Ayeni Adekunle, the convener of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive), has disclosed that for the African entertainment industry to sustain its momentum in the face of globalisation, there is a need to have an African agenda tailored toward using music, film, and comedy to redefine how the continent is perceived.
Ayeni made this remark during an exclusive interview on Arise TV on Sunday, November 26, 2023, where he discussed the recently launched NECLive Impact Report, highlighting the conference’s contribution to the growth of the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Since its inception in 2013, NECLive, West Africa’s largest gathering of industry stakeholders, provides an opportunity for practitioners to come together regularly to discuss challenges and opportunities in the entertainment industry with a view to seeking lasting solutions. With the conference set on global expansion, Ayeni believes that the government should partner with the industry and craft a vision that will redefine the way the continent is perceived.
“For instance, a lot of how we perceive the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and even Russia was on the back of Hollywood. African art is great, and our music is great. As we are globalising, there needs to be a deliberate policy on how Africa wants the world to perceive the continent,” he said.
For the most part, Africa is erroneously perceived as a country. Also, amidst the increased adoption of technology and the flourishing of African Unicorns, particularly in the tech space, many only glimpse the impoverished portrayal of Africa. However, Ayeni contends that for Africa to be regarded as an equal partner, leaders should be intentional about exporting more of African culture, virtues, arts, and entertainment, which, over the years, have been pivotal in reshaping the narrative of the continent.
“I think the government has tried, but there’s so much more to do in rebranding Africa. There needs to be increased collaboration between those in the creative space and the government with the agenda that if the industry succeeds, it tells our story to the world and casts the continent in a positive light.”
As NECLive sets its sights on a global expansion, the conference seeks to shed more light on every aspect of the entertainment sector, ensure representation for every creative, and help in exporting African entertainment to the world.
The NECLive report on the growth, trends, and opportunities in the Nigerian creative and entertainment industry delves into several key areas the conference has focused on over the past decade, like music, film, comedy, and alternative arts (dance, literature, content creation, and others). Over the next decade, NECLive will seek to shed more light on every aspect of the entertainment sector, ensuring representation for every creative.
The post Why There Must Be An African Agenda To Entertainment appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.
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