Three new initiatives in music, movies and innovation will further boost the growth of Nigeria’s phenomenal creative industries.
THE United States of America, a significant supporter of Nigerian arts, culture, and entertainment, has further deepened its cultural ties with the country by launching new initiatives to boost creative industries, technology, and innovation.
The projects in music and movies will boost professional development and network building for television writers, producers, art directors, cinematographers, editors, and line producers, among others.
The US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Lee Satterfield, who visited Nigeria from March 17 to 22, announced the initiatives at the University of Lagos on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, at the National Museum Onikan, the Assistant Secretary of State signed an MOU to launch the Cultural Property Agreement Implementation Grant program titled ‘Preserving Nigeria’s Heritage.’
The $95,000 grant program with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments seeks to create a digital inventory of collections at the National Museum Lagos.
But affirming its appreciation of Nigerian creatives, Satterfield brought more good news at the UNILAG event with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola.
She explained that since the people are at the heart of the United States’ relationship with Nigeria, the US government will constantly develop initiatives to boost them.
“At the heart of our relationship is our people. It is each of you in this room; it is the more than 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students from Nigeria who studied in the United States just last year; it is the artists and athletes – from Afrobeats sensation Davido to WNBA all-stars Chiney Ogwumike and her sister Nneka– who bring together our rich cultures and celebrate peace through music and sport; it is the entrepreneurs, engineers, programmers, and scientists that spur technology innovation,” Satterfield said.
She further noted that through the phenomenal growth of Nollywood and Afrobeats, the world is now paying attention to African culture, music, and stories.
She said the United States recognises the tremendous potential of the creative industries to create economic opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic, especially as American entertainers are increasingly collaborating with their Nigerian counterparts, as are companies including Netflix, Disney, Paramount, Sony, NBC Universal, and YouTube
Most importantly, she explained that the US government supports Nigeria’s creative industries because they offer economic opportunities for millions of people from Hollywood to Nollywood.
She introduced the new initiatives: “The Africa Creative TV initiative (ACTV) is a new professional development program focusing on TV writers, producers, and below-the-line professionals. ACTV is a partnership with the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and was created due to President Biden’s 2022 Africa Leaders Summit. It recognises the influence and impact of the creative industry in Africa.
“ACTV will focus on professional development and network building for television writers, producers, and those in other technical fields such as art direction, cinematography, editing, line producing, and more. For 2024, the Africa Creative TV initiative will select eight TV projects for a four-week residency in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California. While there, participants will work with US professionals to develop skills and prepare for writing, development, and production. Participants will bring works-in-progress to develop during the residency with mentoring by American TV writers, producers, and industry experts.”
While ACTV focuses on movies, the other is to boost music. According to Satterfield, “The American Music Mentorship Program (AMMP) – a partnership between the US Department of State and the Recording Academy – better known to most of us as the Grammys – and will bring international mid-career music industry professionals to the United States for mentorship and networking opportunities, to cultivate a professional music industry ecosystem locally, support creative talent, and strengthen the creative economy globally. It will leverage the networks and experience of Recording Academy professionals and members to provide international participants with mentorship opportunities, boost their technical skills, and build the foundation for professional networks. As part of the first-ever American Music Mentorship Program, there will be five participants from Nigeria.”
But that wasn’t all, as she added the icing to the cake. “This year, we will launch a one-year film-focused Community College Initiative program to take participants through the script to the screen process. The program will include four Nigerian filmmaking students. It will support our broader efforts to build capacity in the creative economy, mainly through the lens of technical education.
“The film, television, and music industries continue to evolve at an unprecedented pace, fueled by relentless innovation from an increasingly interconnected world. US tech giants like Google, Meta, and Microsoft are investing heavily in Nigeria, supporting the development of local tech talents and promoting inclusive economic growth and development. Through opportunities like TechWomen and TechGirls, we can bring together the best and brightest from the US and Nigeria to meet the moment and pursue next-generation technological innovations.”
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