The US Consulate Common just lately hosted over 100 leaders and rising professionals from Nigeria’s artistic trade, together with movie, music, arts, and cultural sectors, for an enticing hearth chat with Nigerian-born American actor Bayo Akinfemi, notable for his position on the Emmy-nominated CBS sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola.
Moderated by Come up TV Senior Host Steve Ayorinde, the fireplace chat explored Akinfemi’s outstanding journey from Nigeria to Hollywood and his expertise engaged on Bob Hearts Abishola as an actor and as its dialect coach and Nigerian tradition guide.
Akinfemi provided priceless insights on the significance of telling Nigerian tales with international attraction, emphasising the vital position of compelling storylines within the success of any movie.
“The worldwide group is taking note of Nigerian tales, music, and tradition,” Akinfemi famous. “In case your focus is solely on creating content material for native audiences, it will likely be difficult on your work to resonate on the worldwide stage.” Reflecting on his Hollywood expertise, together with roles in Brokers of S.H.I.E.L.D., Prison Minds, NCIS: LA, and Survivor’s Regret, Akinfemi inspired rising Nigerian creatives to stay persistent, resilient, and revolutionary.
Akinfemi, a two-time Greatest Actor GEMINI awards nominee, balances a outstanding profession as an actor, director, and assistant professor of theatre observe in appearing on the College of Southern California College for Cinematic and Dramatic Arts, which has persistently been ranked the primary movie program on the planet.
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Nigerian actor Chimezie Imo, who starred within the 2023 Amazon Prime unique movie Breath of Life, shared his ideas on the occasion, saying, “Seeing a Nigerian American in Hollywood converse was really inspiring. It felt private to listen to somebody in our footwear share his journey and affirm that reaching international success is feasible.”
Appearing US Consul Common JoEllen Gorg thanked Akinfemi for sharing his experience with Nigerian audiences and his dedication to supporting efforts to create an enabling atmosphere for Nigerian creatives to thrive. “The US authorities is dedicated to supporting the expansion of Nigeria’s artistic trade by facilitating exchanges between American and Nigerian creatives in movie, music, and the humanities,” she added.
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Earlier, US Consulate Public Affairs Officer Julie McKay led a debriefing session with US authorities change alums within the artistic trade who just lately returned from the US. The alums represented a wide range of US authorities change applications, together with the Worldwide Guests Management Program, World Media Makers, Subsequent Degree, Africa Inventive TV, American Music Mentorship Program, American Movie Showcase (AFS) African Movie & TV Management Initiative, and the Cultural Heritage Ahead Change Programme.
The alumni shared classes discovered, connections solid, and the constructive affect of US authorities change applications on their profession trajectory within the artistic industries.
The debriefing session featured a panel dialogue with Bolanle Austen-Peters, acclaimed filmmaker, theatre director, and alumna of the 2024 AFS African Movie & TV Management Initiative, and Alex Okeke, YBNL Music Government and alumnus of the 2024 IVLP on Mental Property Greatest Practices for Inventive Entrepreneurs and Coverage Makers.
Austen-Peters and Okeke shared experiences and insights from their time in the US, reflecting on classes discovered and alternatives for leveraging international partnerships to drive innovation in Nigeria’s artistic sectors.
Talking on the US’ lengthy historical past of supporting Nigerian artistic abilities, McKay stated, “Yearly, the US Mission sends rising and established leaders in Nigeria’s artistic industries on varied U.S. government-sponsored change applications. We proceed to interact with Nigeria’s artistic trade leaders and innovators to debate constructing a sustainable ecosystem, unlocking entry to new markets, and advancing alternatives for two-way commerce and funding within the artistic sector.”
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