resources for discussions on African animation.... IMAGINAFRIK

IMAGINAFRIK is a great online resource/ community of individuals interested, talking about and making African animation. Whilst it is mostly in French, google translate does a good job of translating to the relevant language of your choice. The discussions in the forum are varied from South Africa to Burkina Faso, in places with inserted videos to watch. Its a treasure trove of topical discussions and worth exploring...



a little discovery made somewhere in the trails of discussions...

Yellow Fever screens at CinemAfrica 2013

Ng'endo Muki 's animated documentary Yellow Fever was screened in March at the Museum of Modern Art, Sweden as part of a focus in the CinemAfrica Festival. The website provides the context for this focus,

In 2012, raging debate on the representation of black, whiteness and racism in Sweden.Racist stereotypes in popular culture was repeatedly ransacked and debating. Where do we go, how we want the representation of blacks should look like and how do we get there in a country where many seem to ignore the structural and symbolic racism that surrounds us all? Akosua Adoma Owusu and Ng'endo Mukii, two highly topical filmmaker with roots in the African continent, recur in his films and his art to the right identity, hair, skin, race and colonialism. 

This film is gaining success in different art and animation circuits and resonates with both local and foreign audiences alike. You can view more of Ng'endo's films at her site thenge

Animation in Africa: New Publication by Ghazala

Congratulations to Mohammed Ghazala for the recent publication of his book Animation in Africa. Another contribution to the much needed literature in this field. We are waiting to hear when and where the book will be available for purchase. Currently only available in Egypt!

Kenya's Just a Band make it to TED

Just a Band will be making their way to the TED talks in Edinburgh talking alongside Neurologists, Politicians and Economists... the theme for this year's TED Global talks Think Again. They will be presenting in Session 9: Forces of Change on Thursday, June 13, 2013, 2:15pm-4:00pm (Edinburgh, BST/GMT+1). 

We are in the midst of a global remix. Disciplines merge and cross-pollinate. Technology intrudes into biology and society. Power and authority are redistributed. Boundaries shift -- or disappear. Hopes and anxieties collide. A new world is emerging at the intersection of once-separated realities, and everything we think we know might just be wrong. TEDGlobal 2013 will bring together those who challenge us to pause for an instant and Think Again.

You can read more about the event on TED

And this is my most recent favourite track of theirs.... its Kenyan all over!

smooth and natural transitions... a documentary on Ezra Wube

Still on the theme of Ezra Wube's animated films, I recently stumbled across this documentary about his work on youtube. It provides some insight into the artist's own personal interests, what motivates his work, and what themes reoccur.

Wube's 'new home'... and recurring motifs

Ethiopian Ezra Wube recently released his animated film  - 'new home : addis bet' - another beautiful contribution to his body of work that evokes the similar motifs that appear in his earlier animated films, the amharic text, the sense of travelling, the nomadic silhouetted figures and the goat! His work is all featured on his youtube channel Ezrademas.

Bino and Fino at the MoAD

The Museum of African Diaspora in San Francisco will be screening Bino and Fino for all to watch... how refreshing to see animation exhibited alongside other art forms still or moving.

Animation Apprentices: Kenya's Recon-Digital Investment in future talent

Previously featured here, Kenya's animator Gatumia Gatumia made his entry into 3D computer animation with his political short “The Greedy Lords of the Jungle” and humorous take on familial life “Domestic Disturbance”. More recently his company Recon-Digital has made an impact by introducing an animation apprenticeship for 7 young animation enthusiasts. The company aimed 'to identify, train and retain' young talent with a view to encourage the growth of a sector in Kenya and to enable the generation of local content for a local audience. Well done to Gatumia and his team for this great initiative! You read an interview with the company here: Techmoran To view all 7 animations go to Youtube CHannel RECON

CartoonBrew on Nigerian Animation....

A recent article posted on the 20th November by Amid Amidi on CartoonBrew reviews the state of animation in Nigeria making special mention of Bino and Fino and a more recent addition by SporeDust Media and their animation Chicken Core: The Rise of Kings directed by Oricha Aliyu. 
The interview and links make for a great read, and in addition this makes for another interesting addition to the body of work from Nigeria. 

AIM 2012 exciting frontiers... Modern Africa

This years Africa in Motion which has extended to two cities Edinburgh and Glasgow, is sure to provide exciting new material to look out for on the African film front. To talk about see past festival director and festival chair, Lizelle Bisschoff






Of particular interest look out for

Kenyan - Ngendo Mukii's Yellow Fever (2012)
Ethiopian - Danny Gebeyehu & Bisrat Amare Abeba and Abebe: The Pepper Merchant (2011)
Burkinabe - Lazare Sie Pale Le Parain (2011)
Kenyan - (Bob) Muchiri Njenga  Kichwateli (2011)

Kenyan Wasi PSA

This new PSA created by Majiqmud Pete from Kenya for the WASI Campaign

On DIaspora and Animation

As my search for Sub-Saharan animation continues, it is becoming increasing hard to look at African animation without considering the role and movement of the diaspora as a contributing force to the body of work that currently circulates the public domain. Some artists work between different places, move from Africa to Europe or America and back again... Their constant movement makes it somewhat more difficult to place their work but it invites a new set of questions about the 'transnational', migration and identity... It also leads to more unexpected discoveries such as the artists/animators mentioned here and the 'accented' approach to their work-
One happy discovery to add to the growing list
Samba Fall -  from Senegal - Whilst currently practising in Norway, Samba Fall's introduction to animation came through employment in Dakar by Pictoon - whom also recruited Piniang * mentioned previously - and whom also was a graduate from the Dakar Academy of Fine Arts. You can view his work here: http://www.sfall.com/

SHUJAAZ.FM rocks and wins the International Digital Emmy Award!

What is Shujaaz? Well Told Story describe it like this.....


At its heart Shujaaz.FM is a story about four young Kenyans growing up and meeting life’s many challenges. 

600,000 copies of the 32-page colour comic-book Shujaaz.FM are distributed nationally each month, reaching at least 3,000,000 readers.


Shujaaz mostly known of in Kenya for its monthly comic books with an young and funky edge

but featured also for its animated content and short online episodes... 




....and have just won the International Digital Emmy Award  in the Digital Program: Children & Young People category, cited as having beaten some of the giants of international media. 

WELL DONE to all those involved.... and mostly the producers and distributors Well Told Story!! 

Subscribe to SHUJAAZ TV here

NDINADSAWAPANGA - I Will Tell International Film Festival

This year's IWILLTELL Film Festival will be screening a special category of African World Film Festival Selections, and the Anime Caribe selection. The selection includes a collection of animated shorts ranging from traditional drawn animation such as Rooted by Victor Opeyokun to computer generated 3D animations such as Victor Dollabaille's Dream Vs Reality.

 

Plugged Digital Expo in Kenya

Kenya's  PLUGGED DIGITAL EXPO will be showcasing digital technologies and related industries for the East African region.
It runs on the 13th - 14th July in the Sarit Centre, Nairobi 


It will include exhibitors in zones 

• Mobile Zone - mobile phones, tablets, accessories, portable devices
• Digi Zone - touch screens, Computers, Laptops, displays, print solutions, routers, automated office solutions, communication technology.
• Mobile apps Pit - mobile apps, mobile business solutions, payment solutions and mobile games.
• Apps Bar - sample shots of information on must-have apps for mobile devices. 
• Simulator Zone – flight simulators, Visual Effects, Driving simulators
• Studio Grid - media, broadcast, 3D, HD, Programming, Cable, Triple play, satellite, streaming, set top boxes, content creators and digital distribution technology.
• Innovator's Pavilion – meet Kenya's innovators who will shape and determine Kenya's future in the digital and technology space.
• Cloud 9 - Dedicated to cloud based solutions, tools and tutorials for businesses

The conference also includes a focus on digital content distribution for television, film and animation - which should be of particular interest to practising animators/ producers in this field.

For more info go to:
http://www.pluggedexpo.com/

Ngendo Mukii's Yellow Fever (2012)

The artist and animator Ngendo Mukii from Kenya, has recently completed her graduate film for the prestigious RCA, London. Her film is a personal narrative on questions of identity and skin colour and in particular African feminine voices on self-image.  It is an exciting contribution to Kenyan animation and resonates with the concerns of other filmmakers/ animators from the continent.

 
Yellow Fever: TRAILER from Ng'endo Mukii on Vimeo.

SinAnimation... Ivorian Coast Animation

Officially launched in 2007, known for its animated series "C KEMA?" (2010) and FOOT'IVOIRE (2008) an animated series with an awarding winning episode at the International Film Festival in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire. The animation company Sinanimation is another great find! 

You can read all about the company on this article by culturiche.com

International Trickfilm Festival, Stuttgart: African Animation Program

The Animation Film Festival being hosted in Stuttgart this year is featuring a timely African animation program with a focus on the Arab Revolution or Arab Spring. The program is being curated by the Egyptian animator Mohammed Ghazala. The details of the program are limited to a description of the spirit of the event with a emphasis on the aesthetic of 'revolution and challenge'.  This contribution is surely to be an exciting addition to the Trikfilm Festival. Well done Mohammed Ghazala!

"The programme shows bold portraits as well as wry cartoons on the Islamist resurgence at the polls. Photographs, graffiti, paintings, videos and sculpture explore the issues spotlighted with the ouster of dictator Zine al Abidine Ben Ali: freedom of speech and religion, women’s rights, the online world, democracy building."

Click here for TRIKFILM Festival

BuniTV hits the web

Described as....

Buni TV is a web and mobile video channel that allows viewers to discover the best and most innovative content off the beaten path of mainstream entertainment.

What's even better is BuniTv shares it's advertising revenue with the content owners.

BuniTV offers a great collection of music videos, short films and animations. Featured in BuniTV's archive you can find Kwame Nyongo's Legend of Ngong Hills, and Just a Band's music videos Huff and Puff, WAGEUZI Battle 2012, and The XYZ Show Season 5's First Episode and many other creative shorts.


With Africa in Motion as an official sponsor, this site is sure to be a hive of creative activity!

Check out Africa in Motion TV also for more videos: AFRICA IN MOTION TV

Bino&Fino Easter Update

For those who have been following the Bino&Fino Success story, here is Adamu Wasiri giving everyone an update of the latest news...