Hello everyone. How are you? I hope you are all very well.
Anyways I just had a few minutes and decided to use the time. I have always been fascinated by animations and cartoons ever since I could remember. Always watched the Disney fairy tales like Cinderella, Tangled, Aladdin, Lion King, more recently Pixar's animation: Cars, Toy Story etc. If I am asked today what are my favorite past times: apart from reading and traveling, I would say watching cartoons or animation, that is not to say that I don't also enjoy good movies, this I do. In fact I can't wait to see "Looper" and "Les Miserables".
But have you wondered why Africa doesn't have a good animation or cartoon company, one that depicts the rich African culture and lifestyle? I know when I was growing up, I read a lot of blue eyed princesses and watched a lot of green eyed mermaid stories and the likes. It never occurred to me that there could be fairytales that had princesses with brown eyes and dark skin/ebony or kinky/nappy hair. It never occurred to me that I could have dolls that were dark skinned with yarn braids instead of the long caucasian straight hair barbies. Now I am older I know better. I know I can get novels where the heroes look like Idris Elba or the heroine looks a lot like Haley Berry instead of Jessica Simpson. (If you know what I mean). Thanks to authors like Myne Whitman, Kiru Taye, Lara Daniels etc you can now read about dashing men who are actually tall dark and handsome.
But what about the animations and cartoons that our children watch? '
Do we have enough to let them know that Africans are here to stay. That it's not all about slavery, corruption, wars, poverty etc but also about love, fun, adventures, superheroes.
What about exploring our rich legends? After all the Greeks have been doing this for ages. In fact I am so in love with Chris Hemsworth, the star in THOR. (P.S. Please don't tell Temi this...LOL). Thor is the Greek god of thunder. If I am correct I know the Yorubas also has a god of thunder in their legends.
Okay we will say there is a lot of voodoo or juju in the African theme, but can't it be portrayed without the incantations, libations and human sacrifice?
Well I think it is time Africa stands up and start telling their story.
In an interview Kiru Taye said she wants to be an author who will tell the world a different story about Africa.
Yes we still struggle with poverty, corruption, wars, slavery, discrimination, women inequality, etc but we also fall in love and live in love. We also have superheroes and heroines, we also have beautiful myths and legends, beautiful fashion sense/statement and culture. We also have men of valor and integrity.
I have hope that one day we will get there.
I hope you all have a lovely day as today is the 12/12/12/ day, and this is also my brother's birthday as well. I love him so much as we are very close. Wishing him the best things in life.
Take care of yourselves I've got to go, as my time is up.
N/B: Google: Sporedust media/ A Nigerian animation company.
Ciao.
Anyways I just had a few minutes and decided to use the time. I have always been fascinated by animations and cartoons ever since I could remember. Always watched the Disney fairy tales like Cinderella, Tangled, Aladdin, Lion King, more recently Pixar's animation: Cars, Toy Story etc. If I am asked today what are my favorite past times: apart from reading and traveling, I would say watching cartoons or animation, that is not to say that I don't also enjoy good movies, this I do. In fact I can't wait to see "Looper" and "Les Miserables".
But have you wondered why Africa doesn't have a good animation or cartoon company, one that depicts the rich African culture and lifestyle? I know when I was growing up, I read a lot of blue eyed princesses and watched a lot of green eyed mermaid stories and the likes. It never occurred to me that there could be fairytales that had princesses with brown eyes and dark skin/ebony or kinky/nappy hair. It never occurred to me that I could have dolls that were dark skinned with yarn braids instead of the long caucasian straight hair barbies. Now I am older I know better. I know I can get novels where the heroes look like Idris Elba or the heroine looks a lot like Haley Berry instead of Jessica Simpson. (If you know what I mean). Thanks to authors like Myne Whitman, Kiru Taye, Lara Daniels etc you can now read about dashing men who are actually tall dark and handsome.
But what about the animations and cartoons that our children watch? '
Do we have enough to let them know that Africans are here to stay. That it's not all about slavery, corruption, wars, poverty etc but also about love, fun, adventures, superheroes.
What about exploring our rich legends? After all the Greeks have been doing this for ages. In fact I am so in love with Chris Hemsworth, the star in THOR. (P.S. Please don't tell Temi this...LOL). Thor is the Greek god of thunder. If I am correct I know the Yorubas also has a god of thunder in their legends.
Okay we will say there is a lot of voodoo or juju in the African theme, but can't it be portrayed without the incantations, libations and human sacrifice?
Well I think it is time Africa stands up and start telling their story.
In an interview Kiru Taye said she wants to be an author who will tell the world a different story about Africa.
Yes we still struggle with poverty, corruption, wars, slavery, discrimination, women inequality, etc but we also fall in love and live in love. We also have superheroes and heroines, we also have beautiful myths and legends, beautiful fashion sense/statement and culture. We also have men of valor and integrity.
I have hope that one day we will get there.
I hope you all have a lovely day as today is the 12/12/12/ day, and this is also my brother's birthday as well. I love him so much as we are very close. Wishing him the best things in life.
Take care of yourselves I've got to go, as my time is up.
N/B: Google: Sporedust media/ A Nigerian animation company.
Ciao.
You know? I've also always wondered the same. When are we going to have GOOD Nigerian (not even saying African now) animations. I've seen a couple really lame ones here and there. There used to be one semi-good one on NTA back in the day (or maybe they still show it in present day, or was it even NTA? my memory is useless) but yeah... even I am searching for quality Nigerian animations but make I tackle Nollywood first one thing at a time.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your brother, by the way :)
Lol at tackling Nollywood. That also needs to be tackled as well. I watched one cartoon in like 2001 it was so lame I wondered why the even bothered to produce it at all.
ReplyDeleteI totally get what you mean.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to tell Africa's story through various art forms. I am very sure we have a lot of talented people who can make this happen.
Reading your post, reminded of a time when my sister was watching a cartoon on youtube regarding Nigeria's independent day. The channel's name is BinoandFino. I like that name...lol I thought the information they shared was very interesting; the content definitely got my attention. Here is a link to that video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxJ6Sn4Kr48&list=UU9RRs4_NoXdOOHuhPHhwlHQ&index=10
Here is a link to their main youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/BinoandFino
I hope you enjoy them!
Thank you Funmi I will check it out. Yep africa should tell its story through various forms of art eg music, novels, animations/cartoons, video games, fashion etc
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, I am also a fan of animated movies and cartoons. Let me go check out Sporedust. Belated birthday wishes to your brother.
ReplyDeletePls do. Will let my brother know
DeleteAfricans need to use all medium to tell their stories. Not just the animation industry. I must say the animation industry is the worst, I am actually tied of seeing the blue/green eyed princess. Unfortunately I am sure investors are not really ready for the brown princess.
ReplyDeleteI hope we get there someday, so that we get the opportunity to tell our children beautiful stories about our wonderful land.
Nice point Lara but I still think that if its started little by little the world will learn to appreciate and accept it.
ReplyDelete