Director, MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) West Africa Academy, Femi Odugbemi, says while conversations about authenticity in African stories are complex, African filmmakers should always aspire for balance.
Odugbemi also noted that African stories are complex but could be told objectively in a keynote at the Creative Producers INdaba South Africa held at the weekend.
The Chief Executive Officer of Zuri24 Media said authenticity is “first and foremost about bringing ‘balance’ to the narratives, to the imagery and the subliminal elements of our stories.”
It is, he added, “about acknowledging the complexities of our history, the conflicts of our contemporary experiences, the unarticulated disadvantages of our economic systems and our enduring capacities as a people.
“Accepting responsibility as an African storyteller to entertain the world with the drama of our stories yes, but to also embrace the opportunity and privilege to educate the world, within those stories, about our humanity, our compassion, our community, our spirituality; and our capacity to enrich the world beyond our gold, minerals and oil.”
He added, “Too many stories of Africa are reflections of our worst instincts and not enough to foreshadow how we want to see our communities, our governance, our infrastructure and our leaders. We need to empower ourselves with our stories.
“African communities have a heritage of passing moral and cultural values through storytelling. The village square, the markets, and thee courtyards were spaces filled with folklore. These stories were always deliberately crafted to offer guidance and insight that shape the future of our communities and modified behaviour. ”
He warned Africans not to indulge in the poverty porn that some Western audiences prefer but to be intentional. “We have to be far more deliberate and conscious about the insight we leave in the subconscious of our audiences about what is ‘Africa.’ Because what we imagine and story-sell becomes our reality in the fullness of time. Again, let’s make clear that this is not about white-washing our realities as it is; it is about being true to the ambitions of representation.”
Odugbemi further called for the development of better storytellers who understand that beyond the passion of storytelling, there is a purpose.
“Filmmaking is tough and requires talent and hard work. It also requires continuing education and re-education, especially of our young generation of storytellers.”
He lamented that too many African storytellers compete, “and the sum effect of that seems to be a futile common struggle for validation from persons, spaces and institutions outside the continent. If we collaborated more, we could build value-chains and systems that will prosper and validate our stories, and our storytellers. The key is more systems-thinking and less individual fiefdoms and personal advantages.”
Finally, Odugbemi charged young and upcoming filmmakers to “embrace your mistakes. They are part of your growth plan. If you are humble enough to admit them, there’ll be enough helping hands to get you back on your feet.”