Africa No Filter announces Emerging Artists Fellows

The announcement follows an open call by the organisation to emerging artists across all creative disciplines. The programme is part of ANF’s mission to support storytellers in Africa and the diaspora whose work shifts stereotypical narratives of the continent. The artists will get funding to develop and produce their projects.

The participating artists will produce films, installations, a painting, novel, cookbook, multimedia essays, digital art and even emojis. Their work will explore identity, spirituality, landscape, women in leadership, oral traditions, representation, food and resilience. While the projects and artists are as diverse as Africa, they all have three things in common – innovation, creativity and telling an alternative story of Africa.

“Creativity and art, in general, are powerful tools in creating and presenting relevant narratives about the African continent,” ANF executive director Moky Makura said. “We created the Emerging Artists Fellows programme to offer storytellers an opportunity to experiment with ideas and creative methodologies that they’ll be able to reuse for the rest of their careers. The program will offer them the time, space and development needed to take their careers to the next level.”

ANF programme facilitator Essé Dabla-Attikpo said: “We also wanted highly motivated artists who are intentional about their art practice and put deliberate and consistent efforts towards creating.”

The fellows have 12 months to complete their projects. Their mentors include Ghanaian TV producer Nicole Amarteifio, Senegalese-American journalist and podcaster Selly Thiam, Gambian playwright and director Maïmouna Jallow, Nigerian writer and editor Bukola Oyebode and Ugandan art trust 32° East director Teesa Bahana.

The 2021-22 ANF Emerging Artists Fellows are:

• O’Plérou Grebet (Ivory Coast) – graphic designer.
• Haneefah Adam (Nigeria) – photographer and painter.
• Mpho Ts’uene (Lesotho) – visual artist.
• Baingor Joiner (the Gambia) – multidisciplinary artist.
• Stella Tchuisse (Cameroon) – filmmaker.
• Prince Ardayfio (Ghana) – filmmaker.
• Progress Nyandoro (Zimbabwe) – multimedia artist.
• Katanu Sanna (Kenya) – visual artist.
• Dylan Habil (Kenya) – filmmaker.
• Yuran Henrique (Cape Verde) – cartoonist.
• Mahoutondji Kinmagbo (Benin) – visual artist.