Olori Atuwatse III delivered the keynote address at the Africa Film & Finance Forum (AFFF) in Lagos, convened with clarity and vision by Mrs. Mary Ephraim-Egbas. The Forum brought together leaders, investors, and creators committed to advancing Africa’s creative economy—an arena she described as bold, timely, and necessary for the continent’s growth.
The conversations reflected both urgency and possibility. Participants examined how technology is improving access, reducing costs, and opening new markets. They explored financing models designed to strengthen transparency and investor confidence. Storytelling was discussed as policy—demonstrating how narratives shape markets, tourism, diplomacy, and trust. Future distribution methods, from blockchain to transmedia, were also considered, affirming the global competitiveness of Africa’s creative industries.
In her address, Olori Atuwatse III emphasized a central message: whoever shapes the story shapes perception, and whoever shapes perception shapes the world. For too long, Africa’s stories have been told by others, narrowing the continent’s identity and limiting its influence. Changing this reality requires not rhetoric, but strategy and investment.
She noted that film is an investable and scalable industry, capable of delivering jobs, revenue, soft power, and dignity. Achieving this requires a deliberate ecosystem of financing, policy, and protection—treating culture as essential infrastructure. This conviction inspired the founding of Elevate Africa, a platform committed to narrative transformation, dismantling stereotypes, and amplifying Africa’s creative power.
Elevate Africa builds bridges between investors, policymakers, and creators, ensuring that Africa’s stories are told, owned, funded, and celebrated. Shifting perception is not cosmetic but economic. Narrative is capital, and when it changes, everything else changes with it.
“Whoever shapes the story shapes perception, and whoever shapes perception shapes the world.”
In closing, Olori Atuwatse III expressed gratitude to the visionaries, financiers, policymakers, and storytellers who are working to transform the sector. Special appreciation was given to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for her powerful reflections on film finance, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce of Silverbird Group for his enduring leadership, Stephanie Linus Okereke, the executive board of AFFF, and the distinguished speakers and panellists of the Vision Panel, whose insights continue to illuminate the path toward a $20B African film industry.
