New Festival in Lagos Supports African Creatives

The first Africa Content Festival brought together content creators, filmmakers, writers, animators, journalists, poets, and other professionals to find ways to work together and grow in Africa’s creative industry.

The festival took place at the Ouida Sunroom in Lagos over the weekend. It included masterclasses, discussions, interviews, pitching sessions, film screenings, and displays of creative work. Participants had the chance to showcase their work and learn from industry experts.

The event aimed to connect new talent with industry opportunities. Sessions focused on creating intentional content, engaging audiences, distribution, making money, and career growth.

Some guest professionals included award-winning filmmaker Femi Odugbemi, Mbuotidem Johnson, Ayodele Elegba, Charles Nnadozie, Samuelson Oyejide, Wana Udobang, Grace Okon, Aromire Abdulquyum, Timilehin Felix-Fakeye, Asuelime Oje, and Zion Peter.

Purpose of the Festival

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Seun Adeleye, co-founder of the Africa Content Festival, said the event was created to give young creatives a steady space to learn, connect, and grow their careers.

Mr Adeleye explained that the organisers had run training and outreach programmes through Shoot Your Shot Africa at places like Yaba College of Technology, the American Corner, and Bariga in Lagos.

But they wanted to do more than just occasional programs. They wanted to create a platform that regularly brings creatives together. “From ideation to reality has been a roller coaster. Good idea, good plan. But actually sourcing funds and trying to make it a reality was tough,” he said.

Mr Adeleye mentioned that the organisers financed the first edition using personal savings and support from friends. Despite the challenges, he felt the effort was worth it when he saw participants learning and connecting with professionals they admired.

“For me, the joy in seeing this kind of thing come to life is seeing the faces of people light up as they learn, as they connect, as they get the opportunity to even interact with people that they have just seen from afar,” he said.

Building Sustainable Businesses

Mr Adeleye said the festival aimed to help new creatives understand their goals and make career choices that fit their dreams. The co-founder noted that experienced professionals in film, media, and other creative fields offered practical insights about the industry.

“The era of just doing anything is fading. This is the era where you set your plan from the start, and you build towards something,” he said.

Mr Adeleye added that content creation serves different purposes, like entertainment, education, and sharing personal experiences. But creators need to know their intended audience.

He said making content without a clear purpose or target audience could limit its potential. Creators should be intentional and create content that meets what audiences want, instead of just following trends.

The African Content Scene

Apart from skill development, Mr Adeleye said the festival aimed to build a sustainable African content scene where creatives can earn money and develop viable businesses.

He explained that creating content is just part of the process. Distribution, audience engagement, and monetisation are also important.

Mr Adeleye said digital platforms have opened doors for African creatives, but they need to know how to position their work to reach audiences and make money. The festival is meant to be an African initiative, not just for Nigeria.

He said future editions will include participants from other countries, like Kenya and South Africa, and could even take place outside Nigeria.

Supporting Creatives

Adebisi Peters, co-founder of the festival, shared that the event was part of the organisation’s fifth-anniversary activities. It aims to create spaces for new creatives to show their work and connect with industry professionals.

Mr Peters explained that while the organisation has trained thousands, many still face challenges in getting visibility and opportunities to advance their careers.

He said the festival was set up to offer them a chance to showcase their work, learn from experienced professionals, and look for career opportunities. “Our goal is to help creatives gain visibility and access to opportunities,” Mr Peters said.

He added that the organisation does not take a cut of the earnings from the talents it supports. It builds on the work of Shoot Your Shot Africa, which has trained over 5,040 young people in media and creative skills. Some of these trainees now work with TV stations, while others have landed international jobs.

Mr Peters noted that the organisation is accredited by the National Board for Technical Education as a vocational training centre. It has also been commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Education to train 80 young people in creative media, which raises its expected training reach to over 5,100.

Nurturing Future Leaders

Mr Peters said the organisation’s work goes beyond teaching skills. It also includes professional ethics and standards, which are key for developing the creative industry.

He mentioned that the organisers are looking for partnerships with government agencies and private companies to grow the festival and create more chances for new talents.

The long-term goal is for programme beneficiaries to become leaders and mentors who will help the next generation. Through the Africa Content Festival, the organisers hope to boost collaboration, improve access to opportunities, and build an African creative industry where talent can lead to sustainable careers and businesses.