(3 minutes read)
· Africa’s film industry has the potential to create millions of gainful employments
· Yet, the sector is underdeveloped, according to the United Nations cultural wing UNESCO
· An estimated five million people currently work in Africa’s film industry
· Film industry contributes US$5 billion to the continent’s GDP, according to the UNESCO
Africa’s film industry has the potential to create millions of gainful employments. Yet, the sector is underdeveloped, according to the United Nations cultural wing UNESCO. An estimated five million people currently work in Africa’s film industry. Film industry contributes US$5 billion to the continent’s GDP, according to UNESCO.
Some of the countries in the continent have a very buoyant film industry. For instance, Nigeria’s film industry is the continent’s largest one. Over 2,500 movies are released every year. Digital film equipment, which are now affordable, has been a game changer in many ways, including online distribution platforms, which are getting popularized in many countries in the continent, keeping in traction with global trends. The flip side of the film industry is the limited number of screens, which are very few as compared to any other continent.
Piracy is another factor, which blocks the growth of the industry. This eats into the revenues of the film industry. For every film released or album cut, the pirated copies are available in the market denting the revenue cycle of the film industry. Lack of support from the governments is another factor that breaks the industry. This is something unknown in most of the countries in the continent. Only 19 African countries out of 54 offer any financial support to filmmakers. There is also a creative block stemming from curbs on lack of freedom to express because of various constraints including government regulations.
UNESCO says that the film industry in the continent could create over 20 million jobs and can contribute US$20 billion to the continent’s combined GDP, if the challenges facing the industry are addressed.
