Have you refocused your lens?
What comes to mind when you envision a group of divers exploring the southern tips kelp forests, restoring East Africa’s coral reefs or filming wildlife in warm and wild forest and plains across the continent? What do filmmakers, scientists, innovators and conservation heroes look like, sound like, and dress like?
Africa Refocused is built on a bold theory of change:
When talented and diverse African storytellers receive the training, mentorship, connections, and access they need to advance their skills and careers, they become leaders in wildlife and natural history storytelling. Their voices add vital perspectives to the global conservation narrative, helping to protect Africa’s wildlife for generations to come.
Our Story Arc is a collection of stories that amplify, and powerfully celebrate just a fraction of the trailblazing, compelling, complex, funny, hopeful, nuanced, inspiring, passionate and hard-fought journeys of African storytellers, conservationists and scientists in the NEWF community - on and off continent.
Through these stories, we celebrate our collective agency, and seek to share the value of community-centric impact through warm, thought-provoking narratives that highlight the richly diverse cultures, multidisciplinary talent and Indigenous knowledge systems that play a significant role in the preservation of our wild spaces, species and the communities that coexist with them.
Africa Refocused, Reimagined, and Rising Together at #NEWF2025
The 8th NEWF Fellows Summit and Congress emerged as a culturally vibrant, supportive and engaging source of community, connection and creative energy once again. Curated to respond to the evolving needs of fellows, covering everything from storytelling craft, pitching strategies and collaborative production approaches - to inviting the industry to join the conversation reimagining the future of community-inclusive, African-led storytelling, science and art.
Across our continent, and to the world!
Over time, our designs have travelled from where we meet, to the rest of the African continent - and around the world! Of course, it’s not just about a cool grid or merch, nor how incredible a sea of fellows merched-up look together - it’s about the sense of community and seeing a movement we hold dear continue to grow.
RETURN AFRICA: The MAKULEKE YOUTH BIRDERS PROJECT
The central part of the park has always been my haven, with an almost guaranteed lion roar at night, if not a sighting, or perhaps it's just sentimental. However, it was only in 2021, after a series of strange coincidences (in hindsight), that I stumbled upon Pafuri Camp and experienced a sense of belonging, a sense of homecoming.
eKhaya TURNS ONE!
Last year, we shared our mission to build strong communities for NEWF fellows to grow and take up space. eKhaya has become a dynamic space to gather, learn, challenge, train, eat, and rest in community. #ChangingTheNarrative manifests as 250+ African storytellers, scientists, researchers, and conservationists bringing diverse perspectives, ideas, and dreams to life.
From Botswana to India: IMMERSING IN GREEN STORIES
Nothing could have prepared me for its unique rhythm, cultural diversity, and beautiful stories. I live for great stories—they inspire, challenge, and push me to grow as a storyteller. While working on my next film, I felt the need for critical perspective. Discovering NEWF’s Greenstories Pitch open call, I took the leap as an observer.