The ‘Africa is Rising’ Narrative

An article series about business opportunities through an African lens and a closer look into the narrative by a few noteworthy contributions towards development in some parts of Africa.

Article by: Sheba Kamisri

The stereotypical portrayal of women in Nollywood (Nigerian film industry) spans over two decades. These films have real impact and viability globally with significant influence, further necessitating the directorial and production debuts made by women despite the cultural aspects in the Nigerian society, especially in a historically male-dominated industry.

Shaping the ‘Africa is Rising’ narrative cannot leave the efforts and impact of women in the film out of the conversation. Sexism, cultural norms, and damaging legacies, as a result, are still seen in movies today. The dissemination of and about Africa should be shaped through a creatively inclusive lens; however, this hasn’t been the case for over two decades, as reported by gender activists in their research findings of the Nollywood film industry.

Nigerian actor and filmmaker Omoni Oboli, notes the importance of becoming a filmmaker to take ownership of authentic storytelling in a patriarchal society, stating, “If my stories are going to have my DNA, then I must tell the stories myself…It’s hard to live in a society where things are not going well, and you are not doing anything about it.” She states that from the low participation of women in politics to the frustrations of a patriarchal society in Nigeria, these realities continue to influence her directorial debuts.

African film industries such as Nollywood (Nigerian film industry) and the South African film industry have been addressing the ‘Africa is Rising’ narrative through film while effectively contributing significantly to the GDP, shaping the narrative for themselves despite sexism, racism, and little to no government funding of films made by Africans. Women-owned organizations such as Sisters Working in Film and Television (SWIFT) are taking the lead in making these contributions and ensuring Africans and especially women are represented in film one screening at a time.

The percentage of women in the South African film industry is challenged with sexism and racism. Women in Nollywood accounted for a majority of the film production companies in 2016, effectively controlling the ‘Africa is Rising’ narrative while continually creating opportunities still realized today, with Nollywood films winning critical acclaim and some used as case studies in Universities globally. Sisters Working In Film and Television (SWIFT), a non-profit organization in South Africa, was conceptualized to combat the marginalization, advocate for women’s rights through storytelling, roles on-camera and behind the scenes, professional development, networking opportunities for its members through forging partnerships with stakeholders in a historically male-dominated and sexist industry.

During the financial years pre the Covid-19 pandemic, both the South African film industry and Nollywod contributed significantly to the GDP. The ‘Africa is rising’ narrative is effectively being shaped by the efforts made by women despite the Covid-19 pandemic setbacks, a historically sexist industry, and a predominantly male-dominated industry.