Nigerian-Canadian Artist Champions Investment in Africa's Animation Industry
Keyede Heidel-Ajakaiye, a Nigerian-raised visual artist based in Canada, has issued a compelling call for sustained investment and strategic support to nurture the growth of Africa's animation sector. Speaking about the continent's creative landscape, Heidel-Ajakaiye emphasized that while African animators possess remarkable talent, the industry faces significant challenges due to limited funding, inadequate training opportunities, and insufficient encouragement for emerging creators.
Foundation Provides Critical Support for Emerging Animators
In 2024, Heidel-Ajakaiye established The Colored Anime Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting emerging African animators and amplifying indigenous storytelling through animated content. The foundation has gained substantial visibility through its partnership with the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), where it has sponsored the animation category for two consecutive years. Through this collaboration, the foundation offers cash prizes and skills development opportunities to winners, creating what Heidel-Ajakaiye describes as essential building blocks for sustainable creative careers.
"I wanted to see if I could come in and offer support in my own little way, beyond just financial rewards," Heidel-Ajakaiye explained. "There are Africans, and specifically Nigerians, who are deeply interested in animation. What many of them need is support and encouragement to help their talent thrive."
Animation as a Tool for Cultural Preservation and Storytelling
According to Heidel-Ajakaiye, animation represents a powerful medium for preserving African culture, reinterpreting historical narratives, and connecting generations through visual storytelling. She noted that while other cultures have successfully drawn from their histories in animation, Africa has yet to fully explore this creative territory.
"African storytelling is a space that hasn't really been tapped into," she observed. "Other cultures draw deeply from their history in animation. We have that depth too, but we haven't zoomed into it enough." She added that animation can effectively bridge generational gaps, appealing to both children and adults when stories authentically reflect African identity and lived experiences.
Urgent Call for Government and Private Sector Investment
Heidel-Ajakaiye stressed that meaningful growth in Africa's animation sector requires more than raw talent alone. She urged both government agencies and private investors to recognize animation as a viable creative industry with substantial economic and cultural potential.
"Either government or private investors can lead, but they must see the potential and understand where it can go," she emphasized. "Without investment, even the most talented creators will struggle." She highlighted animation's capacity to generate employment opportunities, expand cultural influence, and contribute significantly to economic growth when properly supported through structured investment frameworks.
Technical Excellence and Storytelling Quality as Key Factors
When discussing what distinguishes successful animation, Heidel-Ajakaiye emphasized the critical importance of strong storytelling combined with high-quality audio production. "If the story is great but the audio is poor, it takes people out of the experience," she noted. "And if the audio is strong but the storytelling isn't, it still won't work." She also pointed to music, particularly Afrobeat, as a powerful tool for conveying emotion and enriching animated narratives.
Growing Recognition and Optimistic Outlook
While acknowledging that progress will not happen overnight, Heidel-Ajakaiye expressed optimism about the growing recognition of animation within Africa's creative and film industries. "When I see how excited people are that there is now a category for animation, it makes me happy," she said. "It helps creatives feel seen and encouraged to keep going."
Past beneficiaries of The Colored Anime Foundation's AFRIFF sponsorship include Dami Solesi of Smids Animation Studios and Adeoye Adetunji of 2thpick Art, who won best animation awards in 2024 and 2025 respectively. As Nigeria positions itself as a hub for Africa's creative economy, Heidel-Ajakaiye's advocacy adds momentum to increasing calls for structured investment in animation as a tool for cultural preservation, youth empowerment, and global storytelling.
