Africa’s “beautiful stories”. That is what fuels the fires of creativity in 21-year-old photographer and videographer, Canicius Kabwe of Lusaka, Zambia. He is also inspired by the continent’s striking natural beauty and wildlife – factors that have combined to nurture his dream of becoming a world-class cinematographer.
“I believe my time at the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Academy will help me to achieve this dream,” says Canicius. “I hope to gain more knowledge about film creation from both my tutors and my fellow students, and also establish new contacts and create new collaborations with my peers and industry greats.”
He maintains that it is only through working together that young creatives will be afforded access to new opportunities, and that the industry will continue to grow.
“The biggest challenges in Africa’s creative film and TV industry are a lack of resources and knowledge about film. As a sector, we can address this by sharing our knowledge of film with others, upskilling them where we can, and looking for ways to create new opportunities that support growth and development. I certainly would love to share my knowledge with others after my year at MTF,” Canicius adds.
His favourite movies are The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and Black Panther, two feature films that were critically acclaimed for, among others, their cinematography. He enjoys the works of African stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o, and admires Kenny ‘Roc’ Mumba, not only because of his continental reach, but “because of his brilliant storytelling techniques and his emphasis on performance, which helps brands reach their customers in the most authentic way”.
If Canicius had the opportunity to create his own TV show, it would be a cooking show like Tipike (Let’s Cook). “I love the way the show uses the unifying and healing power of food to connect audiences, change lives, and assemble a community of fans who share a common passion for food.”