What does the Africa you dream of look like?
Recently, Dr.Aristide Takoukam Kamla and eight (8) prospective open water SCUBA divers from Cameroon, Ghana and Senegal were welcomed to eKhaya Storytelling and Research Centre in Sodwana Bay. From London where just on Wednesday he accepted a highly acclaimed Whitley Award for Nature, we spoke about everything from finding his purpose on the waters of Lake Ossa, to a small Weevil giving it the chance to breathe again - and how together it has paved the way for a career rooted deeply in Cameroon's coastal communities.
In Retrospect: #NEWF2024 Fellows Summit and Congress
#NEWF2024 is a whirlwind that starts our community's year and sets it on a busy course to bring ideas to life and keep the momentum created through networking, inspired dialogue and interactive learning at large. But this year was different. Word on the street is that it was our best yet - and from our side we are working towards even more positive growth.
When last did a film from Africa make you feel like you belong?
Authentic storytelling is a vital tool for restoring pride to African peoples' relationship with nature, and closer to home, the sense of identity and belonging held deeply within. Recognising this, the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invited filmmakers to submit proposals for a short documentary film that speaks to people and their connection to the environment and wildlife.
eKhaya: We are HOME
Our mission has always been to create strong communities for storytellers, conservationists, and scientists to help each other grow and take up space. At NEWF, we have watched this community grow from one group of fellows pitching their films in 2017, to more than 200 fellows from more than 25 African countries. If only these walls could talk!
REMAIN TEACHABLE
A Marine Biologist by profession, an emerging documentary filmmaker, a foodie and a NEWF fellow - peeling back those layers, you realise that TJ is not just the sum of her achievements and the brief bios sprinkled across the internet - she is so much more and her vision runs deep. She defies the status quo by leaning into her power and ability while maintaining a humble soberness and practicality.