Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan’s KAP Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Benin to promote collaboration in film and audio visual production.
This was revealed in press statement on Thursday.
The agreement was signed in Lagos at the KAP Hub, the headquarters of the KAP Group, following an invitation from the Beninese Presidency to establish a partnership focused on developing the sector in the region.
Afolayan and Seun Soyinka, executive director of the KAP Group, had last month led a management delegation to the Republic of Benin where they held consultations with senior government officials and stakeholders in the audio visual and cinematography sectors. Discussions centred on strengthening local content creation, improving technical capacity and positioning the country as a film hub in Africa.
A government delegation later visited Lagos to formalise the partnership. Members of the delegation include Sinatou Saka, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Media and Audiovisual Affairs; Coline Lee Toumson Venite, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Arts and Culture; Bassirou Ndiaye, CEO SOPA S.A; Faissol Gnonlonfin, Director of Cinema and Performing Arts at the Agency for the Development of Arts and Culture, representing the Minister of Culture; and Meto Adoglo, Program Manager for Storytelling at Sèmè City.
The host team was led by Afolayan, Soyinka and Professor Tunji Azeez, head of school at the KAP Film and Television Academy.
The partnership will focus on three areas: co production of films that tell African stories and expand their global reach, structured youth training in filmmaking and creative production, and the development and operation of a Film City in Ouidah, Benin. The project will draw on the expertise of KAP subsidiaries including KAP Motion Pictures, KAP Film and Television Academy and KAP Film Village and Resort in Igbojaye Komu, Oyo State.
As part of the programme scheduled for February 19 to 22, the delegation will tour the KAP production hub in Lagos and the KAP Film Village and Resort in Oyo State.
Speaking on the development, Afolayan described the collaboration as “a defining moment for African cinema, where visionary leadership, cultural authenticity, and creative enterprise converge to project our stories, our people, and our creative strength to the world in the most compelling way.”
Sinatou Saka also welcomed the agreement, saying, “We are finally happy to be working in partnership with Kunle Afolayan, especially in the area of capacity building” she said.
Reacting to the development, Shaibu Husseini, executive director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, congratulated Afolayan and described the partnership as a positive step for regional collaboration in film production. He said such alliances would strengthen African storytelling, deepen professional training and create opportunities for young filmmakers across borders.
Founded by Afolayan, KAP Group operates across film production, training and hospitality. The filmmaker is known for works such as The Figurine, October 1 and Aníkúlápó. Both parties described the agreement as the beginning of a long term alliance aimed at raising standards in film production, creative education and cultural expression across Africa.
