AI TransformsAfrican Storytelling, Shifting Ownership to Creatives

AI tools are revolutionizing African filmmaking, with creatives like Sandra Adeyeye Bello leading a movement to reclaim ownership of stories. SAB Studios Nigeria, founded in 2025, uses AI (GrokAI, Veo 3, Sora 2) to empower creators, launching the AI Filmmakers Network (AFN) with 500+ African members across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and South Africa. This shift challenges traditional gatekeepers, enabling direct global distribution and reducing reliance on foreign platforms. Bello argues AI is a neutral tool, not a threat, but a means to democratize production and build sustainable local economies. The AFN's April film festival and upcoming local monetization platform aim to keep value within Africa, addressing past failures like IROKOtv and Kwesé TV. While AI faces resistance from some Nollywood veterans fearing loss of human essence, proponents see it as inevitable change. The core question remains: who controls Africa's narratives in the AI era?

SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/02/05/in-the-age-of-ai-sab-studios-says-africans-must-own-their-stories/