ANF August Newsletter
 Hello Reader, Find out how Kenya is fighting back colonial crimes; why Ugandans had drugs on their mind and the reason we’re excited by Netflix’s upcoming animated feature. You’ll also meet the latest ANF Narrative Champions. What's happening at Africa No Filter We brought our community together to build their skills: Money, money, money - that’s what we had in mind at the Africa No Filter Academy workshop on Budgeting and Financial Management for Creatives. Watch the workshop or read these tips to master financial management. We found out what Africa is talking about: We analysed tweets, retweets and replies mentioning “Africa” and any of the 54 African continents to see what Africans were talking about in July. Music, politics and sport dominated conversations. Read the report. We put out our monthly Google trends report, yes, we know what Africa is searching for: Could a herbal Covid cure be on the cards for Ugandans? The country’s National Drug Authority approved the use of a local herbal medicine to support treatment for viral infections including Covid-19, turning “Drugs” into the most searched item on Google in Uganda. Our July Google Trends report showed that Covid, sports betting, education, opportunities, and freedom of movement were among the biggest concerns in Africa. Read the report. We used our voice to advocate for more than just narrative change: Are funders really prepared to put in the work to shift the balance of power when it comes to their giving on the continent? ANF executive director Moky Makura isn’t totally convinced. Here’s what she says about decolonising grantmaking in Africa. We’re starting a new community for journalists: Calling all journalists interested in telling alternative stories of Africa - join our Narrative Media Community to access members’ only workshops and other opportunities to help you monetise your ideas and experience. We rated this global media outlet on its African coverage: U.S news show CBS This Morning investigating contract cheating by American college students blamed poverty in Kenya for the problem. Here’s why we gave it 10 out of 10 for stereotypical storytelling. We highlighted the Africans trending on social media: The most followed African Tik Toker is a self-taught magician from Cape Town. @Wianmagic has 13.8 million followers. Click here to see Africa’s top 10 Tik Tokers. We are doing business with our community: When we wanted to brand our corporate notebooks, we decided to go straight to our community. We ran a competition and these were the 5 illustrations we loved the most. Here they are on the ANF notebook!  Here is what the artists say about their winning illustrations:
Our community of #ANF #NarrativeChampions Meet the latest arts, culture and media projects and organisations that we are funding and see how they are contributing to changing how the world sees Africa.  artHARARE is an artist-run project that promotes and supports the development of the contemporary art scene in Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwean Diaspora. Manyano Media is a multidisciplinary creative company that creates employment, platforms and opportunities for South African independent black queer women storytellers, including through the Black Girl Live Fellowship. Rele Arts Foundation’s art-driven initiatives like The Young Contemporaries, Art Summit and Nigeria in Venice project are instrumental in connecting, supporting, and amplifying contemporary artists in Nigeria. AYA Academy has helped over 65 young women in Ghana and West Africa establish their creative careers through programmes that educate and empower through economic development. The Republic provides in-depth coverage of underreported stories and issues affecting Nigerians and Africans. It was recognised by Al Jazeera, Quartz and Reuters for offering serious journalism from an African worldview. Everyday Projects is changing Africa’s visual narrative by collaborating with and empowering African photographers with skills, networks, and economic opportunities. And meet our narrative champions who are making headlines: Netflix is growing its footprint in Africa through original content made in Africa by Africans. It’s a much-needed step in the right direction when it comes to representation. Their latest stride is working with Lagos-based animator Uzoma Harry Dunkwu on an animated feature film that’ll be released in 2025. He’s the character designer... and a #KekereChampion. Rape is one the hardest things to talk about, more so when survivors are men. #KekereChampion Onyango Otieno is using his experiences of violence to get men to talk openly about trauma. His interview with BBC sheds more light on his mission. bird – our story agency, which is shifting narratives about Africa, one story at a time, now has over 30 media partners signed up to take our content. Yay! See some of our favourite stories below:  Shwe Shwe Poppis - the cloth dolls whose moving stories still connect with buyers, 14 years later: The company behind the iconic Shwe Shwe Poppis dolls has managed to find a regular international market since their debut in 2006. The secret? A moving story behind each doll. Full story at Top Africa News. Chioma Ajunwa won Olympic gold 25 years ago: Now she’s helping younger athletes rise to the top. Full story at Bella Naija. There is good news for Africa despite the depressing IPCC report: African countries are looking to outsmart the rising threat of climate change by increasing their research into climate-ready crops. Full story at True Africa. Senior Pastor uses comedy to minister: Christian Best discovered his talent for mixing ministry with punchlines during choir rehearsals in church. It has turned him into a household name in West Africa. Full story at The Star. Shifting Narratives  These are the stories shifting how the world sees Africa and how Africa sees itself: Kenya’s fighting back against colonial crimes by the British army between 1895 and 1963, when the Kipsigis and Talai clans of Kericho county were brutally evicted from their land to make way for tea plantations. Kenya wants a public apology and reparations for the stolen land. Uganda flipped the script on the refugee narrative by welcoming the first group of Afghan refugees to Africa as they wait to be resettled elsewhere. Five African restaurants challenged the usual narrative around Haute Cuisine. The 2021 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards show, featured these world class restaurants - La Petite Colombe and Tang from South Africa, and L’Italien par Jean-Georges, L’Œnothèque and Le Pavillon de la Piscine from Morocco. The impact of climate change in Africa is well-documented, but it’s not often that we see reports that show how communities are protecting the environment, which makes Qaamqaam: The Somali village where chopping trees is banned, a report by Al Jazeera, so refreshing. The story gets double points for also documenting Somalia beyond conflict. Hot Opportunities  We know it’s important that creatives and storytellers monetise their talent, so we’ve curated a list of funds and grants for creatives on our blog. Check out these hot opportunities from British Council, Chevening Africa Media Freedom Fellowship, The African Culture Fund, Commonwealth Short Story Prize, TFI, IDFA, and RYOT Films, UNCTAD, Thomson Reuters Foundation & PACE, IDFA Bertha Fund and the Arab Council for Social Science. There’s also the opportunity to join our team as a design intern. You’ve got to apply to be in the game. Go for it. That’s it for August. Remember to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin at @Africanofilter. |
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