The Harvard University Center for African Studies will host a special screening of the Nigerian feature film Makemation next week in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as part of its Africa Week programme. The film has been selected as the Closing Keynote Event, marking a significant academic milestone for a production that began as an ambitious effort to tell an African story about artificial intelligence and emerging technologies through the perspective of young people, particularly girls.
The screening positions Makemation within a global intellectual setting known for shaping policy dialogue and leadership thought. Organisers confirmed that the event will bring together scholars, students and members of the wider community for a discussion on Africa’s role in the evolving discourse around artificial intelligence, ethics, innovation, infrastructure and public goods.
What started as a creative exploration of youth, gender and technology has increasingly entered international academic spaces. In addition to the Harvard screening, several universities across Europe have initiated discussions to acquire the film’s educational streaming licence, reflecting growing institutional interest in African-led narratives on frontier technologies.
According to the film’s creator, Makemation was conceived as more than a cinematic project. It was developed as a statement on possibility and representation within the Fourth Industrial Revolution. By centering African ingenuity and the experiences of young women in technology, the film challenges traditional assumptions about who imagines, builds and leads in emerging digital economies.
The Harvard engagement was facilitated with the support of Zoe Marks and Nthatisi Quella, alongside the broader team at the Center for African Studies, who have continued to expand platforms dedicated to African intellectual and creative expression. The event underscores a broader recognition that conversations about artificial intelligence on the continent must meaningfully include African voices, languages and locally grounded solutions.
The project has received backing from a network of institutional partners and sponsors, including Luminate, Sterling Bank, Unilever, United States Mission Nigeria and United Nations Development Programme Nigeria. Their support has contributed to the film’s production and international outreach.
Described as Africa’s first feature-length film focused on artificial intelligence and frontier technologies, Makemation presents its technological themes within a coming-of-age narrative designed to resonate across generations, particularly among young audiences. Its screening at Harvard marks another step in its expanding global engagement, as African storytelling continues to claim space in institutions that influence the future of technology policy and leadership.
Registration details for the Cambridge screening are available via the Harvard Center for African Studies website.
