iREP: Making a case for documentary films

As appeared in the BusinessLIFE section of the BusinessDay, Friday, 28 January 2011


By Kemi Ajumobi

The general notion about Africa, as transmitted through various local and international media, revolves around death, corruption, drought, disease and war. But the question that Nigerian filmmakers, critics and literary activists were preoccupied with answering at the just-concluded iREP film festival was: ‘who is telling our stories and from what point of view?’

The event, which held at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island and the Freedom Park on Broad Street, Lagos, served as a platform for filmmakers to exchange ideas on the future of documentaries in Africa and how the platform can be used to tell true stories of Africa by Africans. Thankfully, participants came away with a sense of optimism, as their conclusion was that documentaries can indeed be used (if the guidelines are followed) to accurately report occurrences on the continent.

With the theme ‘Africa in Self-Conversation, the Documentary Film Intervention’ the festival emphasised on training and skill development for the benefit of young filmmakers, while celebrating documentary filmmakers who have used their works to impact the world positively.


In his opening remarks, Femi Odugbemi, one of the iREP executive directors and managing director/CEO, DVWORKS, explained that iREP is about documentaries and promotion of same by Africa for the world. “After the 50th independence anniversary, you will observe that footage shown on television was almost the same, which means there is a lot to be done on archiving and that is also part of what iREP represents,” he said. “Enough of the colonial narratives of Africa being only about wars, diseases and pain.

Yes, these stories exist, but need perspective. What is usually missing from these narratives is that the facts don’t always reveal the truth. The challenge is for African filmmakers to do more than entertain and begin to educate, inform and brand Africa in narratives that are more true, more rounded and more to our economic and development advantage in the global information order. Documentary filmmaking is not only necessary but important.”

In his paper presentation titled: ‘Can Documentaries Change the World?’ Manthia Diawara, a professor from New York University, revealed how documentaries can be used as a tool for change. “We really do not have enough African intellectuals,” he explained. “We must cross the frontiers. When I was growing up in the 60s, we would listen to BBC as they told us what the news was in Africa. They taught us the songs we listened to…though this is not meant to be so. We do not have archives in Africa; the archives present are those of the ruling party. We need to think about public intellectuals. When we write books that address the western world, it becomes irrelevant to Africans. We must write books and make films that address us - and documentaries have become a bright intervention for today.”

After his keynote speech, Manthia’s book titled ‘African film (New forms of aesthetics and politics)’ was launched. Thereafter, filmmakers who have distinguished themselves over the years were awarded for their contribution to filmmaking. Their age attested to their experience and relevance to the industry. Among the awardees were: Brendan Shehu, filmmaker and TV producer; Adegboyega Arulogun, a film and television producer and Tam Fiofori, filmmaker, photographer, writer and media consultant. The awards were presented to them by Ambassador Olusegun Olusola, while Makin Soyinka read their citations.

The film festival, which spanned four days, was filled with interesting, educative and entertaining activities such as film screening, paper presentations, workshops, symposiums and round table discussions.

Panelists who were drawn from various fields in filmmaking included Busola Holloway, Mahmud Alli Balogun, Onookome Okome, Awam Amkpam, a professor; Lydie Diakhate, an independent producer, art critic and co-founder of the Real Life Documentary Festival in Accra, Joke Silva, Deji Adesanya and Tunde Kelani. The panels were moderated by Tunde Babawale, director general, CBAAC; Emeka Mba (DG, Nigerian Film & Video Censors Board) and Tunde Adegbola, lecturer, University of Ibadan. There was also a special guest presentation by Sandra Obiago on ‘Film for Development: Engineering Change in African Politics.’

The four-day event may be over, but the offering remains. Like Jahman Anikulapo, culture journalist, activist and editor of the Guardian on Sunday remarked, “iREP festival is an idea long overdue. We are a country of credible documentaries. Our passion is to return documentary films as part of our life. We are glad iREP has been born and it will be pushed further. Our plan is to formalise iREP as an institution on its own. We are currently having discussions with Freedom Park and the Goethe Institute to have monthly screenings that will encompass trainings, among others. This is an ongoing thing and we believe documentaries will be on the front burner, even as we continually tell our stories.”

What better way to end the festival than a brilliant performance by Crown Troupe which thrilled the audience with dance and acts? iREP International Documentary Film Festival was founded by a board of directors which include Femi Odugbemi, producer, director, past president of ITPAN (Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria) & CEO of DVWORX Studios; Jahman Anikulapo, culture journalist and activist, programmes Director of CORA (Committee for Relevant Art) & project director of Culture Advocates Caucus (CAC) and Makin Soyinka, culture activist, filmmaker and director of The Lagos Film Office --- all are operatives of the West African Documentary Film Forum (WADFF) – with a mission to nurture the talent of young filmmakers in Africa and internationally.

iRepresent is an international touring Documentary Film Festival (located in Nigeria), initiated with the objective of promoting independent documentary features in Nigeria and on the continent of Africa.

Films screened at the Festival

The nightmare in dreamland - Edgar Wolf, Eva Grun

In search of hip-hop - Issraa El-Kogali

Ouled lenine - Nadia El Fani

Nora - Alla Kovgan and David Hinton (US/UK/Mozambique)

Awaiting for men - Katy Lena N diaye (Senegal/Belgium)

In my genes - Lupita Nyong’o (Kenya)

The truth is unbelievable (Sri lanka)

Zimbabwes forgotten children (Xoliswa Sithole) (South Africa)

Behind the rainbow (Jihan El-tahri) (South Africa) (Festival film)

The manuscripts & Timbuktu (Zola Maseko) (South Africa)

The tropical house (Manthia Diawara) (Mali/USA)

The Rabbaba man (Mario Mabor), (Sudan)

Great african series ( Soyinka, Mandela, Haille Selassie) (akin omotsho) (Nigeria/South Africa)

Oriki; ibadan; bariga boys (femi odugbemi (nigeria)

CFC documentary films (Sandra Obiago) ( Nigeria)

Naija diamonds (Inspire Africa) (Nigeria)

Festac 77 (UNESCO/CBAAC) (Nigeria)

Omo Alakeetu (CBAAC) ( Nigeria/Brazil)

The nightmare in dreamland (Adama Adamni) (Germany)




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