Africa’s Renaissance in Comms, Storytelling and Tech is going to be something else. Join the movement.
What could the future of media uniquely look like in Africa and how could, say Ghana, become the centre of a communications revolution in the coming years? [Presentation to international network]*
What if I told you Ghana and African countries could lead the way in new forms of storytelling narratives and styles that could be a global force? And I’m not basing that only on a slew of fictional films and interest from brands like Netflix. Or Disney+ Sci-Fi Anthology Series ‘Kizazi Moto described as epochal for Africa animation.
Ghana was a Digital Pioneer
Did you know for instance as the digital revolution was emerging in the 1990s, Ghana’s state broadcaster (GTV) was one of the first in the world, if not Africa, to produce a digital co-production series. It was between itself and southern neighbour the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
This requires unpacking:
- GTV were one of the first state public TVs to be using digital cameras for news and documentaries.
- They were most certainly one of the first African countries to enter a co-production between two powerhouse broadcasters on the continent
- The content was uniquely geared toward TV’s social impact — to help viewers make sense of the content by deploying a unique philosophy that would inform and educate, as well as entertain.
Despite this groundbreaking project you’re unlikely to know about it because of a lack of documentation, lack of global interest and shortfall in publicity. But here’s one publication, Communications Africa, that provides the evidence for what happened in 1996.
Digital Diasporas
Did you know one of the first platforms in the world to show video online in a magazine described as a heralding the future, before YouTube was created is attributed to a British Ghanaian? It would yield the Knight Batten Award for innovation in Journalism - one of the highest accolades in the world.
You may not have heard about the Knight Batten Award but ask any journalist or network innovating from 2005 onwards and most likely they’ll say it was one of the major international award for innovation. Presvious winners include Storify (2011) New York Times ( 2009) Wired.com and Ushahidi (2008).
In both cases, yes, you guessed, I was fortunate to be behind those innovations. There have been several others since and now I can see the next one — an Applied Storytelling Revolution via AI — with a difference.
New RevolutionAfrica-Tech Comms & Storytelling
This new horizon offers fresh, rich, personalised and intuitive narratives across storytelling, branding, journalism and docs. Younger audiences will find it compelling, others will use to win major awards. Network bosses will want more, and more of it.
It will collapse mobile, digital engagement, social and AI innovation. But to really understand its strength you have to engage in thinking process referred to as systems thinking.
Systems thinking takes the view you can’t attribute change, innovation or search for answers about trends and behaviours based on examining singular explicit elements in isolation that may cause change. Everything is connected; we just need to understand how and their probable impact.
Systems thinking requires drawing on connecting, or seemingly far removed connections to build complex worlds and scenarios. In this case:
- Philosophy (example see here)
- History of media
- Language
- Art (example see here)
- Culture
- Music
- Education
- Business and Entrepreneurilism (example see here)
By bringing these together with related evidence and examples a coherent structure can be built to inform. I’ll do this using a persuasive deck.
This story here is but one of many examples. This, The Ghanaian, was made using generative AI and photos of my father who left the Gold Coast ( Ghana) in 1955, aged 25 years, to set up a new life in Britain.
Why it will work
I make these assertions having worked for some of the best media in the world and learned from them. I’ve more than thirty years experience working in innovation, and am presently an Associate Professor.
My work is recognised internationally from being featured in Ghana Abroad as one of the top 40 influential Ghanaians in the diaspora.
I’ve worked for senior figures who’ve commented on my work, or met with senior royalty who’ve complemented it.
And I’ve been asked by leading networks around the world to share my ideas at gatherings and conferences.
Now this new dimension creates the real possibility of African Renaissance in Storytelling and the aim is to train and teach as many students/ people as possible.
Much in the same way I’ve trained people around the world in mojo mobile filmmaking, video journalism and cinema journalism.
I’ll be talking about these ideas ahead of presenting at the Pan African Heritage Museum festival in Accra between the 28th July and 1st August. If you want to know more about my work click here Reputation.
