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. “The Multichoice Talent Factory will give hope to the African film industry that we can do what Hollywood does. We have what it takes to be our own Hollywood, it’s just a matter of time.”
Tecla hopes that through hands-on experience and theoretical knowledge, MTF will help to increase the overall quality of films and TV shows across Africa, even if film budgets are small. “The Multichoice Talent Factory will produce the best filmmakers, not only in Africa but in the world. Being part of the academy will sharpen my skills and prepare me to be fit for both the TV and film industry, while helping me showcase the best of my talent to the world.”
She hopes that the inaugural, year-long MTF programme and its success will encourage various kinds of support from government, stakeholders in the entertainment industry as well as local audiences from across the continent. It’s a journey that will help her to become one of Kenya’s greatest filmmakers.