Renowned Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has sealed a major collaboration with Société de Productions Audiovisuelles (SOPA), Benin Republic’s state-owned production company, to jointly develop films, train young creatives, and establish a film city village in Ouidah.
The partnership was formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Lagos on Thursday, following a directive from Patrice Talon, aimed at repositioning Benin’s creative industry for global relevance.
The signing ceremony was attended by key representatives from Benin, including Sinatou Saka, special adviser to the president on media and audiovisual affairs; Coline-Lee Toumson-Venite, special adviser on arts and culture; Bassirou Ndiaye, chief executive officer of SOPA; Faissol Gnonlonfin, director of cinema and performing arts at the Agency for the Development of Arts and Culture (ADAC), who represented the minister of culture; and Meto Adoglo, programme manager for storytelling at Sèmè City.
Launched in 2024, SOPA was created as a strategic platform to stimulate growth and innovation within Benin’s film and television space.
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Under the agreement, both parties will collaborate across three major pillars: developing authentic African content for international distribution, providing professional training for emerging talents in film and creative production, and building a world-class film city and creative hub in Ouidah.
The project will be executed using the expertise and infrastructure of subsidiaries within the KAP Group, including KAP Motion Pictures, KAP Film & Television Academy, and KAP Film Village & Resort.