Veteran director Tunde Kelani addressed aspiring creators in Lagos, emphasising the importance of preserving authentic cultural narratives in modern African cinema. Kelani’s address is a call for African filmmakers to tell their own stories.
Kelani has been a champion of authentic African storytelling for decades. His address is a reminder that African cinema must be rooted in its own culture and traditions. The emphasis on cultural preservation is a recognition that African stories are valuable and must be told.
The winners: aspiring African filmmakers, who have been inspired; and the Nigerian film industry, which benefits from a focus on cultural authenticity. The losers: those who seek to impose foreign narratives; and the Nigerian public, who must support authentic storytelling.
Bottom Line: Kelani wants creators to preserve cultural narratives. African cinema must tell its own stories. The question is whether the next generation will rise to the challenge or copy foreign models.