The New Era Of African Storytelling Is Borderless

Cross-border co-productions in West Africa are no longer a trend but an inevitability, according to film producer and industry executive Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante. The Ghana–Nigeria collaboration on ANÍKÚLÁPÓ: THE GHOUL AWAKENS offers a clear example of why regional partnerships are shaping the future of African storytelling.

Asantewaa explains that the collaboration was the result of a long-term vision to position Ghana as a serious production destination for global platforms, attract the African diaspora and create sustainable pathways for African talent and high-value content to reach the world stage.

In its second season, ANÍKÚLÁPÓ integrates Ghana not just as a filming location but as a meaningful part of the narrative. The Ghanaian scenes draw on shared West African histories, including trade, migration, the transatlantic slave trade and European presence along the coast. The inclusion of Portuguese elements, including a Portuguese actor, reflects the historical interconnectedness of the region.

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Historical links between the Yoruba people and communities in present-day Ghana, as well as cultural overlaps among Akan, Ewe, Ga and Yoruba societies, further reinforce the idea that West African stories are deeply intertwined and best told collaboratively.

From an industry perspective, the partnership makes strategic sense. Nigeria, Africa’s largest producer of English-language content and Ghana, with its distinct locations, talent and production advantages, together expand audience reach and elevate production value. In this sense, ANÍKÚLÁPÓ presents a scalable model for African co-productions.

A key highlight of the collaboration is the performance of Ghanaian actress Fella Makafui, who learned classical Yoruba from scratch for her role. Her portrayal resonated strongly with Yoruba-speaking audiences, many of whom could not tell she was not Yoruba, underscoring the depth of Ghanaian talent when given the opportunity.

The partnership was solidified at the Cannes Film Festival following a brief but decisive conversation between Asante and filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, with the collaboration announced at the Nigerian Film and TV Summit in Cannes. While initially met with scepticism, the finished work has since become proof of the vision.

Beyond film, the series elevates Ghana’s landscapes, heritage sites and visual identity, contributing to cultural pride and positioning the country as a cinematic and tourism destination for global audiences.

As global platforms increasingly embrace cross-border storytelling, Asante believes this moment calls for collaboration over competition. With Africa’s youth population set to exceed 40% of the global total in the coming years and the creative sector projected to be worth tens of billions of dollars, ANÍKÚLÁPÓ demonstrates what is possible when Africa is treated as a connected market rather than fragmented territories.