Despite studying logistics and transport management, Wilson Everready Nkya is doing everything in his power to follow his heart and passions. Today, he works as a TV personality, blogger and dancer – it’s a good thing that he is a confident public speaker. The 23-year-old Tanzanian wants to become an actor and has much respect for Lupita Nyong’o because “apart from the fact that she is from east Africa, like myself, she has shown how hard work pays off and that our dreams are valid”.
Oprah Winfrey once described Genevieve Nnaji, the Nigerian actress and singer, as the Julia Roberts of Africa. 20-year-old Tecla Joan Nanyama – who is an actress, screenwriter and video editor in Kenya – agrees, “She has shown that there is no limit to acting, each of her movies takes on a different role. It is no surprise that she won the African Movie Academy Award for her amazing performance.” It’s role models like Genevieve along with opportunities such as MTF that have allowed Tecla to dream big.
Since completing a diploma in TV and video production, Kenyan Shilla Gathoni Gachango has been working as a videographer, under the mentorship of Isaac Masiga, a professional filmmaker and producer. She dreams of becoming a successful film director. When she does, the 23-year-old wants to create opportunities similar to MTF that will spearhead local film festivals and competitions and inspire young, up-and-coming filmmakers.
25-year-old Sarah Severin Kimario works as a system engineer and software developer but dreams of being a successful scriptwriter and director. She is excited about learning from Njoki Muhoho, the eastern Africa Academy Director, who is an award-winning producer as well as a feature film and series script writer. “Now that I have met her, read about who she is, what she has done and continues to do for the industry, I look up to her and I hope to learn a lot from her,” said Sarah.
Samuel Masaku Makau has a deep fascination with Ancient African studies, “The best thing about Africa is that thousands of years ago our ancestors civilised the earth,” says the 24-year-old Kenyan videographer and editor. He wants to research and narrate forgotten African tales and the stories of elders to the rest of the world. One day he hopes to travel to Egypt to quench his fascination with the hidden texts, symbols and knowledge found inside the ancient pyramids.