Creative Industry

Zuma Film Festival gets December 1st 2023 As kick-off Date

Published

3 years ago

June 8, 2023

Joel Ajayi

Organizer of one of the best festivals in the country Zuma Film Festival (ZUFF) has announced that 2023 edition of the festival will hold between December 1st till 10th later this year in the federal capital city on Nigeria.

The festival, which has continued to witness massive domestic, continental and global participation as well as attendance over the years especially since it got being held annually from year 2017 till date.
This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja, and signed by Brian Etuk, spokesperson for Zuma Film Festival; and Public Affairs Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation.

The statement which outlined some of the key programmes of the 10-day gathering of captains of the film and television industry as well as other stakeholders from across Nigeria, and beyond the continent, will once more present the best of Nigeria’s creative, film and entertainment industry to the world, Etuk said. ZUMA Film Festival 2023, will be the second in the series of a 10-year collaborative partnership for the joint hosting of the annual film event by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC).

Themed “Cultural Convergence”, the festival will focus on harnessing potentials and opportunities inherent in the convergence of diverse cultures of the world through the audio-visual medium.

Programme bouquet of the festival include daily film screening, film master classes, symposia, film and television market, content creation and exhibition fora, film project pitching sessions, co-production engagements, annual film lecture, states and foreign nations (Embassy/High Commission) special days; special lifetime tributes, zuma awards; and the second leg of the Nigeria – South Africa Film Festival.

The first leg, known as the South Africa-Nigeria Film Festival will take place during the 44th edition of Durban Film Festival/Film Mart Institute – July 20th – 30th, 2023. Expected during the December film fiesta will be a robust continental and global film stakeholder and film commission participation and attendance, who will join Nigeria’s stakeholders in bringing their wealth and experiences to bear at the various festival programmes.

Their engagements will form part of the unifying efforts by participants in the promotion of global peace, progress and development using the audio-visual medium.

NFC’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, on behalf of the Corporation and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says that efforts in mounting a successful Zuma film festival 2023, are in top gear, given the successful outing of 2022, and the global importance of such an activity.

Dr. Maduekwe assured that both the FCTA and the NFC are committed to mounting an impactful ZUFF 2023, whose preparations, including invitations to potential sponsors and partners are being sustained. He equally assured that various sub-committees have been constituted to effectively drive the film festival.

The International Conference Centre, Abuja, he maintained will be a beehive of film festival activities and engagements, with opportunities to promote Nigeria’s dominance of the continental creative economy.

According to Dr. Maduekwe, ZUFF 2023, the 13th in the series will among others, provide a platform for the recognition of Nigerian film makers who have or are adding the needed value to the development of the art and business of filmmaking. Equally, Dr. Maduekwe explained that the vast growth and great potentials within the film sector of Nigeria makes it imperative for a continuous robust domestic, continental and global engagement where those who develop and produce content for film and television are accessed to opportunities of funding, marketing, distribution and exhibition.

“We must continue to create opportunities through platforms such as Zuma film festival, to deploy our energy and resources to harness the rich diverse continental yet beautiful cultures, in promoting people-to-people interaction, peace, economic prosperity and development”.

The statement added that call for, and mode of submission of film entries will soon be made public, having already constituted the Jury for the film festival which will also be announced, along with ZUFF 2023 film freeway and website addresses soon.

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Creative Industry

CAFA Targets $500bn Fashion Economy At Canex Wknd 2026

Published

7 days ago

November 1, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) will present its roadmap to grow Africa’s fashion economy from an estimated $30 billion to $500 billion at CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos.

Marking its first anniversary on November 5, CAFA will unveil a joint stand with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly the National Arts Theatre, on November 5, 2026.

CAFA President, Aare (Prof.) Lai Labode, said the institution works with African governments to align sourcing, production, trade and intellectual property policies, ensuring African creativity generates greater value for African businesses and communities.

Nigeria became the first country to sign the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter on November 5, 2025, when the Honourable Minister Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa signed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Minister Musawa said: “Afroliganza seeks to build a structured, values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage, led by African institutions, and positioned for global impact.”

On employment potential, the minister emphasized that Investment in fashion will create millions of jobs, particularly for women and youth.

Registered in Rwanda, with an office in Kigali and a desk at the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, CAFA is also working with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs towards African Union adoption of the Charter. Rwanda is progressing towards becoming its second participating country and the first in East Africa.

Its first year saw fifty nations gather at the Egbaliganza-Lisabi Festival in Abeokuta and a signed MoU with Türkiye’s ASRIAD.

CAFA’s programmes promote processing African raw materials into finished apparel locally. ‘Own What We Create’ addresses intellectual property protection, while the CAFA Certified Seal and CAFA Heritage Mark support standards and authenticity. African Global Fashion Houses are currently being established across international markets.

The African Global Fashion Games will debut in Nigeria in 2028, bringing designers together under national colours. Held every three years, the Games will alternate between African and international hosts, combining competition with investor meetings, deal signings and policy discussions. Its Instant Craft event gives competing nations identical materials and a fixed clock, placing skill at the centre of the contest.

CAFA is inviting creatives, fashion designers, artisans, diplomats, economists, investors and policymakers to its CANEX stand. Visitors can explore the roadmap, ask questions and identify opportunities to contribute through design, manufacturing, investment, research, trade and international partnerships. The stand will be open daily from November 5 to 8.

CAFA calls on the African Union to adopt the Charter, and governments to sign the Games Register and form national teams.

“Fashion has always told the world who Africa is. Now Africa will decide what fashion pays,” Aare Prof. Lai Labode said.

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