Show Me the Money: Tracking $1.2B+ in African Film Funding Initiatives

The post-COVID years have brought a spike in African screen industry funding announcements, with 2024 alone seeing roughly $1.2 billion (likely more) pledged through development bank programs, government initiatives, and private equity funds.

While these figures are promising, the gap between announcements and actual deployed capital remains a critical issue.

To address this, I’ve started tracking these initiatives more closely, to assess progress, and ensure accountability, with periodic updates as details emerge.

This effort builds on records I’ve been keeping since early 2023, including notable cases like the VEMA II fund launched by Lagos-based Volition Capital Investments Limited.

Announced with fanfare as a $20 million investment pool inspired by the success of Netflix-acquired “The Black Book,” over a year later, updates on VEMA II’s progress remain sparse, underscoring the need for oversight.

Akoroko Premium subscribers received the first edition of the tracker last week. To get it, subscribe at the link in the bio or copy/paste: https://akoroko.com/subscribe/