefining the global narratives around Africa through a more nuanced portrayal of African democracy. Download it here, and register here to join a webinar on 3 October 2024 at 12:00 CET called Africa No Filter Presents: A conversation about writing African elections. Leading voices in journalism, media training, and electoral coverage from across the continent will discuss rethinking traditional approaches to election reporting.

2. We’ve evolved from being a funder to being a community-led enabler of storytellers: What’s new at Africa No Filter? We’re powering a community of storytellers, arts, culture and media organizations to ignite one of the most exciting movements for storytellers​ in Africa, the African Narrative Collective, for African content creators, journalists, visual and performance artists, as well as arts and culture organizations that care about how the world sees Africa and how Africa sees itself. Do you care? We’re looking for you. Here is more information in English and in French about the African Narrative Collective. Why should you apply to join the collective? There are online and in-person gatherings, learning opportunities, access to opportunities, and connections through a monthly newsletter. We’ll also use our platforms to amplify your work, and only members of the African Narrative Collective are eligible to apply for ANF grants.

3. We were in the press: Media coverage of Africa has always been dominated by narratives of disease, poverty, conflict, and political instability. These portrayals, rooted in colonial histories, continue to shape global perceptions and policy decisions. A nuanced and comprehensive analysis of how Africa is represented in global news could help change this. It could present a more balanced picture of the continent. Grace Itumbiri and Rutendo Nyaku, master’s students at the University of Cape Town, and part of the research team for the Global Media Index for Africa, unpacked insights from the report in The Conversations. Read the article in English and in French. 

4. We shared our opinions on a range of issues affecting Africa: The recent China-Africa Summit in Beijing last week led Moky Makura to ask this question: why were the leaders of China not going to Africa but felt it appropriate to summon African leaders to Beijing? And why did leaders from at least 50 countries turn up to stand in line when they were holding such powerful cards? Read When 1 does not equal 54 to find out why world leaders should be coming to Africa instead of summoning African leaders to their shores to set economic and development agendas for the continent. Another recent hot topic is migration, which has reached a crisis point in the Global North. It’s a hot political issue and has given rise to extreme right-wing parties. African leaders' voices are missing in the debate around migration. Find out how better stories about Africa can turn the tide of migration, and inspire Africa’s youth to lean into the opportunities that already exist within the continent.

5. We were out and about: We were at the third African Marketing Confederation (AMC) conference in Mombasa, Kenya, to discuss the importance of better storytelling about Africa. We also participated in the Global Mental Health Storytelling roundtable discussion with @Paramount and @ Prospira Global during UNGA. We also joined Busara’s festival , Tara Mistari,to discuss the importance of framing African stories in a way that shows progress, innovation, and opportunity.

Keeping up with ANF Narrative Champions

Are you based in Nairobi? Join acclaimed photographer Mutua Matheka as he presents FRAGMNTS, an awe-inspiring immersive installation that weaves over a decade of his work. Capturing the rooftops of Nairobi since 2010, this exhibition invites you to experience the city’s heart—both its vibrant hope and its beautiful chaos—through a powerful blend of film, photography, and immersive audio-visuals. Catch the exhibition at The Junction Mall on 25 October to 10 November between 11:00 am and 20:00. Buy your ticket here.

Can We All Stop Pretending? is a photographic installation by Vadu Rodrigues. The work presented is a series of images collected in Cape Verde, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, and Kenya, and uses photography, sculpture, and collage to showcase a positive view of Africa by celebrating the diverse cultures of the continent. Catch it at the University of Michigan’s Kresge Art Gallery until 4 October 2024. For more info, follow @Vadurodrigues and @positiveafrica on Instagram.

The only thing that beats getting lost between the pages of a compelling book is meeting other readers to discuss it, so if you’re looking for a book reading community that meets on WhatsApp, join Weyra Book Club. They read and discuss literature by African authors. Join the WhatsApp group here. Follow them on Instagram at _weyra.

Are you a journalist who frames African stories through solutions, innovation, and opportunity? Minority Africa is looking for writers, journalists, and filmmakers who have an interest in reporting stories focused on minorities within the African continent, including women, sexual, gender, ethnic, and religious minorities, persons with disabilities, migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and other groups who don’t fit in these broad categories through a solutions journalism lens. Read their Pitch Guide here.

Shifting Narratives
- documenting the narrative progress we’re seeing

We’re loving #CapetowntoCairo tour across Africa. From Cape Town to Durban, Johannesburg, Accra, Lagos, and Nairobi, the Grammy Award-winning artist is showing that #Africa is a prime destination for world tours. Despite being overlooked by major tours, Africa has a diverse pop culture perfect for artists. Hopefully, more record labels will follow PJ Morton’s example and include African cities on their tour routes.

Lupita Nyong'o launched a new podcast, Mind Your Own, to celebrate African voices. The 10-part series dives into the lived experiences of Africans in the diaspora, exploring what it truly means to belong. The podcast also spotlights diverse African cultures, features six African languages, and celebrates African heritage through Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Kampala.

South Africa's Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has been shortlisted for the Yashin Trophy’s world's best goalkeeper award, making him the first African-based player to be nominated.

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

Want to receive this newsletter in French? Subscribehere.