LIFANIMA @8: Charting growth path for Africa’s animation cinema

* …time to invest in Africa’s animation cinema goldmine, says festival director, Muyiwa Kayode

By Godwin Okondo

LAGOS International Festival of Animation (LIFANIMA), now in its eighth year, has firmly established itself as a major force in the African and world animation film scene. Since its inception in 2016, LIFANIMA has become a platform for promoting Nigerian and African animators, fostering collaboration and championing capacity development across the continent. Today, LIFANIMA is the second-largest animation festival in Africa, a remarkable feat that speaks to the dedication and vision of its founders and partners.

The 8th edition of LIFANIMA 2024 is scheduled to take place from Ocotober 29 –31, at the French Cultural Centre, Alliance Francaise, Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.

With its growing reputation, strong partnerships, and an unwavering focus on animation film development platform, LIFANIMA is positioning itself as a major player in the global animation landscape. For Nigeria and Africa, the festival represents more than just an event – it is a movement that promises to reshape the future of animation film production, showcase and market on the continent.

And the founder and MD/CEO of USP, Mr. Muyiwa Kayode, reflects on the festival’s 8th year journey so far with great pride, when he says, “It has been an exciting journey. Yes, some of our expectations have been met as this festival is now globally recognised and is the second biggest animation festival in Africa. We have created a great platform for the development of animation in Nigeria and across Africa.”

While LIFANIMA has reached impressive milestones, Kayode acknowledges that the journey is far from over, noting that the festival has enjoyed significant backing from key partners such as Lagos State Ministry of Arts and Culture, the Embassy of France in Nigeria, Bank of Industry, and the federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy. However, Kayode notes that there is still room for growth, especially in terms of financial sponsorship.

“We are not yet where we need to be in terms of sponsorship,” he says, “but we are growing, and we are confident that the festival will continue to attract support to become one of the biggest animation festivals in the world.”

LIFANIMA was borne out of a need to unite Nigerian animators, providing them with a space for collective growth and development. Launched in 2016, the festival has worked to bridge the gap in Nigeria’s animation industry, helping animators hone their skills and showcase their talents on a global stage, and as Mr. Kayode acknowledges, “We created LIFANIMA due to the need for a platform that brings Nigerian animators together for collective growth, collaboration, and capacity development. We are happy that these objectives are being achieved.”

MD/CEO, USP and LIFANIMA director, Mr. Muyiwa Kayode

The festival’s recognition of excellence through its award categories has also contributed to its growth. There are now five award categories that include 3D Animation, 2D Animation, Stop Motion Animation, Animation Commercial, and Visual Effects. Kayode clarifies that while some may think a new category was added this year, the lineup remains the same; the absence of entries in the ‘Animation Commercial’ category last year gave rise to that misconception, adding, “I think last year there was no entry in the Animation Commercial category. That’s why it appears we added one category, but it’s not a new addition.”

LIFANIMA’s awards have recognized the work of Nigerian animation filmmakers. However, Kayode admits that there is still a gap between the accolades and the actual presence of locally produced animations on Nigerian TV screens and streaming platforms, further explaining that, “It’s a gradual process. Making animation films is very expensive and time-consuming. But a number of projects are in the works, and we will soon see much more than we currently have.”

Kayode is optimistic but realistic about the level of expertise in Nigerian animation today, noting, “We still have a lot of work to do in terms of being able to compete globally. It’s greatly dependent on the compelling power of our storytelling. While we may have some gaps in the technical skills side, we have enough to give it a strong push.”

Bridging the technology gap remains one of the greatest challenges for Nigerian animators, according to Mr. Kayode, saying that the technology required for animation production is expensive. He adds that LIFANIMA has been a strong advocate for more funding in this area, calling on both public and private sectors to invest in the future of African animation, as it requires a great deal of funding: “The tech is not cheap. That’s why we are pushing for more funding for animation.”

Speaking on the future of locally produced animation contents, one of the key concerns for LIFANIMA, according to Mr. Kayode, is the dominance of foreign animation contents on Nigerian screens, particularly for children. Kayode emphasizes the importance of locally produced animation as a tool for preserving cultural identity and weaning our children away from foreign values that are most times inimical to Africa’s core values and morals.

“We must provide funding for the production of more animation content for children,” he asserts. “This is crucial for our future and the preservation of our cultural identity!”

Looking ahead, Mr. Kayode says LIFANIMA hopes to spark a renaissance in African animation by encouraging the creation of content that resonates with local audiences while appealing to global viewers. As the festival continues to grow, he says, its impact on the industry and on African storytelling through animation will become even more evident.

As LIFANIMA celebrates its eighth year, the festival is making a bold statement: African animation is on the rise, affirms festival organiser, Mr. Kayode, who has emphasised that he sees this year’s edition as an important milestone, not just for animators but also for potential investors to whom he has made a passionate appeal by calling on them to gear up for the future of African animation by telling them, “African animation is gradually coming of age. This is the time for investors to key into this potential goldmine!”