In a significant development for African cinema, Kunle Afolayan’s KAP Group has formally entered into a strategic partnership with the Republic of Benin. The collaboration was sealed through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Lagos, marking a new phase in cross-border creative cooperation between the two West African neighbours.
The agreement follows a high-level invitation from the Beninese Presidency to establish a structured partnership aimed at transforming the audio-visual and film production landscape in the region. The signing ceremony took place at the KAP Hub in Lagos, the Group’s flagship creative centre and administrative headquarters, underscoring KAP’s expanding continental footprint.
Prior to the formalisation of the agreement, Kunle Afolayan and ‘Seun Soyinka, Executive Director of KAP Group, led a senior management delegation to Benin Republic. The visit involved consultations with government officials and sector stakeholders, focusing on long-term frameworks to strengthen local content production, develop technical capacity, and position Benin as an emerging centre for film and creative enterprise.
The Beninese government delegation that travelled to Lagos for the signing included Sinatou Saka, Special Adviser to the President for Media and Audiovisual Affairs; Coline-Lee Toumson-Venite, Special Adviser for Arts and Culture; Bassirou Ndiaye, Chief Executive Officer of SOPA S.A.; Faissol Gnonlonfin, Director of Cinema and Performing Arts at the Agency for the Development of Arts and Culture; and Meto Adoglo, Programme Manager for Storytelling at Sèmè City. The host team was led by Kunle Afolayan alongside Professor Tunji Azeez, Head of School at the KAP Film and Television Academy.
The partnership rests on three core pillars. First is structured co-production of films that reflect authentic African narratives while expanding their global reach. Second is youth training across all levels of filmmaking and creative production, drawing on the institutional capacity of the KAP Film and Television Academy. Third is the development and operation of a world-class Film City in Ouidah, Benin, designed to serve as an integrated hub for production, education, and cultural tourism.
Each pillar leverages existing KAP subsidiaries, including KAP Motion Pictures, the KAP Film and Television Academy, and the KAP Film Village and Resort in Igbojaye-Komu, Oyo State. The visiting delegation is scheduled to tour these facilities as part of a four-day programme, examining operational models that could be adapted within Benin’s creative infrastructure.
For KAP Group, the agreement represents more than a bilateral arrangement. It reflects a broader commitment to building sustainable African creative ecosystems anchored in infrastructure, skills transfer, and cultural ownership. For Benin Republic, the collaboration offers a structured pathway to strengthen its domestic film sector while integrating into a larger regional network.
Speaking on the partnership, Kunle Afolayan described it as a defining moment for African cinema, where leadership, culture, and enterprise converge to project African stories with authority and clarity. Sinatou Saka also welcomed the development, emphasising the importance of capacity building and institutional collaboration.
Both parties have characterised the MoU as the foundation of a long-term alliance aimed at elevating production standards, strengthening creative education, and advancing Africa’s cultural presence on the global stage.
As African cinema continues to evolve beyond national boundaries, this partnership signals a deliberate move toward structured Pan-African cooperation, with shared investment in talent, infrastructure, and storytelling.
