Africa’s Cinematic Leap Into The Age Of AI

This Easter, something revolutionary is unfolding in Nigeria’s cultural and technological landscape and it’s not a policy announcement or a product launch—it’s a movie. But not just any movie. “MAKEMATION”, Africa’s first Artificial Intelligence feature film, is set to make its official cinematic debut in Lagos on April 18, 2025, with ripple effects already anticipated across continents. Ahead of the cinematic debut, the GenZ tech-themed futuristic premiere for families will be held on April 16 also in Lagos.

From the buzz it’s generated, Makemation is far more than just a film—it’s a cultural moment. It’s a bold, visionary project that challenges how we think about African cinema, youth innovation, and the future of technology on the continent. Even before hitting cinemas, Makemation has been busy making headlines. Its teaser screening at the 2024 Global AI Summit in Riyadh, a special viewing during the Kenya Innovation Week, an exclusive screening at the residence of the U.S. Consul General in Lagos and the UN high-level delegates and HRM Princess Victoria of Sweden viewing on April 9, 2025, shows just how seriously the world is beginning to take African tech storytelling.

These aren’t just publicity stops—they signal recognition of Africa’s growing influence in global tech dialogue. Now, Nigerians will be the first to watch the full cinematic experience before the film makes its way across the African continent, the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East starting May 2025.

Makemation is not your typical Nollywood drama, nor is it a techno-thriller trying to mimic Hollywood tropes. It exists in its own league—a rare four-quadrant family drama that mixes humour, emotion, education, and innovation. The cast is a cocktail of Nollywood’s best-known stars, rising social media influencers, real-life tech experts, and even public officials. It’s a film where pop culture meets policy, comedy meets coding, and Lagos luxury meets riverine rural grit. In a word, Makemation is Nigeria.
Makemation boasts of an outstanding cast of Nigeria’s best thespians transcending gender, generations and geography including Nollywood maestros like Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), Shaffy Bello, Jide Kosoko, Tony Umez and Toyin Afolayan. It also includes Tomi Ojo, Chioma Akpotha, Yvonne Jegede, Ibrahim Chatta, Ali Nuhu and Chuks Joseph.

Lights, Camera, Algorithm: A Story Rooted in Purpose

Makemation Ushers in Africa’s AI Cinema Era. At the heart of the film lies an uplifting, coming-of-age story of young Africans using Artificial Intelligence to tackle the continent’s most stubborn challenges—from healthcare to education, poverty to gender inequality. But this is not told in a didactic or preachy tone. Instead, it’s packaged in a fast-paced, funny, and emotionally resonant narrative that makes high-level concepts relatable to children, parents, and even sceptical policymakers.

The story follows the protagonist, Zara Sodangi (Tomi Ojo) a poor young girl in rural Lagos, Nigeria whose life is filled with so many twists and turns and conveys a solid message of hope, showing us that, with innovation, poverty can become an old problem. Makemation shows a strong intersection of the world of pure entertainment, science and artificial Intelligence all forming the core of this high-tension, inspirational movie that may change the lives of many young people forever.

The film’s creator and executive producer, Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, is no stranger to shaping big ideas. A globally respected AI for Development expert, Toyosi envisioned Makemation not just as entertainment, but as a catalyst for real-world change: “Makemation is more than just a film; it’s a movement,” she says. “We want to spark conversations, drive policy changes, and engage young minds—students, teachers, parents—on the transformative power of AI.”

That vision is grounded. Whether it’s the push for STEM education, financial literacy, or the inclusion of women and marginalized populations in tech ecosystems, the film hits all the right chords. It sends a powerful message: technology should be a tool for equity, not just efficiency.

Made by the Young, For the Future

A striking aspect of Makemation is the youthfulness of its production team. Many of its creators, writers, and designers are in their 20s and 30s—representing a generation of Nigerians not just watching the future unfold but actively shaping it.

The film is directed by the multi-award-winning Michael “AMA PSALMIST” Akinrogunde, whose work behind the camera is already earning critical acclaim. His storytelling approach is visually rich and emotionally grounded, capturing both the chaotic beauty of Lagos and the quiet resilience of Nigeria’s rural heartlands.

From newly constructed riverine sets to the elite neighbourhoods of Lagos, the film’s locations are as diverse as its themes. The visual experience is bolstered by an original score and production design that blends traditional African aesthetics with futuristic elements—symbolic of the continent’s dual reality of ancient wisdom and modern aspiration.

Beyond its dazzling execution, Makemation is a cultural mirror—reflecting not just who we are, but who we want to become. And perhaps more importantly, it’s a megaphone—amplifying the voices of young Africans who are too often left out of global tech conversations. It invites us to question: What does African innovation look like? Who gets to tell our stories? And how can we make sure the Fourth Industrial Revolution doesn’t leave us behind?

In a world dominated by American and Asian tech narratives, Makemation insists that Africa is not just a consumer of innovation, but a contributor—shaping, building, and questioning the tools of the future.
Produced by Rise Interactive Studios and Rise Networks, sister organizations known for pushing the envelope on youth empowerment and digital innovation, Makemation is a natural extension of their mission. Their focus on storytelling as a tool for development makes the film not just a product, but a platform. In partnering with Nile Entertainment, led by seasoned film entrepreneur Moses Babatope, the distribution strategy promises to take this movement global—reaching diaspora communities and curious audiences far beyond Africa’s shores.

Silicon Dreams & Africa’s Tech Renaissance on Screen

At a time when the world is grappling with the ethical, social, and economic implications of AI, Makemation couldn’t be timelier. It doesn’t shy away from the hard questions. It asks: What happens when technology meets inequality? How do we ensure data doesn’t reinforce discrimination? Can we design AI that works for African realities, not just Western ideals? But it does all of this through the lens of joy, humour, and hope. That’s the magic. That’s the movement.

As Makemation lands in cinemas on April 18, it is an opportunity for young people, families, policymakers, techies, non-tech savvy folks and anyone interested in Africa’s tech renaissance to explore the possibilities of coding as a life skill. It is an opportunity to talk about access to broadband in underserved communities, about AI-generated bias and the importance of African datasets, about digital literacy for girls and how storytelling can lead to policy reform.

Makemation isn’t just a film. It’s a call to action. A signal that Nigeria’s creative and digital economies are not parallel lines—they intersect. And right at that crossroads is the future. Let’s meet there. Follow the conversation online using #Makemation and join the movement redefining Africa through the lens of technology and storytelling.