Author: Tambay A. Obenson

This year marks the centennial of the birth of Paulin Soumanou Vieyra (1925-1987), a filmmaker, critic, and historian who played a pioneering role in the emergence and global recognition of African cinema. On the occasion of this 100th anniversary, a series of commemorative events, including film screenings, exhibitions, and academic conferences, are scheduled to take […]

As part of my commitment to providing comprehensive yet discerning coverage of Africa’s diverse and complex screen landscapes, I periodically analyze my own reporting to uncover country focus gaps as well as potential industry trends that might not be immediately apparent. Having conducted a first such analysis just after Q1 2024, this second examination includes […]

The Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) has announced the official selection for its 29th edition, scheduled for February 22 through March 1, 2025, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The lineup includes 17 features competing for the Étalon de Yennenga (the festival’s top prize), 15 feature documentaries, 34 shorts, and broad sections for animation, […]

Adrien James Prince de Capistran, affectionately known as “Uncle Didine,” was a pioneering Gabonese actor who passed away on January 5, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of storytelling. Establishing his screen career in the early 1980s, Prince de Capistran became a defining figure in Gabonese cinema and television, contributing to films and iconic television series […]

In a year that saw Idris Elba secure land allocation for a film studio in Zanzibar, announce plans for a “smart city” in Sierra Leone, and Kenya’s $284 million agreement with South Korea for a Digital Media City, joining other ambitious infrastructural projects like Rwanda’s Kigali Innovation City, Ghana’s Hope City, and Egypt’s Knowledge City, […]

For January 2025, access thoughtful and comprehensive insights into African film, TV, and digital ecosystems—trusted by media professionals worldwide: filmmakers, producers, distributors, programmers, curators, festival directors, scholars, financiers, and more. Join a global subscriber base spanning North & South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. You will receive a daily email newsletter that may include: – […]

Excerpts from the 1994 documentary “Sembène: The Making of African Cinema,” directed by Manthia Diawara and Ngugi Wa Thiong’o. It captures a 1993 conversation between Senegalese African cinema pioneer Ousmane Sembène and African American filmmaker John Singleton—on the heels of his critically acclaimed feature film debut “Boyz n the Hood” (1991). The meeting of minds […]

I’ve been reflecting on the obsession with “firsts.” It’s a concept embedded in global culture. “The first person to do this,” “the first organization to achieve that,” etc. Now imagine how many African “firsts” still lie ahead for African film and television, both at local and international levels, especially with global interest at seemingly unprecedented […]

Newly disclosed figures detail Netflix’s $220 million investment in key African markets (South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya) between 2021 and 2024—double the average annual spending from 2016 to 2022, with South Africa the primary beneficiary. Meanwhile, Netflix execs Larry Tanz (VP of Content for EMEA) and Ben Amadasun (VP of Content for the Middle East and […]

As 2024 draws to a close, the international film festival circuit provides a distinct lens through which one can examine the stories shaping global perceptions of Africa and her cinema. Films screened this year inform us of how African stories are being developed, financed, and presented to audiences around the world. To be sure, these […]