On Friday, YouTube hosted the Africa Day event titled “Celebrating Nollywood on Africa Day.”
It was a great gathering of Nollywood stars, creators and members of the public coming together to celebrate the fantastic world of Nollywood. The event paid tribute to the skilled creators who brought these stories to life and recognized the pivotal role of African storytelling through film.
The event welcomed 150 attendees and brought together Nollywood celebrities.
Rahama Sadau, Enado Odigie and Tola Odunsi
Notable guests included veteran actress Sola Sobowale, AMVCA Comedian of the Year Bimbo Ademoye, Adeyemi Okanlawon, Debo Adedayo aka Mr Macaroni, and Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman.
Top Nigerian YouTube creators such as Apaokagi-Greene Maryam aka Taaooma, AMVCA Award winner Samuel Animashaun Perry aka Broda Shaggi and Chukwuebuka Emmanuel Amuzie aka Brainjotter also participated in the event.
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One of the sessions was a panel discussion on the growth of Nollywood and the potential of digital technology in the industry. Panelists and field experts shared valuable insights on how to leverage digital technology for industry growth and scalability.
sofia ramon
Murphy Ben, CEO of Murphy Ben International and Aforevo, YouTube content creator Taaooma and Nollywood actress and film producer Rahama Sadau were among the panelists. It was an informative and engaging discussion that shed light on the future of Nollywood and the role of digital technology in its success.
Alex Okosi, YouTube EMEA Managing Director for Emerging Markets, delivered a speech recognizing the significant impact of Nollywood and the transformative power of storytelling.
He stressed YouTube’s dedication to partnering with Nollywood and serving as a platform where meaningful stories are shared and celebrated globally.
Alone Sobowale and Shaffy Bello
Olumide Balogun, Interim National Leader for Google Nigeria, also shed light on YouTube’s commitment to support and promote the Nollywood industry by promoting movies, actors, producers and other members of the industry. He described a two-month program designed to spur the growth of Nollywood on YouTube.
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Acclaimed actors, talented producers and influential members of the film community enlivened the event, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. The event showcased Africa’s dynamic culture and creativity, emphasizing Nollywood’s important role in shaping global perceptions and narratives.
In a world filled with diverse stories, YouTube says it remains committed to supporting Black creatives around the world, recognizing their valuable contributions to the platform and beyond.
Bimbo Ademoye, Lateef Adedimeji, Akah Nnani
This commitment, they added, is exemplified by initiatives like the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund, a global fund aimed at amplifying Black voices and perspectives and facilitating the creation of new narratives that educate audiences about racial justice.
Take a look at some snapshots from the meeting below.
