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Africa Fund Fuels Global Storytelling with $40M
12 Mar
Summary
- Next Narrative Africa Fund launched with $40 million.
- Fund supports projects from Africa and the diaspora.
- Nine diverse projects selected from over 2,000 submissions.
The Next Narrative Africa Fund (NNAF), launched in late 2024 by CEO Akunna Cook, has announced its inaugural slate of nine development projects. The $40 million fund, supplemented by $10 million from non-profit Venture Studio, focuses on African and Diasporan content.
These selections, chosen from over 2,000 global submissions, include South African projects like "Beyond Day Zero," produced by Trevor Noah, and "Skunk" starring Thuso Mbedu. Other supported works span genres from political thrillers and spy stories to sci-fi romance and musical comedies, hailing from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.
The fund aims to industrialize the African narrative and shift global perception by investing in commercially compelling, culturally resonant, and globally relevant entertainment. This initiative represents over $60 million in planned production investment in Africa, supporting thousands of jobs and economic development.
Notable projects include a Lagos-set whodunnit by the Esiri brothers, a political thriller co-written by Rapman, and a Sudanese political thriller by "Goodbye Julia" director Mohamed Kordofani. The selection also features a Ghanaian spy thriller, a Nigerian sci-fi romance, a Ghanaian comedy horror, and a West African musical comedy fantasy titled "Jollof Wars."
