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Africa: Netflix Gives African Film a Platform – but the Cultural Price Is High

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Netflix began its Africa operations in South Africa in 2016. When the US streaming giant announced it was setting up shop in Nigeria in 2020, many west African film-makers, writers, artists and media audiences were jubilant.
Finally, west Africa’s creativity and brilliance would be formally recognised on the world stage. Netflix Naija’s purpose was to produce local content for Netflix just like Netflix South Africa and later Netflix Kenya.
Read more: Netflix Naija: creative freedom in Nigeria’s emerging digital space?
Some film-makers have been wary of US cultural imperialism happening through the market dominance of Netflix and other US streamers. Others have rushed to the streamer to sign deals that will gain their films and TV shows a global audience.
Netflix’s interest in African stories comes with a colonial power dynamic that research and scholarship has not fully explored. As a scholar of media and communication, I recently examined the effect US streamers are having on the stories being told in films in Nigeria and Ghana.
In my study, I argue that despite the growing global interest in African pop culture, African creative workers need to be careful about interest from global conglomerates. We can’t talk about African cinemas going global without paying attention to how Hollywood’s colonial relationship with Africa has shaped and influenced what African filmmakers believe will sell globally.
Read more: Black Panther, Wakanda Forever and the problem with Hollywood – an African perspective
What price is being paid to appeal to global audiences? Film-makers might focus so much on the western gaze that they lose focus on telling African stories authentically and respectfully.
In my study, I analyse various films including the Ghanaian film Azali and the Nigerian movie Lionheart to argue that that’s exactly what’s happening.
Dancing to the tune of the west
Despite the existence of thriving African film and TV industries before the advent of streaming technologies, we are seeing a replication of what I call the everydayness of colonialism in the area of media representations of the continent.
Here, African filmmakers and producers find themselves jumping through hoops to tell stories that are “fit” to be streamed to Netflix’s millions of American, European and global subscribers. Global cosmopolitan audiences are prioritised over African audiences.
Read more: Woman King is set in Benin but filmed in South Africa – in the process it erases real people’s struggles
African audiences at home and in the diaspora are the reason we have vibrant film industries such as Nollywood to begin with.
This displacement of African audiences happens both in representation and in access.
Most African movie audiences do not have access to Netflix and other streaming platforms due to the digital divide and the cost of subscribing. So the target audience shifts to the elite, both African and global, who can afford to stream.
Azali and Lionheart
Ghana and Nigeria’s film industries were developed by artists who wanted to reflect their societies to their communities. I found that with Netflix’s arrival, there is a danger of disrupting and undoing this important work.
The intervention of US streamers has led to the development of glossier versions of Africa. They are universal enough to be consumed by anyone, anywhere in the world, even if it means sacrificing the integrity of stories to achieve this global appeal.
In Azali, for example, I found that the film sacrificed authentic language and geographical accuracy to tell a story for a western audience.
Azali explores the themes of child marriage, child-trafficking and rural-urban migration in Ghana. Here, a film about the Dagbamba was set in the town of Zebilla, where Dagbanli is not the dominant language. The film cast non-Dagbanli speakers in major roles to speak a language they neither understood nor had any proficiency in. If Dagbamba had been centred as the primary audience of the movie, this cultural indignity might not have happened.
Lionheart, though star-studded, departed from traditional Nollywood narrative conventions. The film tells the story of a wealthy Nigerian family and the quest of a young woman to take control of the family business. The movie had high production values and told a story that would be considered universally relatable. However, it was disqualified in its bid for an Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature Film category because of its majority English dialogue. Despite appealing to Netflix in the area of production quality and storyline, African film-makers were still punished by the Academy.
Nigeria and Ghana’s film industries have traditionally told a wide variety of African stories. Netflix’s arrival is reducing African stories to narratives about the elite and for the global cosmopolitan elite.
Stories about the majority of Africans are being erased. Africa becomes a backdrop to tell stories about the elite class.
In my study, I argue that narrative construction is an important part of identity and that when external factors begin to determine how African stories are told, it distorts the image of Africa for Africans and raises questions of cultural sovereignty.
Moving forward
It is refreshing to see African cultures appreciated on a global scale. But this shouldn’t erase narratives about the African masses and working communities.
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There are film-makers that are resisting the Netflix canon. Nigerian actress and producer Funke Akindele shows that this is possible in A Tribe Called Judah. Her film set a new box office record in Nigeria by avoiding direct to Netflix/streamer distribution and staying true to African audiences. The film tells the story of how a single mother and her five sons navigate poverty in Lagos. It was later licensed to stream on Amazon Prime Video after it made history at the box office in Nigeria.
Other film-makers like Omoni Oboli, whose approach centres the Nigerian masses, has turned to YouTube. She tells Nigerian stories while resisting the exploitation that can often come with signing a Netflix deal.
Read more: The unique strategy Netflix deployed to reach 90 million worldwide subscribers
These projects offer an alternative. As Netflix expands, African creative workers and cultural policymakers must protect the narrative integrity of African stories and resist the economic exploitation of African film-makers. Productions can capture the nuances of African stories while representing African languages and cultures with respect and dignity – without selling out to western values.
Wunpini Fatimata Mohammed, Assistant Professor of Communication, Cornell University
This article is republished from The Conversation Africa under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Africa: Somalia Steps Into the Spotlight As Mogadishu Hosts East Africa's Key Summit

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Mogadishu, Somalia – Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday officially opened the 2nd East African Community Cooperation Conference (EACON2025) in Mogadishu, marking another milestone in the country’s growing role within the East African bloc.
In his keynote address, President Mohamud highlighted Somalia’s historic legacy as a hub of trade and seafaring along the Indian Ocean, reaffirming his government’s commitment to advancing economic integration, regional security, and collective prosperity across East Africa.
“The majority of expatriates working in Somalia today are from East African countries. This shows how deeply interconnected our region already is,” President Mohamud said.
“Somalia’s active participation in the EAC will not only strengthen those bonds but open new opportunities for all partner states.” He added.
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He also praised Somali entrepreneurs for driving national development through investments in education, health, and infrastructure–urging them to build stronger business partnerships with counterparts across the region.
The two-day summit has drawn senior officials from all EAC member states, Somali government representatives, and regional business leaders. Delegates are focusing on boosting trade, cross-border investment, and joint responses to shared challenges in agriculture, energy, fisheries, and digital innovation.
For Mogadishu, hosting the event for the second time carries symbolic weight. Once defined by decades of conflict, Somalia is positioning itself as a bridge in regional cooperation. The conference, officials say, is as much about symbolism as it is about substance–projecting Somalia as a committed member of the EAC’s political and economic architecture.
Somalia became the eighth full member of the East African Community in March 2024, joining Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its admission was hailed as historic: the bloc, home to more than 300 million people, now stretches from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.
Membership gave Somalia access to new trade corridors, a common market, and stronger collective bargaining power–while also committing it to aligning policies with regional standards. For a country rebuilding its institutions, the challenge has been how to transform membership into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.
Read the original article on Radio Dalsan.
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
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Africa: Istanbul to Host 5th Turkish-Africa Economic Forum

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The city of Istanbul will play host to the 5th Turkey-Africa Economic Forum (TABEF), which is scheduled for October 16th -17th, 2025 at Istanbul Congress Centre (ICC) in Turkey.
Hosted by Turkey’s Ministry of Trade and organised by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) in cooperation with the African Union, the event aims to foster stronger economic ties through investment, trade, and industrial partnerships.
The forum will be graced by the President of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Chairperson of the African Union and President of the Republic of Angola H.E. João Goncalves Lourenço, Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals of the African Union, H.E. Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, President of DEİK, Nail Olpak, Coordinating Chairperson of DEİK/Türkiye-Africa Business Councils Fuat Tosyali, Acting Chairperson of African Business Council (AfBC) Dr. Amany Asfour, as well as H.E. First Lady Emine Erdoğan and Ministers of Economy, Trade and Finance from various African countries.
The event is expected to attract participants including Heads of State, ministers, and business leaders from both regions, as it looks forward to discuss crucial areas pertinent to the development of both sides notably; agriculture, digital infrastructure, and textiles, among a host of others.
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The theme for this year’s forum is “Leveraging Türkiye-Africa Relations for Mutual Gains”.
Overview
Launched in line with the decisions adopted during the Second Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summit held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea in November 2014, TABEF is a biennial event initiated since 2016.
Besides, TABEF aims to analyse the commercial and economic relations between Türkiye and African countries, assess Türkiye’s investment approach toward the continent, and enhance interactions between business communities. It also seeks to initiate dialogue between Turkish investors, the African Union (AU), and regional economic communities in order to reinforce investment ties between Türkiye and Africa.
In addition, it provides a valuable platform for leading public and private sector representatives from both Türkiye and Africa to share their experiences and policy recommendations for developing the private sector and fostering innovation-based Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
Through this initiative, the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye and the African Union Commission are committed to enhancing cooperation opportunities through the success of this forthcoming forum to be held in Istanbul.
Thus, the event will focus on priority economic sectors in their bid to jointly address challenges, while identifying opportunities to establish stronger economic partnerships between Türkiye and African countries–always with a view to shared interests.
Agriculture being a dominant sector for most African countries, the delegates at the forum are urge to capitalise on the existing opportunities to spur investment opportunities for increased growth in the sector.
Other priority areas like artificial intelligence, defense, and digital and data infrastructure and automotive industry among a host of others, will also take centre stage.
In essence, TABEF seeks to offer a vital opportunity to develop innovative and win-win project partnerships, allowing Türkiye and Africa to emerge as indispensable global partners through effective investment incentives that support foreign direct investment (FDI) and public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Stronger collaboration in agro-industry, healthcare, and tourism holds the promise of advancing mutual prosperity and fostering economic diversification. In this respect, TABEF will play a key role in highlighting innovative approaches, policies, and initiatives that can unlock the partnership potential between Türkiye and Africa and lead to inclusive growth and shared welfare.
Furthermore, by encouraging knowledge-sharing between the parties, the Forum will contribute to the establishment of stronger and long-lasting partnerships.
The event will also feature panel session on key thematic areas notably; B2B Meetings, B2G Sessions as well as sessions on Türkiye-Africa Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship Dialogue.
Turkey-Africa Trade and Economic Relations
In order to assess the current stage of Turkey’s relations with African countries and to identify additional ways and means to further advance them, the First Türkiye-Africa Cooperation Summit was held in Istanbul on 18-21 August 2008 with the participation of 49 African countries and representatives of 11 international and regional organisations, including the African Union. This led to the formation of “Istanbul Declaration on Türkiye-Africa Cooperation: Partnership and Solidarity for a Common Future” and the “Framework for Cooperation for Türkiye-Africa Partnership” adopted at the Summit provided a sustainable structure for Türkiye-Africa relations.
In recent years, Türkiye’s relations with Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have gained remarkable momentum. Initiated in 1998, accelerated by Türkiye’s observer membership to the African Union in 2005, and reinforced when Türkiye was declared a strategic partner of the African Union in 2008, the multi-dimensional Opening to Africa Policy achieved significant progress in political, economic, cultural, security, and development fields. This policy was successfully completed and was replaced in 2013 by the Africa Partnership Policy.
Economic ties have expanded rapidly over the last two decades. The Türkiye-Africa trade volume rose from USD 5.4 billion in 2003 to USD 40.7 billion by the end of 2022. In 2024, the trade volume stood at around USD 36.5 billion, with exports amounting to USD 21.8 billion and imports to USD 15 billion. Key partners on the continent include Egypt, Algeria, Libya, South Africa, and Nigeria. As of today, Türkiye has Free Trade Agreements in force with Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Mauritius. The FTA with Sudan is expected to enter into force following the completion of internal ratification procedures, while negotiations with Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Libya are ongoing.
The backbone of Türkiye’s steadily growing bilateral relations with African countries since 2003 has been the Strategy for the Development of Commercial and Economic Relations with Africa. This Strategy was updated at the Second Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summit in Malabo in 2014 to reflect the continent’s evolving needs. At the Third Summit held in Istanbul in 2021, the 2022-2026 Joint Action Plan was adopted. The main objectives of the Strategy are to increase Türkiye’s direct investments in Africa, create more job opportunities, and foster a conducive environment for the continent’s economic development.
As of today, Türkiye’s direct investment stock in Africa has exceeded USD 10 billion. Turkish contractors have undertaken more than 2,000 projects across the continent, with a total value approaching USD 97 billion. Türkiye’s diplomatic presence in Africa has grown from 12 embassies in 2002 to 44 embassies today. Turkish Airlines currently operates flights to 51 destinations in 39 African countries. In addition, institutions such as TİKA, the Maarif Foundation, and the Yunus Emre Institute are actively engaged across the continent in education, cultural exchange, and development cooperation.
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The foundation of Türkiye’s Africa vision is based on the principles of equal partnership, mutual benefit, and sustainable development. The 5th Türkiye-Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF 2025) to be held in Istanbul in October 2025 will provide a critical platform to advance trade, investment, and development dimensions of our partnership. Furthermore, the 4th Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summit, to be convened in Africa in 2026, is expected to raise the trade volume beyond USD 45 billion, finalise new Free Trade Agreements, and establish a broader and more inclusive basis for economic cooperation across the continent.
Why Attend
The Forum will be an excellent opportunity to update the current relations among the business people of participating countries and set new targets for the further development of our economic, commercial and business partnerships.
It will greatly help in expanding one’s business and discover trade & business opportunities.
“It will also help introduce one’s company and projects, products & services; meet prospective partners and generate international exposure for your brand; establish relationships with Turkish investors, suppliers & contractors; connect with new buyers & distributors from Africa; engage with international media thus allowing access to major projects and financial instruments.”
Salam Financial Service staff participate in ‘Walk for Health’
Read the original article on The Point.
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
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Africa: Kenya's M-Kopa Turns Profit After a Decade of Expansion Across Africa

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TLDR
Kenyan asset-financing startup M-KOPA has reported its first-ever profit after more than a decade of operations across Africa.
The Nairobi-based company posted a KES 1.2 billion ($9.2 million) profit in 2024, reversing a KES 3.2 billion ($24.7 million) loss in 2023, according to filings in the UK. Revenue surged 66% to KES 53.7 billion ($416 million), driven by higher demand for smartphones and digital financial services.
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Founded in 2011 to provide solar home systems on credit, M-KOPA has since evolved into a digital finance platform offering smartphones, loans, and insurance to millions of customers in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana.
The company credited its turnaround to top-line growth, tighter cost control, stronger credit underwriting, and better portfolio management. M-KOPA’s smartphone financing partnerships with Samsung and Nokia, coupled with a local assembly plant in Nairobi, have become major revenue drivers.
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Key Takeaways
M-KOPA’s return to profitability marks a defining moment for Africa’s pay-as-you-go and digital credit ecosystem. Long seen as a test case for inclusive asset financing, the company’s success demonstrates how fintechs can achieve both scale and sustainability amid tighter funding conditions. As global investors push African startups to prioritize profitability over growth, M-KOPA’s performance provides a potential blueprint — combining alternative data for credit scoring, disciplined cost management, and product diversification. Its smartphone-led lending model has strengthened cross-selling opportunities in cash loans and micro-insurance, while building customer loyalty in frontier markets. With over $250 million raised from investors such as Generation Investment Management, Lightrock, and British International Investment, M-KOPA’s profit milestone could reset investor sentiment toward Africa’s fintech and BNPL sectors, proving that large-scale, impact-driven finance models can deliver real returns.
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Read the original article on Daba Finance.
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
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