The Afro Women in Animation Community hosted Africa’s first ever women-focused animation festival in Lagos on March 22, 2025, concluding a week-long celebration of International Women’s Month. The highly anticipated event brought together top female animation industry professionals and leaders from across Africa, Europe, and North America, drawing over 350 in-person attendees and an even larger online audience. The festival featured impactful discussions on breaking barriers, animation for social change, and accelerating career growth for women in the industry.
The first panel session, “Breaking Barriers: Women Leading the Animation Industry,” was loaded with inspiring personal experiences and insights on navigating leadership roles as female leaders. Damilola Solesi (CEO, SMIDS Animation Studio), encouraged staying ahead of industry trends, continuous learning, and collaboration among women instead of competition. Comfort Arthur (Founder, The Comfy Studio, UK), encouraged female animators to start small and put their work out there while also calling on established professionals to mentor newcomers. Omoyefe Majoroh (Creative Producer, Blac Onyx Studios), highlighted the importance of having a strong, supportive community to navigate the challenges of the industry. The session was moderated by Ukpeme Uwakwe (Head of Development, Basement Animation Studio).
During the second session, “Animation for Social Change: Telling Stories That Matter,” the panelists discussed the power of animation in shaping narratives and driving social impact. Vanessa Sinden (Senior Producer, Triggerfish Animation, South Africa), urged African animators to embrace authenticity. Omotunde Akiode (Award-winning Screenwriter, Nigeria), stressed the importance of relatable content for African children. And Mounia Aram (Founder, Mounia Aram Company, France) called for better funding and distribution support from governments and broadcasters for African animation content. The session was moderated by Zainab Balami (Founder Zazou Production Works, Uk)
The final session, “Accelerate Action: Driving Change for Women Across Industries,” focused on leadership, career growth, and key insights for balancing multiple roles while building successful careers. Panelists Ikpongke Sotiloye (General Manager, HR, Prime Atlantic Limited), emphasized embracing every phase of life and nurturing relationships for long-term benefits; Funto Ibuoye (CEO, Five28), highlighted the need for regular rest and self care as a strategy for maximizing productivity; while Mercy John-Egwu (Head Designer, Chatouiller) Pointed out how having well-structured operations and systems allow for scaling, as delegation frees time for core activities. The session was moderated by Korede Johnson (COO Basement Animation Studio).
Beyond discussions, the festival connected attendees with leading animation studios and training academies such as Basement Academy, Magic Lab Academy, OrangeVFX Training, and Terra Academy for the Arts, offering exclusive discounts on skill acquisition programs and courses. Creativity took center stage with a spoken word performance by Jessica Udeh and screenings of female-led short films showcasing emerging talent from the continent.
Afro Women in Animation Fest 2025 was more than just an event, it was a turning point for Africa’s animation industry, demonstrating its potential on the global stage with women leading the charge. The festival was in partnership with Basement Animation, Blac Onyx, and Animation Nigeria, with support from the Skills Initiative for Africa – Financial Corporation (SIFA) and the French Embassy.
The Afro Women in Animation Community is open to new members, offering mentorship and access to global opportunities for female animators. Follow @afro_wia on social media or visit basementanimation.com/afrowia for more details.
