The ‘Africa is Rising’ narrative

‘Africa Rising’ a business series

Article by: Sheba Kamisri

Is the narrative ‘Africa is rising’ an African narrative or a well-meaning journalist or economist’s perspective from a western lens? A closer look into noteworthy contributions towards development in some parts of Africa. More specifically, if ‘Africa is rising’ concerning telling stories and gaining opportunities from the film and audio (podcasting) industry in some parts of Africa.

The idea that ‘Africa is rising’ concerning telling stories by Africans is ironic because this narrative was created by a well-meaning western journalist or economist using a western lens.

The South African film industry, which is said to be the oldest in Africa and one of the oldest globally, started in May 1896, with the production of South Africa’s first newsreel ‘African Mirror’ in 1913. In more recent history, it was reported that between 2016 – 2017 South Africa’s film industry contributed R5.4 billion (approximately $464 million) to the country’s GDP. However, many African countries have not yet tapped into this industry. Studios like Cape Town Film Studios have successfully produced films such as “Safe House” (2012) starring Denzel Washington and “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” (2013) starring Idris Elba. The data is readily available for those that want to use it to their advantage but, to claim that opportunities aren’t readily available with the various online learning tools at our fingertips is apparently no longer an excuse for those willing and capable of investing the time and effort necessary to contribute to the film and or digital media industry to ensure that indeed ‘Africa is Rising.’

The narrative ‘Africa is Rising’ hasn’t always told stories through African lenses. However, podcasts have quickly become a valuable source for people to share their perspectives through podcasts and digital media, sharing lived experiences or professional expertise in various fields, and even through fictional stories.

According to Josephine Karianjahi, in an article published on the Africa Renewal, an E-Magazine on the United Nations website, podcasting is taking Africa by storm. Although the narrative ‘Africa is Rising’ isn’t often used from the lived experiences or professional expertise of Africans; the data about podcasting, digital media, and the film industry clearly show in favor of Africans that invest in this industry, racking in millions of South African Rand, Nigerian Naira and Kenyan Shilling according to many reports about the film and digital media industry done in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya respectively; over the last ten years.

Sources of information about how to get into this field vary from the traditional short course to undergraduate and advanced levels. However, with online resources and dedicated spaces to digital media, there are many resources online for people interested in contributing to this industry.