Ghana’s new creative industry blueprint and Nigeria’s box office queen tightens her grip
Ghana's new president has an ambitious plan for the country's creative economy, Funke Akindele retained her crown as Nigeria's box office queen, and Canal+ bets on Africa.
Hello there!
Welcome to the first edition of Communiqué Digest for the year. In 2025, Africa’s creative industry is projected to grow in leaps and bounds with Nigeria’s, in particular, projected to reach a $15 billion valuation. Here at Communiqué, we are committed to covering every aspect of this growth.
In today’s digest, we discuss:
President John Mahama’s plan to transform Ghana’s creative industry
Nigeria has a new highest-grossing movie by the same person who held the previous record
How Canal+ became Africa’s dominant pay TV player
Center Spread 🗞️
Mahama’s plan for Ghana’s creative industry
President John Mahama was sworn in for his second term as Ghana’s president on Tuesday following his narrow victory in the December 9 election last year. The ceremony, held in Accra, was attended by approximately 20 African leaders and marked a historic moment as Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang became Ghana’s first female vice president.
During his campaign, Mahama positioned the creative economy as one of his administration’s cornerstones. He published a policy document outlining an ambitious plan for the industry, including the Black Star Experience, an initiative to establish Ghana as a premier cultural destination through year-round celebrations of entertainment, arts, and educational programs. This includes dedicated months for film, music, culinary arts, and fashion.
During his first term (2012–2017), Mahama made significant structural changes to support the creative sector, notably establishing the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Creative Arts. This consolidation brought various creative domains under one administrative umbrella, streamlining the sector’s policy implementation and resource allocation.
However, Mahama’s track record on creative infrastructure development has faced scrutiny. In 2013, he announced funding from the Turkish Export and Import Bank for a second national theatre in Kumasi, intended to be larger than Accra’s existing facility. Yet, a decade later, this project remains unrealized. The promise of a second national theatre at Kumasi resurfaced during his campaign, along with plans to modernize Accra’s deteriorating National Theatre, where basic facilities like stage equipment and curtains require urgent attention.
Despite these challenges, Ghana’s creative industry has emerged as a significant economic driver. Initiatives like 2019’s Year of Return reportedly generated $1.9 billion for the Ghanaian economy, demonstrating the sector’s potential for diversification beyond traditional exports like cocoa and gold.
Funke Akindele’s Everybody Loves Jenifa breaks Nigerian box office record
Funke Akindele’s latest movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa, has shattered Nigeria’s box office records, officially becoming the highest-grossing Nollywood film ever. According to FilmOne, the film’s distributor, it has raked in an unprecedented ₦1.466 billion and counting, surpassing previous records in just a few weeks. Released on December 13, 2024, Everybody Loves Jenifa marks yet another triumph for Akindele, solidifying her status as the “Queen of Nigeria’s Box Office.”
A spin-off of the beloved Jenifa franchise, the movie blends comedy and drama while revisiting fan-favorite characters. Akindele’s promotional strategies have been pivotal to its success. The filmmaker ensured the movie stayed in the spotlight, from hosting meet-and-greet events with the cast to orchestrating eye-catching PR stunts like a tug-of-war challenge. This approach, coupled with her storytelling prowess, has endeared her to audiences across the country, who turned out en masse to see the movie.
Everybody Loves Jenifa is Akindele’s fourth consecutive box office success following Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020) and Battle on Buka Street (2021), which earned ₦668 million, and A Tribe Called Judah (2023), the first Nigerian film to cross the billion-naira mark.
Crunch Time 📈
Canal+ bets on Africa for growth
Canal+, the French media giant, has staked its future on Africa, aggressively expanding its footprint on the continent as growth in its home market slows. The company, listed on the London Stock Exchange in December 2024 following a spinoff from Vivendi, has nearly doubled its African subscribers in six years. However, its stock market debut flopped, closing 22% below projections, underscoring concerns about its growth strategy. However, this has not been without controversy. Vincent Bolloré, Vivendi’s billionaire main shareholder, has a history of disturbing views and has been accused many times of media manipulation.
For much of its existence, Canal+ focused on Francophone Africa, but in 2024, it secured a landmark deal to acquire MultiChoice, the dominant pay TV provider in Anglophone Africa. Valued at $2.9 billion, the deal would create a pay TV monopoly with over 30 million subscribers.
While Canal+ is now Africa’s most influential media player, its gamble depends on overcoming economic challenges in a complex, evolving market. Read the full story in our latest Communiqué essay.
Curiosity Cabinet 🗄️
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The hottest African cultural moments from 2024.