As the Lent season ended and Easter unfolded, Nigeria and the rest of Africa awoke to the birth of an excellent piece of cinematography, one that seamlessly blends art with technology. Makemation, Africa’s first feature film centered on artificial intelligence (AI), directed by Nigerian social entrepreneur and technology education expert, Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, hit the cinemas during the Easter period.
The release of Makemation marks not just a movie debut, but an unprecedented leap in cinema and cultural narrative. This is more than entertainment—it is a powerful and necessary cultural moment. Unlike any Nollywood movie before it, the movie tells the story of technology and innovation, ambition and bias, and the courageous pursuit of innovation in the face of societal adversity.
Why Makemation?
At its heart, Makemation follows the journey of a young Nigerian girl who dares to dream beyond the boundaries set by her circumstances. Born into a family where education is seen as a male privilege, she discovers a deep passion for technology and a vision of a better future. Against all odds, she applies for a prestigious tech scholarship—one that is traditionally reserved for students from affluent, elite backgrounds. She then ventures into technology, pursuing an unlikely path.
However, the narrative goes beyond the main character’s personal journey—it speaks to Africa’s collective ambition to embrace AI as a force for empowerment. Her story mirrors the reality of countless young Africans, particularly Nigerians, whose potential are stifled not by their abilities but by societal expectations and systemic barriers.
With the debates about how the future of traditional careers is increasingly being shaped by technology, it is no longer news that we are now in the time when artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction. Makemation underscores that it is, in fact, our current reality.
Read More from Ese Gift Orakpoghenor — Makemation: A Bold Journey into the World of Technology
