Shaping the Future of African Animation at CANEX @ IATF2023 | Egypt

On November 10, 2023, at the #massive Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2023) in Egypt, under the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) born Creative Africa Nexus - CANEX , I was honored to lead a compelling and surely impactful discussion titled, “The Future of Animation, is Africa Prepared?”

It was a great panel made up of esteemed industry professionals and visionaries from various African countries and the diaspora. My humble self Ebele Okoye of Jolly Squid Media & Animation , Nigeria) in discourse with John Kamara , the global CEO of Adanian Labs and Ada Animation Kenya; Camille Selvon , the director of the Anime Caribe Animation Festival, Trinidad and Tobago; Mahmoud Hemeda , CEO/Co-founder of Samaka Studio and the Animatex Animation Festival, Egypt; Amath Ndiaye , a pioneering Senegalese animator and CEO of Obelus Film & Animation Studio & Animation Studio; Comfort Arthur , award-winning director and CEO of @The Comfy Studios Ghana; and of course, Stuart Forrest , the CEO of Triggerfish .

Our journey together began with insightful pre-meetings, (virtual- long before the event and on location) where we delved into the industry's retrospective, assessed current situations and trends, and envisioned a path forward for African animation.

On the stage, we seamlessly transformed into an incredible team, delving into vital aspects of African animation's future, technology, collaboration, talent development, content creation, and global market access. We navigated challenges, celebrated success stories, and anticipated AI's impact.

The session offered valuable insights, stressing the industry's need for strategic alignment with global trends to ensure ongoing success and innovation. In surmise, our discussions emphasized the need for recognizing animation as a business in Africa, encouraging stakeholders and policymakers to invest and introduce incentives for industry growth.

Yet, a significant challenge lies in funding, where financial professionals seek tangible returns and a robust track record before investing. It's a catch-22 situation for the animation industry – without funding, production stalls, hindering potential revenue generation.

In my conversation with AFREXIM Bank TV as well as Gabriel Edgal , I drew an analogy: Imagine having $10k and aspiring to build a multi-billion-dollar business. Ideas need resources to flourish, and the animation industry is no exception.

According to the CANEX brief, it’s a 470 billion industry and Africa and the Caribbean take only one percent. Conversations beyond the panel make it evident that there's a collective yearning to elevate African animation, and we're committed to finding the right avenues for crucial changes in this ecosystem.

A heartfelt thanks to Temwa G. , for facilitating this. Edima Otuokon and Lara Utian , not forgetting Chanelle Ellaya and Karla Morkel who co-ordinated our communication, presence, and attendance. Thank you, all for curating such a stellar lineup, and ensuring the industry's voice was heard loud and clear at this remarkable event. We delivered a session that resonated powerfully. The positive feedback reaffirms that our messages, as ambassadors of the industry, are gaining traction.

I can’t close this without mentioning the magnificent venue, where the IATF unfolded its grandeur. I also enjoyed the golf cart rides from venue to venue, adding a touch of recreational delight to it all. So, even amidst the serious mission, we did not forget to have fun!

As we express our gratitude to IATF for providing a platform for creative industries, we're diligently following up on the momentum generated. African Animation has come a long way. This is the right time. The younger generation will not struggle like we did. be on the lookout. Change is on the horizon. The future is bright.

#AfricanAnimation #IATF #CANEXEXPO #AnimationIndustry #IndustryInsights #CanexExpo2023 #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessOptimization #InvestInAnimation #Technology #Collaboration #TalentDevelopment #ContentCreation #GlobalMarketAccess ?#ChangeMakers #AmathNdiaye #CamilleSelvon #JohnKamara #ComfortArthur #StuartForrest #EbeleOkoye #ChangeIsComing cc Oakwood Green Africa Afreximbank Research Intra-African Trade Fair IATF Mohamed Zoghlami Rex Bowden

Videos & Images shot by the team of Ebele Okoye, Mahmoud Hemeda & Amath Ndiaye