Promotional image for 2023 movie, Mami Wata (cropped). Fair Use

Over the years, Hollywood has done an excellent job of adapting folklore, myths, and legends from around the world. From excellent writing, storytelling, and superb acting to top-notch marketing, the industry has finally succeeded in drawing the interest of many. However, I believe the time has come for us to adapt more African folklore into movies.

Let’s dive into the whys, the challenges that await such a move, and the best way to tackle them.

Why Do We Need More?

Anyone can argue in favor of having more stories to tell in the movie industry. The possibilities of such development promise much from both the business and content perspectives. Nevertheless, the following points stood out strongest from research and conversations.

Firstly, you can’t deny the fact that Africa already has some measure of representation in the fantasy genre. However, a large chunk of the relevant stories and adaptations have been about Egypt, its mummies, and pyramids. Although I enjoy the tales, one can conveniently say that this culture feels well-saturated at this point.

We will do well to branch out into other unexplored parts of the continent. Which brings us to the next point.

Image: Ancient Nigerian terra cotta sculpture. Source: Pinterest

Africa still has hundreds of exciting folklore and myths waiting to be told. Several cultures across multiple countries on the continent have local tales that the industry can adapt. Tapping into this collection of folklores will not only bring a breath of fresh air, it will open a fountain that will keep giving for years to come.

To Hollywood’s credit, the hunt for new stories has been on for quite some time now. But then, we can’t deny the challenges of questing for more African folklore in the movie industry.

The Challenges Of Getting More African Folklore In The Movie Industry

Every tangible plan has its obstacles and challenges. When it comes to getting more African folklore in movies, we need to start from the sourcing. How do we find these stories before adopting them?

Unfortunately, most of Africa’s folklore exists in oral form which means they aren’t properly documented. Although few authors have collected some and put them into writing, those aren’t as much as one would expect.

The above point also contributes to the lack of interest from younger generations. According to Martini Akande, a co-editor of the movie Gangs of Lagos, most Black adults of age forty and younger will likely display more enthusiasm towards Western and Oriental lore when asked. While some might pick Africa, they will do so because of Egyptian lore. The truth is you really can’t blame them. These were the things available in fantasy movies all through their growing years.

How To Encourage More African Lore In Movies

Image: Obba, the Yoruba Goddess of the River. Source: Mythlok

With the already explained challenges, we can all agree that the continent needs more work in this regard. So how do we go about solving these issues?

To begin with, Oral tradition might have lost its lure over the years but I believe now’s the time to adapt it. The Social Media Age allows fresh creative ways to bring African folklore to more people. We can share lots of these stories in the form of podcasts, videos, and even audiobooks.

Also, the need for more Black writers has never been more important. The movie industry needs more people to research, document, and tell these stories to a world yearning for them.

Carrying out the aforementioned actions will help sensitize the younger generation about the richness of these tales. Parents can also share these stories during family time. Oral tradition remains a part of who we are, you shouldn’t neglect it. But instead, modify it to stand the test of time.

Finally, we can also encourage Black filmmakers to branch out of the norm. Movies about African cultures have shown the genius and creativity that exists on the continent. However, most films by Blacks that take place in Africa fall in the crime, comedy, and romance genres. 

We can start by having more movies draw inspiration from our myths and folklore. And when these people release such movies, we should display more support by watching them. If we have suggestions to make the films better, we should tender them creatively and from a place of love and support.

There you have it, the long answer to what brought you here. Opening up more of our stories to the world will only bring positive yields to the audience and fulfillment to Black creatives.