Nigerian filmmaker and founder of Kunle Afolayan Productions, Kunle Afolayan, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of Benin to strengthen collaboration in film production, youth training, and creative infrastructure development across West Africa.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the KAP Hub in Lagos, the creative headquarters of the KAP Group, following high-level engagements initiated by the Beninese Presidency. The partnership is expected to enhance African storytelling and position Benin as a growing hub for audiovisual production on the continent.
In a statement, the KAP Group described the MoU as a landmark move aimed at reshaping the future of African cinema through cross-border collaboration. The initiative will focus on building strategic alliances that empower young creatives, strengthen technical capacity, and develop world-class creative infrastructure.
As part of preliminary discussions, Afolayan and KAP’s Executive Director, ’Seun Soyinka, recently led a delegation to Cotonou, where they met with senior government officials and stakeholders in Benin’s film and audiovisual sector. Talks centered on boosting local content creation, enhancing technical expertise, and establishing sustainable structures for cinematography and creative enterprise.
A high-level delegation from Benin later visited Lagos to formalise the agreement. Members of the delegation included Sinatou Saka, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Audiovisual Affairs; Coline-Lee Toumson-Venite, Special Adviser on Arts and Culture; Bassirou Ndiaye, CEO of SOPA S.A; Faissol Gnonlonfin of the Agency for the Development of Arts and Culture; and Meto Adoglo of Sèmè City. The KAP team was led by Afolayan alongside key executives and faculty members of the KAP Film & Television Academy.
The partnership will focus on three major areas: co-production of films that project African narratives globally; structured youth training in various aspects of filmmaking; and the development and operation of a film city in Ouidah, Benin.
The Beninese delegation is also scheduled to tour KAP’s production facilities in Lagos and its KAP Film Village & Resort in Igbojaye-Komu, Oyo State, as part of activities lined up between February 19 and 22.
Speaking on the development, Afolayan described the agreement as a defining moment for African cinema, noting that it reflects a shared vision to project authentic African stories to the world.
Sinatou Saka also expressed optimism about the collaboration, particularly in the area of capacity building, stating that Benin is pleased to partner with Afolayan to strengthen the country’s creative sector.
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