Building Africa’s Global Cultural Influence and Creative Economy Through Film with Stella Nse Okuzu

Episode 203 with Stella Nse Okuzu who is the Director and CEO of the Royal African Society, one of the UK’s oldest and most influential Africa focused institutions, dedicated to promoting a deeper understanding of Africa and strengthening relationships between Africa and the rest of the world. She also brings extensive experience from her work leading East Africa partnerships at Radio Workshop, where she supported youth led storytelling and media initiatives across the region.

In this episode of the Unlocking Africa Podcast, we explore how culture, storytelling, and the creative economy are becoming powerful drivers of Africa’s economic growth, global influence, and soft power. Stella shares how the Royal African Society is strengthening its role as a bridge between Africa and international partners through cultural programming, policy engagement, and global dialogue.

A central focus of the conversation is Film Africa 2025, London’s leading African film festival. Stella explains how Film Africa goes beyond cinema to support Africa’s creative economy, amplify African voices, and create new opportunities for collaboration, trade, and investment. We discuss the growing global influence of African cinema and why the Democratic Republic of Congo has been selected as the country spotlight for this year’s festival, highlighting underrepresented stories and expanding Africa’s cultural footprint.

What We Discuss With Stella

• Stella Okuzu’s journey from youth led media partnerships in East Africa to leading the Royal African Society as a global bridge between Africa and the world.
• How Film Africa 2025 is strengthening Africa’s creative economy and positioning African cinema as a driver of trade, investment, and soft power.
• Using cultural programming and storytelling to reshape global perceptions of Africa and unlock new international partnerships.
• The strategic importance of spotlighting the Democratic Republic of Congo and amplifying underrepresented African voices on the global stage.
• The future of African cinema, creative industries, and the role of institutions in unlocking Africa’s long term economic potential.

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Radio and Storytelling Are Empowering African Youth and Driving Change? Make sure to check it out!

Connect with Terser:
LinkedIn – Terser Adamu
Instagram – unlockingafrica
Twitter (X) – @TerserAdamu

Connect with Stella:
LinkedIn – Stella Nse Okuzu and Royal African Society

Many of the businesses unlocking opportunities in Africa don’t do it alone. If you’d like strategic support on entering or expanding across African markets, reach out to our partners ETK Group:

www.etkgroup.co.uk
info@etkgroup.co.uk