Legendary actress Viola Davis, along with her husband Julius Tennon and author Lavaille Lavette, graced the Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2024) on June 12th. The trio, united under their production company JVL Media, ignited a powerful conversation about the importance of authentic storytelling in showcasing Africa’s multifaceted reality.
The event commenced with a thunderous applause as Davis, the celebrated EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), was introduced for her role in “The Woman King.” This 2022 film depicted the fearless female warriors who safeguarded Dahomey, a West African kingdom, between the 17th and 19th centuries. This introduction perfectly set the stage for the vibrant discussions that unfolded.
Prior to the conversation, a momentous signing ceremony took place. A memorandum of intent, symbolizing a formal partnership, was inked between Afreximbank’s Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) and JVL Media. This collaboration aims to propel the development of Africa’s film industry value chain and amplify Afro-centric narratives within the global cinema landscape through the Creative African Nexus program. In simpler terms, the agreement signifies a collective effort to tell African and African American stories, weaving the rich tapestry of the Global African narrative.
The heart of the conversation revolved around empowering Global Africa with the necessary tools to make a tangible impact. The focus was on nurturing the African film industry value chain and harnessing the continent’s human resources through storytelling that encompasses the full spectrum of African life.
Davis, Tennon, and Lavette openly discussed the challenges and triumphs of creating films like “The Woman King.” They emphasized the crucial need to portray authentic African experiences, breaking free from the stereotypical portrayals often found in mainstream media.
All participants unanimously stressed the significance of collaboration to bolster the creative sector. This, they believe, will pave the way for more authentic and imaginative storytelling, offering a balanced perspective on African history. They further highlighted the transformative power of media representation in shaping global perceptions of Africa, underlining the vital role African actors play in crafting impactful portrayals of the continent.
When asked about the significance of the signing ceremony, Viola Davis offered a powerful response. “For me,” she declared, “that moment symbolized freedom. Freedom to have a voice, and the autonomy to control our own work and stories.”
Davis continued by expressing her concern about the current narrative. “The issue with the way stories are told is that they’re filtered through a white lens,” she explained. She exemplified this by pointing out how African Americans are often depicted as drug addicts or grieving mothers, their narratives limited to police brutality and inner-city struggles. “What we’re striving to do through storytelling,” she asserted, “is to humanize us. We want to broaden the narrative, show that we’re more than just these stereotypes; perhaps we’re simply a mother.”
She further elaborated on the internalized gaze, suggesting that both African Americans and Africans have, to an extent, embraced these distorted images presented through a white lens. “This translates to,” Davis explained, “a constant pressure to conform to a specific standard of beauty to be considered worthy. Or to be worthy, we need to be like the characters in Black Panther, performing acrobatics and wielding weapons, or effortlessly disappearing into the background. The alternative is being portrayed as the cute Black woman, lighter than a paper bag, in a typical romantic comedy. But what I’m advocating for is acknowledging that there’s another side to storytelling. As artists, our responsibility is to take life, filter it through our own experiences, and present it back to the world.”
The insightful discussion culminated with Davis reflecting on the broader impact of their work and their vision for the future. She underscored the importance of leaving a legacy through storytelling, a legacy that transcends generations and ignites a sense of pride and identity within Africans across the globe.
“Our aim is to craft stories that are expansive and deeply human,” Davis declared. “By sharing our stories from our own perspective, we hope to inspire and empower others, revealing the true richness of African culture and history to the world.”
The event concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and a collective commitment to elevate African stories within the global narrative.
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