MMi Launches Student Documentary Fellowship to Preserve Yoruba Culture Through Storytelling
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Tunde Kelani and MMi Student Fellows
MMi Launches Student Documentary Fellowship to Preserve Yoruba Culture Through Storytelling
……as new documentary fellowship empowers student filmmakers
By Primetime Reports
A statement signed by Bolanle Oluwayemi Project Coordinator Media and Mentoring Initiatives (MMI) on February 7th, 2025 states that; In a bold move to preserve and promote the rich heritage of Yoruba culture, Illuminate Nigeria Development Network (INDN) a non-governmental organisation dedicated to empowering young media professionals through mentorship, training, and capacity-building programs, has unveiled a groundbreaking documentary fellowship for students through its media mentoring initiative(MMi).
The fellowship themed, ‘promoting Yoruba identity through documentary’ is a three-month immersive program designed for final-year students in public universities who aspire to become documentary filmmakers and wish to deepen their understanding of Yoruba culture.
The fellowship aims to engage participants in authentic storytelling, enriching their knowledge of Yoruba philosophies, governance, and way of life.
At the opening ceremony, the Convener of the Fellowship, broadcaster and multi-genre media personality, Anikeade Funke-Treasure, emphasized the intentional focus on Yoruba language and culture, stating that the initiative seeks to preserve cultural pride and foster generational socialization into the language and traditions.
“We cannot sit in criticism and wail about how our young ones do not share our knowledge of language and the nuances of our culture while doing nothing to change the status quo,”
“I listened to the shortlisted student fellows’ pitch their documentary ideas, and my heart swelled with pride. I was struck by how articulate the students were and how deeply concerned they were about issues like the state of Yoruba names, the loathing of Oriki, the alienation of our youth from their roots, the celebration of Yoruba fashion, and the desire to elevate our food and meals, among other themes.”, Treasure said.
The event also featured a keynote address by globally acclaimed filmmaker Tunde Kelani, who praised the initiative for its innovative approach to preserving Yoruba culture.
Kelani highlighted the importance of storytelling in safeguarding cultural heritage, noting that Yoruba identity is a treasure that has stood the test of time but faces the risk of being forgotten in the face of globalization.
“Yoruba people are known worldwide for their rich culture, profound history, and timeless traditions,” Kelani said. “However, with globalization and the increasing influence of modern trends, many aspects of this heritage risk being forgotten or misunderstood. This is where the power of storytelling through documentaries becomes a vital tool.”
He described documentaries as powerful tools for preserving history, educating others, and celebrating cultural achievements. He encouraged the student fellows to embrace their roles as storytellers, urging them to use their smartphones to document festivals, interview elders, and create videos about traditional Yoruba music, food, and art.
Challenging the student fellows to see themselves as the storytellers of tomorrow, Kelani encouraged them to take advantage of modern technology to document and share Yoruba stories.
“You don’t have to wait for someone else to tell our story—start telling it yourself! Whether it’s the beating of the talking drum, the vibrance of the Egungun festival, or the intricate designs of Adire fabric, these stories belong to you. Let the world know about the beauty of being Yoruba, and let them hear it through your voice.”, Kelani urged.
The fellowship, which has already garnered significant interest, is expected to produce impactful documentaries that will not only preserve Yoruba culture but also inspire future generations to take pride in their heritage.
As the fellowship progresses, the organizers hope to expand its reach, ensuring that the rich tapestry of Yoruba culture continues to thrive in an ever-changing world. Through this initiative, MMi is proving that storytelling is not just an art form but a powerful tool for cultural preservation and education.
Promoting Yoruba Identity
The Media Mentoring Initiative (MMI) proudly announces the launch of its Documentary Fellowship for Students (DFS), centered on promoting Yoruba identity through documentaries. This immersive, three-month program is designed for final-year students from public universities aspiring to become documentary filmmakers.
Tunde Kelani, CEO of Mainframe Productions, in his keynote address noted that; The fellowship aims to deepen their understanding of Yoruba culture, promote authentic storytelling, and enrich their engagement with the philosophies, governance, and way of life of the Yoruba people of West Africa.
According to the convener, broadcaster and multi-genre media personality, Anikeade Funke-Treasure, the fellowship addresses the critical need for cultural preservation and pride, drawing from her real-life experiences in Wales, Scotland, Germany, and South Africa – countries where indigenous languages were prioritized, even in formal settings. These examples, she noted, underscore the importance of conscious efforts to maintain linguistic diversity and cultural heritage, which the fellowship seeks to emulate within the Yoruba context.
“The MMI seeks to counteract the political sensitivities surrounding language in Nigeria by intentionally focusing on the Yoruba language,” Treasure says in her welcome remarks, when the fellowship officially kicked off on 24the January 2025. “This initiative aims to preserve the language, instill cultural pride, and facilitate generational socialization, actively addressing the current disconnects between the youths and their cultural roots.
The fellowship also aims to counteract negative perceptions associated with promoting indigenous languages in Nigeria. By focusing on the Yoruba language, the MMI seeks to foster cultural pride and socialization without succumbing to political suspicions. The goal is to inspire young filmmakers to explore and celebrate their heritage, countering the trend of cultural alienation.
Anikeade Funke-Treasure described the septuagenarian filmmaker as a world-class, globally renowned Yoruba man in spirit and truth, who typifies the dream of the fellowship. “Long before Netflix came to Nigeria, he had unforgettable films to his name. My favorites include Saworoide and Ti Oluwa Ni Ile. We are honored that he graciously agreed to keynote this opening ceremony.”
In rounding off her speech, she thanked everyone who ensured that the dream became a reality, including the individual who provided the seed donation, the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism for becoming the fellowship’s first institutional donor and the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies (FCMS) at Lagos State University for hosting the rebirth of Media Mentoring Initiative, originally operational in 2010.
About Media Mentoring Initiative
The Media Mentoring Initiative is powered by Illuminate Nigeria Development Network. It is dedicated to educating, motivating, and nurturing tertiary institution students interested in documentary filmmaking. MMI focuses on Yoruba culture, documentary ethics, and the philosophies and governance of the Yoruba people.
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