Joke Silva desires producers and storytellers to bring Nigeria together via their creations
She claims that the conference resolved in 2024 to highlight and exhibit writers, bringing together established as well as up-and-coming writers from various generations.
At the Arise Story 3.0 Conference in Lagos on Friday, from left, are Films Producer, Mr. Femi Odugbemi; Films Producer/Director, Joke Silver; Convener, Ololade Okedare; and Founder, Get Inspired Network,
Ewoma Lutter-Abegunde [NAN].
Joke Silva, a seasoned Nollywood actress and producer, believes that at this point in Nigeria’s history, producers and storytelling should strive their hardest to bring the nation together via their works.
Silva offered this plea on Friday at FilmHouse Cinemas in Lekki, Lagos, during his keynote speech at the closing event of the week-long 2024 Emerge Story 3.0 Conference.
Silva stated, during her speech on “Building a Bridge Joining the Ages of Female Storytellers,” that Nigeria needed patriotic screenwriters to strengthen ties and promote the country’s development.
The seasoned practitioner, who mentioned that she had worked in the field since 1981, stated that Nigeria had experienced a great deal of history and that storytellers were extremely important to the process of
nation-building. Nigeria is going through difficult times unless we’re living on the moon, but which function do we storytellers play in this?
Our job is to communicate the tale as best we can to bring the nation together. We have spent more than 60 years living together. To come together, let’s write our stories.
“Fashion and music have a great ability to unite people everywhere they go.” Movies, particularly these days, need to come together.
These days, the stories we tell ought to raise problems and propose possibilities. “It is our responsibility to instill hope in a country that is finding it hard to navigate,” she declared.
She went on to say that storytellers needed to share tales that tackled problems like overpopulation. Silva stated: “We are in a teaming industry to put ourselves on the map,” highlighting the necessity of
cooperation across industry participants.
“Let’s write an account to inspire hope, make our people laugh, instill a sense of being conquerors in our people, and strengthen our sense of national identity.”
Silva highlighted a number of female filmmakers and storytellers who had made significant contributions to the business with their high-caliber works, including Zulu Sofola, Lola Fani-Kayode, Amaka Igwe,
Bunmi Oyinsan, Kemi Adetiba, and Jade Osiberu, Mo Abudu, Toyin Abraham, and Funke Akindele.
She remarked, “We all standing on the amazing shoulder of the female storytellers.”
The veteran, however, urged the government to impose certain limitations on the screening of movies, claiming that a large portion of it is detrimental to the business.
Ololade Okedare, the founder and convener of Emerge Story Company, expressed her satisfaction in bringing storywriters together as a means of advancing the industry in her welcome speech.
“This was an idea that was borne over three years ago following my training by Netflix,” stated Okedare. “I learned from that encounter that more storytellers, particularly African voices that are just starting out,
ought to be heard, given authority, acknowledged, and exposed.
To encourage and upgrade storytellers, we launched Emerge Story Conference as a virtual program, bringing in facilitators from all around Africa and the United States.
The goal is to improve the continent’s narrative by highlighting Africa’s variety and skills, particularly those that are overlooked stories of the continent.
“Over the last three years, we have assisted authors in crafting their narratives and provided them with avenues to adapt them for the big screen.”
She claims that the gathering resolved in 2024 to highlight and exhibit writers, bringing together established as well as up-and-coming writers from various decades.
Okesola, who is a proponent of changing the perception of storytellers, stated that filmmaking is still a career and a profession rather than a pastime that everyone can pursue.
She feels that the writers should be acknowledged in the same way as makers, directors, and even makeup technicians are in motion pictures.
“Most of the time, we find out who wrote the narrative without knowing, and we believe that this detracts from the writer’s craft. Without a writer, a story would not exist.
“Today, we are honoring these writers from various generations and highlighting their works,” the speaker stated.
She explained that in order to help aspiring writers who couldn’t afford it, the conference was giving them 25 free scripting programs. This would help them create better stories.
“A reward will additionally be awarded by us.”
To assist writers in making their brief movies, we will also be awarding a grant of more than one million dollars.
We want the creators to be compensated fairly. She stated, “We think writers should be compensated more for their efforts.
Regarding censorship, Okelola stated that authors were frequently made to follow the lead of financiers and producers, particularly those from outside the country, “who desire only a side of our stories.”
The narrative is still a potent instrument for starting to bring the continent together while showcasing its diversity, the speaker said. As narrators, it is our responsibility to start telling a more accurate tale about Africa.
“We want the authorities to enact laws that support our profession and demonstrate the significant GDP contribution we provide to the nation. Making movies and filmmaking ought to be recognized as professions.
Many storytelling and producers who were recognized and highlighted attended the workshops, masterclasses, and panel sessions, according to the news organization of Nigeria (NAN).
Lucille Ayorinde, Grace Edwin-Okon, Kemi Adesoye, Emem Isong, Gloria Bamiloye, Joke Silva, and others are a few of the beneficiaries of the Emerge Impact 2024 Awards.
The seminar honored thirty female storytellers, including Toluwani Obayan, Ronke Gbede, Dami Elebe, Jessica Abaga, Jola Ayeye, and Lios Truly.
