Facebook Spotlights African Cinema in New Africa Day Campaign

Facebook has launched the sixth edition of its pan-African campaign, “Made by Africa, Loved by the World,” this year, focusing on showcasing high-growth African cinema and filmmakers who are driving the continent’s narrative into new international markets.

Ahead of Africa Day on May 25, the campaign with the theme, “Where stories spark community,” presents a five-part vodcast series featuring actors and filmmakers from Nigeria and South Africa.

Nollywood and South African Cinema Take Centre Stage

Meta stated that the campaign will showcase valuable African film talent and their creative journeys, emphasising how these creators leverage Facebook’s global platform to expand reach, connect with engaged audiences, and foster demand-driven community growth.

The vodcast will include conversations hosted by Nigerian duo I Said What I Said and South African duo Because We Said So.

Featured talents include Kehinde Bankole, Osas Ighodaro, and Tobi Bakre from Nigeria, as well as Nomzamo Mbatha and Linda Mtoba from South Africa.

Meta Backs African Storytelling

Kezia Anim-Addo, Meta’s Communications Director for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey, said the campaign’s six-year track record demonstrates Meta’s commitment to identifying, growing, and monetising African creative talent on platforms with global influence.

She emphasised that this year’s campaign centres on film because African stories now command expanding global distribution and revenue potential.

According to Anim-Addo, Facebook plays a critical role in aggregating dynamic cultural moments, films, actors, and creative communities, driving engagement and measurable value for investors.

Featured African Film Stars

Kehinde Bankole, a two-time AMVCA winner, works across stage, streaming, and voice acting. She has appeared in productions on Netflix and Amazon Prime and has voiced a character in Disney’s Iwaju.

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Osas Ighodaro, also a two-time AMVCA Best Actress winner, is known as an actress and producer for The Smart Money Woman and Fela and the Kalakuta Queens.

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Tobi Bakre, a rising Nollywood star, gained attention in Brotherhood and Prime Video’s Gangs of Lagos.

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South Africa’s Nomzamo Mbatha appeared in Coming 2 America and Shaka iLembe. She is a TIME 100 Next honoree and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.

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Linda Mtoba, also from South Africa, stars in Isibaya, The River and BET’s Queendom.

#ShareYourAfrica Challenge Returns

The campaign also expands the #ShareYourAfrica challenge as a strategic growth lever, inviting lifestyle, fashion, and dance creators to utilise Meta AI and Reels tools designed to boost user activity and cultural content engagement on the platform.

The goal is to showcase the traditions, styles, and daily moments that shape African identity today.

Short vodcast clips will appear on the Meta Africa Facebook page. Full episodes will run on hosts’ and featured talents’ pages.

Why It Matters

This campaign coincides with a period of accelerated global interest in African cinema, as Nollywood expands on streaming platforms and South African productions capture a larger share of the international market, demonstrating a clear pathway to revenue growth.

For Meta, the campaign positions Facebook as a high-value cultural gateway beyond social interaction; it is securing status as a key player in connecting African creators, fans, and commercial communities globally.

For African filmmakers, the campaign creates new global distribution windows, supports scalable audience development, and drives long-term brand equity for regional storytelling.

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