How many African photographers and cinematographers have the opportunity to film wildlife off the continent?
While diversity and inclusion across industries that include arts, culture, entertainment and film have been a fervent topic-turned-movement, we are a long way from close comparisons to the sheer volume of foreign talent building their careers on bodies of work produced on the African continent. For Peter Ndung’u from Kenya, the ancestors aligned time and place in such a way that a recommendation from a peer, and an already acquired VISA for a trip to see his wife Ruth (an academic in residency in Austria) led to an opportunity to join the Gulo Film Production crew led by Oliver Goetzl on assignment for four weeks in the snow in Eastern Finland.
Exploring the Future of Storytelling
This year has been electric with momentum! One of the most exciting events on our travel calendar is the National Geographic Society Explorers Festival. For NEWF, each year has given us more opportunity to celebrate our community and see our dream of Pan-African representation growing in the Society and around the world. Our dream of seeing diverse catalogues of authentic stories featuring a global melting pot of culture, language and community-inclusive impact is one we see coming to life.
What if you could have a conversation with one of the worlds most renowned ocean storytellers?
In 2021 NEWF hosted a first-of-its-kind dive lab with the aim of certifying 10 Indigenous African women as SCUBA Divemasters. The Decade Divemaster Storytellers Lab brought together 10 women with different backgrounds, African cultures and careers to participate in a 90 day residency in Sodwana Bay featuring in depth, professional pool and open water training by day, and compelling storytelling workshops and discussion at night. One of these talks featured renowned American photojournalist and film producer, Brian Skerry, who joined the cohort via Zoom to field questions about his career immersed in nature, capturing incredible photographs of species that have captivated the hearts of people all across the globe.
What if your wish came true?
As we celebrate Ocean Month, it has been amazing to reflect on all the ocean stories in the NEWF Community. And as we reflect, so too do our fellows. Observing Ashunganya Nchafac Nkemlemo Precious’ journey with the ocean and storytelling has been a beautiful example of why NEWF does what it does. Briefly reflecting on her journey, one that started last year and has gained incredible momentum, she shares her win at the Cameroon International Film Festival (CAMIFF) - shining light her film, and new energy to tackle the next season of her journey as a filmmaker.
How does Virtual Reality contribute to real life impact?
As our country emphasises the importance of digital economies, VR emerges as an excellent medium to unite people in understanding ocean dynamics without the necessity of physical presence. For a significant portion of the population, the ocean remains a source of fear. But these immersive VR experiences ignite interest and encourage to further explore and learn about marine environments. This technology not only alleviates fear, but fosters a deeper connection and appreciation for the ocean among diverse communities.