Computer-generated imagery, Artificial Intelligence and other tech terms have not exactly been best friends with Nollywood over the years, so Makemation, hailed as Africa’s first feature film centred on AI, arrives carrying the weight of expectation,
Makemation, produced by Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, is nothing if not ambitious, promising not just entertainment but a glimpse into Africa’s technological future. Tackling AI, emerging tech, and youth empowerment within the narrative constraints and production realities of Nollywood is a Herculean task, one that the cast and crew undoubtedly execute perfectly.
The film centres on Zara Sodangi, played by Tomi Ojo, a bright young woman who attempts to navigate economic hardship and societal biases while pursuing her passion to escape poverty; thankfully, technology provides a means via the Makemation Academy.
The movie’s ambition is clear: to showcase African ingenuity and inspire a generation. However, this ambition requires a strong anchor, and in film, that anchor is typically compelling human drama. Here, “Makemation” treads a complex path.
Zara’s story touches on potent themes: the struggle against gender stereotypes; the father who insists her place is in the kitchen, the market women who mock her mother for allowing her to pursue higher education, the predatory behaviour of figures in authority, and the sheer grit required to chase dreams amongst different challenges without privilege.
These elements provide the film’s emotional core. The performances from all of the actors, veteran and upcoming, convey these emotions authentically in a way that Nigerians and most other Africans can relate to. While many would hope that the integration of these human conflicts with the high-tech plot points is more, Makemation does not go out of its way to choke viewers with both.
The human story and the tech aspect of the movie complement each other, making the story relatable and inspiring at the same time. Zara’s journey resonates deeply enough amidst the discussions of AI, Robotics and VR labs. The way she shifts her initial case study from empowering other girls to a product in Health Tech after her father falls ill shows how technology can be used to solve real-life problems and the nexus of innovation and personal experience.
The film admirably avoids making Zara a mere plot device for explaining emerging technologies. Despite the pressure of its ambition to educate and inspire, Makemation does not dilute the raw emotion that Nollywood, at its best, excels at.
Everyone should watch Makemation because it succeeds in its mission to demystify technology. It film presents AI not as some arcane concept reserved for geniuses, but as a tool accessible to bright young minds in Nigeria. It translates complex ideas into relatable scenarios – hackathons, problem-solving challenges, VR applications – making the world of emerging tech feel less intimidating and more aspirational.
The visual representation of technology, despite production constraints, is handled with care, avoiding excessive jargon or unbelievable techno-magic. It successfully plants seeds of curiosity, potentially nudging young viewers towards exploring STEM fields.
Makemation sets a new standard in terms of thematic ambition and tackling a globally relevant topic head-on. It bravely goes where Nollywood hasn’t gone before, proving that African stories can and should engage with the technological forces shaping our world.
It’s an important, necessary film that opens a crucial conversation. In the words of producer Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, “We don’t have any tech film. We don’t have a tech feature film made in Africa, made in Nigeria. This is the first. It’s Africa’s time to contribute to the creation and production of technology around the world. And I did not want us to constantly be profiled as consumers of innovation.”
Ultimately, “Makemation” is a significant achievement. It’s a bold statement about African capability and a valuable tool for sparking interest in technology. It successfully boots up Nollywood’s engagement with the AI era.
Makemation isn’t just a film; it’s a promising beta test for the future of African storytelling. The producers intend to continue with the Makemation Series from next year, and we look forward to seeing how they blend the complex code of character, emotion, and conflict with the ambitious message of educating viewers about artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies
