Sometime in December while we were having our quarterly review at FLA, @dharmyadams asked me what project was the most impactful to me.

When asked, this was the first name out of my mouth.

I remember Mani reaching out in December 2024 about a documentary and the details were still sketchy then since they were still shooting. Fast forward to January, when he fully explained the project scope.

Of the 3 stories told here, I was most drawn to Fola’s. I remember speaking to colleagues about him in January and by the end of the year the growth has been phenomenal.

Allow me to introduce you to AFRICA’s NEXT, a project by Empire.

CREDIT

Director - Manuel “Mani” Ilori // @maniofficial_ng DOP - Manuel “Mani” Ilori // @maniofficial_ng Producer - Adedeji “Dej” Olowookere First AC - Iteh Melvin isioma Nimi Adeyemo- BTS photographer Ogunkoya Opeyemi Richard - Cam Technician Emmanuel Adeniji - Cam Technician 2 Second cam unit - Akinlabi Damilare // @the_damii second cam - @mossthefireman Marvel Godwin Desmond - Gaffer Israel Ilori - Production Coordinator sound : actual visual sound editor - @the_feemit_dude @jofim_ colorist - @gradewithpainters

SOUTH AFRICA UNIT Production Manager: Nelisiwe Mwase DOP: Ofentse Mwase Camera Operator: Banele “Bannz” Msimango Sound: Karabo “Goo” Tshoagong Subtitles & Translations: Light Ngomane & Karabo Tshoagong

Artists Liason & Management Afolashade Idowu Patrick Oyeyiola Innocent Nkosi Xivo Manzini Munya Chanetsa

Special Thanks To: Mobolaji Kareem // @mister_kareem Tosin Sorinola // @tosin.sho Ezegozie Eze Jr Titilope Adesanya

Supervising Producer Juan Gomez

Executive Producers Ghazi Shami Peter Kadin