Nigeria has been selected as the Country of Honour for the third edition of creative media conference FAME Week Africa, which is set to take place from September 1-7, 2024.
The move recognises Nigeria’s significant contributions to the creative industries within Africa and on the global stage, according to the conference organisers, adding that Nigeria has become a trendsetter in the global creative arena, particularly in film, music and fashion.
Nigerian fashion labels such as Head of State, Tia Adeola and Oshobor garnered international acclaim at New York Fashion Week 2024, while Nigerian music stars Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema, Asake, Arya Starr and Odumodublvck continue to achieve worldwide success.
Nigeria’s Nollywood film industry is valued at over US$6.4bn and produces more than 2,500 films annually, making it a major player in global entertainment, second only to Bollywood in production volume.
FAME Week Africa 2024 will highlight Nigeria’s creative sector through a series of high-profile events designed to foster international collaboration, including exclusive screenings, panels on coproduction opportunities and a Nollywood-themed opening-night party. These events, organised in partnership with Nigeria’s National Council for Arts & Culture (NCAC), are aimed at showcasing the best of Nigeria’s creative industries.
The Nigeria Pavilion, organised by the NCAC, will serve as a networking hub for coproduction and distribution agreements, alongside other career-enhancing discussions. Throughout the week, it will host various activities celebrating Nigeria’s designation as the Country of Honour.
“The Country of Honour designation is a celebration of a nation’s rich culture and creativity,” said Martin Hiller, FAME Week Africa’s portfolio director. “Nigeria’s historical influence on African film, television, music and fashion is indisputable, and its recent rise on the global stage is undeniable. This year is the perfect time to spotlight Nigeria, and we have exciting plans in place to celebrate this spectacularly.”
Obi Asika, director general and CEO of the NCAC, added: “This recognition as the Country of Honour at FAME Week Africa is a tremendous opportunity for Nigeria to showcase our vibrant culture and abundant creativity. We are also keen to do business in collaboration with regional and global partners as we want to see our film and TV producers gain more market access, our fashion brands enter retail and our music reach live audiences across the continent.”
FAME Week Africa kicks off on September 1 with Nollywood Night at the Rockefeller Hotel. The event then moves to the Cape Town Convention Centre 2 from September 2-4 for MipAfrica, Muziki Africa and the African Fashion Forum, concluding with the FAME Shorts Festival from September 4-7.
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