African women in animation promote inclusion, social change
Aiming to help women overcome obstacles and inspire social change in the animation industry, the Afro Women in Animation Community recently hosted Africa’s first-ever women-focused animation festival in Lagos, marking the conclusion of a week-long celebration of International Women’s Month.
The highly anticipated event brought together leading female professionals and industry figures from Africa, Europe, and North America, attracting over 350 in-person attendees and an even larger online audience.
In a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Monday, the Founder & CEO of Basement Animation and Convener of the Afro Women in Animation Fest, Mbuotidem Johnson, stated, “The festival presented an opportunity to have impactful discussions on key issues affecting women within the space while proffering viable solutions.”
“This conference was informed by the growing need to create a dedicated platform that celebrates, connects, and empowers African women in animation. Afro WIA Fest 2025 was designed to showcase talent, foster mentorship, encourage collaboration and drive conversations around inclusion, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the animation industry. It brought together professionals, emerging artists, and stakeholders from across Africa and beyond to inspire action and drive change.
“With the animation industry continually evolving, there is a need for Afro women in the space to stay ahead of industry trends, through continuous learning, and collaboration among women instead of competition.”
According to the statement, this was the charge during the opening panel session at the event, titled “Breaking Barriers: Women Leading the Animation Industry”.
The statement added, “The panelists for this session were CEO, SMIDS Animation Studio, Damilola Solesi, Founder, The Comfy Studio, UK, Comfort Arthur, Creative Producer, Blac Onyx, Omoyefe Majoroh, and Head of Development, Basement Animation Studio, Ukpeme Uwakwe, who shared inspiring personal experiences and insights on navigating leadership roles as female leaders.
“They highlighted the importance of having a strong, supportive community to navigate the challenges of the industry. During the second session, “Animation for Social Change: Telling Stories That Matter,” the panelists discussed the power of animation in shaping narratives and driving social impact.
“Senior Producer, Triggerfish Animation, South Africa, Vanessa Sinden, award-winning Screenwriter, Omotunde Akiode, Founder, Mounia Aram Company, France, Mounia Aram, and Founder Zazou Production Works, UK, Zainab Balami all anchored a highly engaging session. There was a collective drive for African animators to continually embrace authenticity, with a focus on producing relatable content for African children.”
The final session was titled “Accelerate Action: Driving Change for Women Across Industries,” and it focused on leadership and career growth, sharing key insights for women balancing multiple roles while building successful careers.
“Panelists including the General Manager, HR, Prime Atlantic Limited, Ikpongke Sotiloye, CEO, Five 28, Funto Ibuoye, Head Designer, Chatouiller, Mercy John-Egwu and COO, Basement Animation Studio, Korede Johnson, emphasized embracing every phase of life and nurturing relationships for long-term benefits.
“The session discussed having well-structured operations and systems as a leverage for upscaling and freeing up time for more core activities.
“Held in partnership with Basement Animation, Blac Onyx, and Animation Nigeria, with support from the Skills Initiative for Africa – Financial Corporation (SIFA) and the French Embassy, the festival is believed to be a turning point for Africa’s animation industry, spotlighting its potential on the global stage with women leading the charge”, the statement concluded.
