In recent years, West Africa has seen a rise in its creative industries, particularly in the audiovisual and film sectors. Senegal, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, backed by strong political will, are competing to establish themselves as major hubs, with the ambition of attracting investors and creators, promoting their countries, and generating jobs for young people. These nations, with their rich cultural heritage and economic dynamism, are transforming audiovisual production on the continent.
Senegal: at the forefront of cinema and television series
For several years now, Senegal has stood out for its ability to produce content that captivates audiences in Senegal and, more broadly, across Africa and even internationally.
With films such as Mati Diop's Atlantique winning awards at major international festivals and television initiatives such as Dakar Series, the country is positioning itself as a pillar of African storytelling.
Audiovisual production is indeed very dynamic in Senegal: for more than 10 years, the production company Marodi has been developing web series that break all audience records before being sold to African television channels. In light of this success, CANAL+ announced in March 2024 that it was acquiring a stake in Marodi TV.
In addition, the production company KEEWU, led by Alexandre Rideau, which joined the Mediawan Africa group in 2020, produced Lex Africana, the first action series produced and broadcast in Africa.
Ivory Coast: The Emerging Hub of the Continent
However, Senegal's de facto leadership is beginning to be challenged by Côte d'Ivoire. The Ivorian government, aware that cultural and creative industries generate employment, particularly for young people, has expressed its desire to position Côte d'Ivoire as a hub for the creative audiovisual sector, a filming destination, and a land of promotion for African audiovisual content. This led to the creation of SICA in 2023, spearheaded by the Ivorian ministers of communication and culture. The second edition of SICA was held in November 2024 and brought together more than 300 participants.
Private television channels such as NCI have also invested heavily in local production.
Benin's new strategy
Benin recently adopted a bold strategy by creating a new signature, "A World of Splendor," investing in infrastructure and new technologies, and initiating new partnerships in the field of training and audiovisual production through partnerships such as those with the Mediawan group and the CANAL+ group.
In 2024, the country restructured its public channels, permanently switched off analog broadcasting, and launched A+ Benin with the CANAL+ group in mid-2023.
Burkina Faso: A Historical Reference with FESPACO
As the birthplace of the prestigious Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO), Burkina Faso remains a key player in African cinema. Despite the political situation, the next edition, scheduled for February 2025, will feature many innovations and, as with every edition, will host the International Market for African Cinema and Audiovisual Media (MICA).