By Femi Odugbemi
This past weekend, from September 17 to 20, 2026, marked a significant and historic moment at the KAP Film Village & Resort in Igbojaye, north of Oyo State, as leading filmmakers, curators, scholars and storytellers from across Africa and beyond gathered for the unveiling of ITAN.
The visionary new think-tank and annual conclave is the brainchild of award-winning filmmaker Kunle Afolayan.
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ITAN represents a bold step towards preserving and promoting Africa’s heritage storytelling through cinema.
Its mission includes the restoration of historic African films and the establishment of a proposed Museum of African Cinema, positioning it as a key platform for safeguarding the continent’s cinematic legacy.
Beyond preservation, ITAN seeks to become a creative hub where filmmakers can connect, collaborate, exchange ideas and collectively imagine the future of African cinema.
The weekend’s significance was further heightened by its alignment with the graduation of a new generation of filmmakers from the KAP Film School, in partnership with the School of Performing Arts (SOPA) in the Republic of Benin.
The event featured screenings of three student films, followed by a graduation ceremony attended by diplomatic representatives, filmmakers, academics and cultural leaders.
There was a symbolic resonance in these twin moments honouring the legacy of African cinema while empowering emerging voices to shape its future.
Distinguished local and international guests in attendance included Keith Shiri, Virginie Benson-Silla, Jean-Pierre Bekolo, Yasmeen Telsem, Tunde Kelani, Chioma Ude, Jahman Anikulapo, Professor Awam Amkpa, Tade Ogidan, screenwriter Tunde Babalola, thespian Sola Shobowale, KAP Executive Seun Soyinka, Professor Tunji Azeez, former Lagos State Commissioner for Culture, Honourable Steve Ayorinde, media executive Olumide Iyanda, producer Judith Audu, Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) President Uche Agbo, and Femi Odugbemi.
Members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of the Oyo State Government were also present, underscoring the event’s cultural and institutional significance.
At its core, ITAN is about memory, identity, values and imagination and the enduring power of cinema to carry African heritage forward.
As the initiative takes shape, expectations are high that it will evolve into a continental home for African cinema and its storytellers, fostering innovation while preserving the rich narratives that define the continent.
Also read: Heritage, Faith and Culture Converge at 2026 Osun-Osogbo Festival
Odugbemi, an acclaimed filmmaker, is the President of Zuri24 Media.
