This is why African stories are better told by foreigners

South African actor John Kani has shared his thoughts on why foreign filmmakers often produce better African stories than local filmmakers, citing challenges such as inadequate funding in the African film industry.

In a candid interview with Doreen Avio, Kani explained that while African stories hold immense potential, the lack of substantial budgets often hampers local filmmakers from fully exploring the continent's rich cultures and histories.

He questioned, "Why can't we do a better Wakanda, or a better Black Panther?

“Why do people from another country tell African stories? This is because they have a big budget."

Kani pointed out that African filmmakers are often constrained by small budgets, limiting their ability to delve deeply into the diverse cultures and narratives that make up the continent.

To address these challenges, Kani called on affluent Africans to invest in the continent's television and film industries to help raise the quality of African storytelling.

He stressed the importance of competing on the global stage, stating, "We need the rich Africans to support the art; television and film industry so we can compete with other countries.

“On our terms, we don't want to go there and be allocated in the foreign lands with categories of the Oscars, and Grammys but we compete on our little side with them.

“You can't go to the main, because we are the main and the beginning of humanity, therefore our work is critically important."

Kani also advocated for the creation of learning spaces to nurture young African filmmakers.

He suggested that young talents in countries like Ghana or Nigeria could benefit from programs that help them develop, approve, and successfully produce scripts that resonate both locally and internationally.

John Kani, known for his roles as T'Chaka in Black Panther and Captain America: Civil War, and Rafiki in The Lion King, emphasized the essence of investing in Africa's cinematic future to ensure the continent’s stories are told in their full, authentic glory.