The iKON Awards have hosted the African Film Forum at the Reach A Hand Headquarters in Lungujja, bringing together budding filmmakers and industry leaders like Ramsey Nouah, Joy Odiette, Kanayo O Kanayo and Patience Ozokwor discuss how the industry in African countries can ensure that they tell their stories authentically.
The African Film Forum is a pre-engagement by the Ikon Awards towards the Award night held
annually to bring together filmmakers, both seasoned and upcoming, to engage in thought-provoking discussions about African cinema.
This year, guided by the theme, "Back To Our Roots", the discussions, led by Ramsey Nouah, Karen Hasahya, Joy Odiette, Kanayo O Kanayo, Patience Ozokwor, Rita Ngenzi and Chris Odeh revolved around authentic storytelling, representation, and the importance of preserving African languages in film.
Ramsey Nouah capitalized on the importance of leaning into personal experiences when crafting narratives.
"Rather than trying to tell someone else's story, focus on sharing your own. I want to hear the stories of Africans, Australians, Jamaicans, and others from their own perspectives. Let’s celebrate the diversity of human experiences and empower each other to share our authentic stories," he said.
In light of this Patience Ozokwor highlighted that a director should trust you for a role based on personal and cultural experiences.
Nouah challenged the notion of cultural appropriation in storytelling.
"It would be unusual for a young African filmmaker to dream of telling Chinese stories exclusively, it’s like singing off-key; something feels out of place."
His words emphasized that authentic stories are deeply tied to one's heritage, background, and lived experiences, making them all the more powerful and resonant.
Joy Odiette talked about Africa's rich storytelling potential that is undeniable and a need for the right infrastructure and political stability to truly bring those stories to the global stage
“Africa's film industry faces a multitude of challenges, from navigating complex political landscapes to bridging technical skill gaps. These hurdles hinder our ability to effectively monetize our content.”
Kanayo O Kanayo said the secret behind Nollywood's success is the fact that they tell their stories in their accent.
Emmanuel Amimo seconded this view, stating, "telling our stories in our own accent is not just about language, it's about preserving our heritage and forging an authentic connection with our audience. Our authenticity is our greatest asset".
Chris Odeh was all about analyzing the impact of last year's film forum.
He posed a question to the audience, "How did the 2024 African Forum for those who attended impact you?" Isa Masadde Yosuf said that he applied what he learnt from last year's forum and now he has been
nominated again in the 2025 iKON Awards for his role in Soccer Heart.
