Trevor Noah, Rapman, and Mohamed Kordofani Headline Inaugural Next Narrative Africa Fund Slate
Storytelling Sovereignty: Trevor Noah, Rapman, and Mohamed Kordofani Headline Inaugural Next Narrative Africa Fund Slate
NEW YORK — In a landmark move for the African creative economy, the Next Narrative Africa Fund (NNAF) has officially unveiled its inaugural slate of nine film and television projects. The list features a powerhouse lineup of global talent, including Emmy-winner Trevor Noah, Supacell creator Rapman, and acclaimed Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani.
Launched by former U.S. diplomat and media executive Akunna Cook, the $50 million fund aims to "industrialize" African storytelling by addressing the chronic undercapitalization of the continent's screen industries. The first cohort was whittled down from a massive pool of over 2,000 submissions spanning 80 countries.
The "Catalytic" Nine: A Global Slate
The selected projects represent an estimated $60 million in production value, with a mandatory requirement that at least 50% of production takes place on the African continent.
| Project Title | Genre | Key Talent | Logline Snapshot |
| Beyond Day Zero | Action (Film) | Trevor Noah (Producer) | A rebellion led by a tycoon's daughter against the wealth gap. |
| Untitled Thriller | Political Drama | Rapman (Dir/Writer) | A soldier's rise to power in Sierra Leone following a coup. |
| About Love... | Historical Drama | Mohamed Kordofani | Resistance and romance in 1983 Sudan as Sharia law takes hold. |
| United States of Africa | Spy Thriller (TV) | André Holland (EP) | The birth of Ghana’s first intelligence agency during the Cold War. |
| Skunk | Action Drama | Thuso Mbedu (Star/Prod) | Fashion models heist government gold to reclaim ancestral land. |
“These projects rose to the top because they are commercially compelling, culturally resonant, and globally relevant,” said Akunna Cook, CEO of Next Narrative Africa Fund. “We are building an investable asset class and sustaining thousands of jobs across Africa.”
A Hybrid Funding Model
The NNAF operates through a unique two-tier structure designed to "de-risk" African content for global investors:
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$10 Million Venture Studio: Provides non-profit grants specifically for script development and early-stage incubation.
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$40 Million Commercial Fund: Deploys equity investment (up to 20% of a project's budget) once scripts are production-ready.
By providing the "first money in" for the difficult development phase, the fund allows creators like Rapman and Kordofani to retain more intellectual property while attracting further international co-financing.
Spotlight: From 'Supacell' to Sierra Leone
For Rapman, the Sierra Leone-set political thriller marks a return to his roots following the global success of his Netflix superhero hit Supacell. His project follows a quiet 25-year-old soldier thrust into leadership, exploring the danger of ruling versus the danger of a coup.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Kordofani, whose Goodbye Julia won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes, continues his exploration of Sudanese history with About Love & September Laws. Co-written with Khaled Alwaleed, the film tackles love and resistance amid the political upheaval of 1983.
Data-Driven Storytelling
In a strategic twist, the fund has partnered with Parrot Analytics to use predictive data and audience demand insights. This partnership ensures that while the stories are authentically African, they are "validated" for global distribution, making them more attractive to streamers like Netflix, Amazon, and Disney.
As the 98th Academy Awards recently proved with K-Pop: Demon Hunters and Sinners taking home major gold global audiences are hungry for "narrative-shifting" content. With the backing of the Next Narrative Africa Fund, the next generation of African icons is ready to take the stage.
