Last year we shared a story that started with how our mission has always been to create strong communities for storytellers, conservationists, and scientists to help each other grow and take up space. In just one year, eKhaya has evolved into a space to gather, grow, learn, challenge, train, eat and rest in community. Created as to be a home base, #ChangingTheNarrative manifests as African storytellers, scientists, researchers, ocean explorers and conservationists filled its space with perspectives, ideas and dreams more diverse than our community of more than 250 fellows.
 

Since the initial phases of development, our administrative offices and a dedicated dive space for kit and comfort. Building on the comfort and inclusivity of our homebase; we recently added an accessibility ramp for wheelchairs, as well as a boma as an extension of the storytelling that takes place around the fire.

NEWF x AFRIFF13 Pitch

The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) celebrated its 13th edition from 3 to 9 November 2024 in Lagos, Nigeria, with the theme ‘Indigenous to Global: Cultural Wealth to Global Prosperity.’ 

This year saw NEWF’s partnership with AFRIFF expand as the pitch competition grew from a regional focus to a continent-wide call, drawing 80 applications. After a rigorous review, three (3) finalists were announced and  will advance to the 2025 NEWF Producers’ Lab, continuing the festival’s legacy of nurturing talent.

#AfricaRefocused #AFRIFF13 #ChangingTheNarrative

#NatureEnvironmentWildlifeFilmmakers #DocumentaryFilmmaking `
#NEWFcommunity

In August we welcomed the team and collaborators from the Africa to Archipelago project to eKhaya for the first of many cultural exchanges.

Africa to Archipelago is a conservation-focused initiative, anchored in music, nature, and cross-border community. The initiative brings together a collective of indigenous musicians and creatives from Africa and the Philippines to co-create stories, soundtracks, and immersive content – elevating underrepresented indigenous voices and increasing the publicʼs affinity with nature.

After a whirlwind of brand and activation development by the talented Love Frankie team based in Bangkok - the NEWF were warmly welcomed to the Philippines to immerse in the local culture at the heart of this multi-cultural sonic journey. 

While NEWF facilitates the largest ocean access program for African Scientists, Conservationists and Storytellers; only a fraction of the Dive Lab fellows go on to be supported for professional opportunities like the Divemaster and Instructor training programs. Our goal to redefine ocean access in the professional dive industry is one we invest in, with sustainability and community at the heart of our eligibility criteria.

Mere days ago, we celebrated only the second and third instructor certifications - George Amado from Ghana, and Mbonea Mdoe from Tanzania - and NEWF Dive Fellow Husna Amimu qualified as an Assistant Instructor. Each with a passionate goal to stimulate new industries back home, we look forward to delving more deeply into their 'why' and the milestones that will follow these first certification milestones in their instructor training programs.

A 6-month fellowship (facilitated by Peggy-Sue Amison from East Wing and supported by Alexa Becker, Rehab Eldalil, and Federico Estol) the program aims to foster responsible collaboration from an African perspective. Taking a hybrid approach (online and in-person), fellows will receive expert mentorship to advance long-term projects, challenge formats, and engage global audiences through hands-on editing and publishing sessions.

Are you passionate about access, inclusion and the expansion of local audiences for African-led nature, environment and wildlife filmmaking? We will soon be opening registration to join impactful industry sessions, workshops, pitching and networking as we redefine and refocus the narrative in nature, environment and wildlife filmmaking.

Following their first photography lab with NEWF mentors Anthony Ochieng and Peter N'dungu at eKhaya, an expanded NEWF team headed to Kruger National Park to immerse and engage with the #365birdsin365days Projectin the Pafuri camp.

Street Whale📍Kribi, Cameroon. 

01 - 07 December

The objective of the Street Whale festival, led by Dr.Aristide Kamla, is to raise awareness and promote the conservation of whales and other aquatic megafauna species as well as their habitat in Cameroon through the combination of art and scientific discussion forums.
 

While the main event is from 04 - 07 December, NEWF has a photography lab led by Anthony Ochieng and Imara Njeri (pictured above) is happening right now. Anthony also sat on the jury for the Street Whale Photography Competition where the audience will vote to pick a winner from the 5 finalists.
 

Stay tuned for updates on the lab and event!

WCSFP,📍Marrakech, Morocco

09 - 12 December

The WCSFP annual Congress is the pre-eminent international event where the factual media community gathers to explore the cutting-edge and future trends of how science, history and other content-rich subjects are communicated to a mass audience.
 

We look forward to reporting back on the NEWF cohort representing African Nature, Environment and Wildlife documentary storytelling in Marrakech.