Mnena Akpera, nicknamed Cutest Mnena, is a 24-year old radio and television producer and presenter. Born in Gboko, Nigeria, and is passionate about hosting TV shows. What gets Mnena fired up about Africa’s creative industry is its diversity, and the room it gives everyone.
“The future of film and television in our continent is going to greater heights day by day. Professionalism in content delivery, and more quest for knowledge by all the arms of Filmmakers, is the order of the day,” says Mnena. “The industry is heading towards producing ‘magic through camera lenses. I am glad to be part of this movement.”
Her favourite films are 76 by Nigerian film director Izu Ojukwu, The Good ,the Bad and the by Italian director Sergio Leone, The Hateful Eight written and directed by American Quentin Tarantino and They Call me Trinityproduced by Itallo Zingarelli.
They Call me Trinityis particularly important to her as it is the first movie she ever saw, and this led to her dad calling her Trinity.
If Mnena could create a TV show, it would be about fashion and style. For her, fashion can be an important window into trends and behaviour through style.
The African film creative that she admires the most is Nigerian filmmaker and Multichoice Talent Factory Academy director Femi Odugbemi. This is particularly because of his passion for documentary, and his various other works including Tinseland Gidi Blues.
Mnena hopes that her candidacy at the academy will provide her with the training she needs to better tell African stories.