In 2024, Nigeria and South Africa made their first major collaboration in film. In a movie titled Soft Love, written by Paballo Molingoane, starring South Africa’s Cindy Mahlangu and Nigeria’s Efa Iwara; the movie centres on a romance that blends Nigerian and South African culture. The two nations are not strangers to collaboration in business and entertainment. Afrobeats and Ampiano have made many babies together, giving us hits like Rands And Nairas, Tchelete and many more. Can the same success be replicated in the movie industry?
Can Cross-Border Film Collaborations Strengthen African Cinema?
The simple and obvious answer?
Yes. Yes, it can.
Historically, collaboration has played a significant role in African cinema.
In the late 1990s, Ghanaians and Nigerians began making collaboration films, bringing together actors with different backgrounds, skills, and experiences. These collaborations further introduced Nollywood to the Ghanaian audience, helping filmmakers reach new audiences and markets and Vice versa. The collaboration during this time promoted creativity and innovation, leading to more compelling and original storytelling, bringing about classics like Beyonce and Rihanna, Princess Tyra and many more.
This partnership was born out of filmmakers’ need to cut costs. Nigerian directors found it cheaper to make movies in Ghana and started investing in Nigerian-Ghanian movies. Working together allowed filmmakers to pool resources, reduce costs and increase the production value of films. This led to a boom in Nollywood and Ghallywood, opening doors for more distribution and exposure. Over time, these collaborations gradually decreased.
In 2016, Nigerian director Dolapo Adeleke created a Keyan-Nigerian YouTube Series Called This Is It. The series follows the first-year journey of the young, clueless newlyweds. It stars Kenya’s Nick Mutuma and Nigeria’s Chy Nwakanma. The series did well on YouTube and was later acquired by television networks across Africa.
Africa has made some remarkable film collaborations abroad. Movies like Beasts of No Nation, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, a collaboration between American and African filmmakers. It was made in Ghana and features a powerful performance by Idris Elba. The film received critical acclaim and brought attention to the talent and potential of African cinema. Queen of Katwe was a collaboration between Disney and African filmmakers. It tells the inspiring true story of a young girl from Uganda who becomes a chess champion. The film was praised for its authentic portrayal of African culture and uplifting message. Another remarkable collaboration is Tsotsi, a South African film directed by Gavin Hood, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006. It is a collaboration between South African and international filmmakers and tells the story of a young gang leader in Johannesburg.
These collaborations have not only showcased the rich storytelling and talent in Africa but have also helped to bring African cinema to a global audience. The partnership of African nations in the film industry could further push the growth of African cinema globally. It also allows filmmakers with little or no resources to pool resources, like equipment, locations, and funding. This will help reduce costs and increase the production value of films across Africa.
