Students, film enthusiasts and leading cultural figures gathered at Baze University, Abuja, on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, for a landmark screening that brought African storytelling into the spotlight and offered fresh hope for stronger connections among film audiences across the continent.
The event, held at Auditorium C, marked the maiden screening of Gordon Main’s award-winning documentary Comrade Tambo’s London Recruits in Nigeria under Film Africa Network’s (FAN) “Africa Watches Together” campaign.
The auditorium was filled to capacity, creating an atmosphere of excitement as participants came together to experience the documentary and support a broader effort to make African films more accessible across Africa.
The gathering attracted distinguished personalities, including Emeritus Professor Femi Osofisan and Dr. Wale Okediran, FAN’s Executive Director and Secretary General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), alongside film arts professionals and other enthusiasts.
Beyond celebrating the documentary, the screening represented a significant first step towards building a shared continental audience for African cinema. It formed part of a wider film distribution and co-production project championed by FAN in collaboration with PAWA and Driving Park Limited.
The initiative responds to a persistent challenge facing African filmmakers: the limited circulation of their films beyond their immediate markets. By coordinating screenings across participating African countries, the campaign aims to help more people discover African stories while encouraging cultural understanding and collaboration within the creative industry.
The successful Abuja event demonstrated the potential of bringing audiences together around African films and creating opportunities for students, professionals and other viewers to engage with the continent’s cinematic heritage.
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The campaign will continue in Nigeria, with Lagos scheduled to host the next screening at the Pencil Film & Television Institute on Monday, 30 November 2026. A screening in Kaduna is also planned, although its date has not yet been announced.
Meanwhile, participating African countries are expected to begin their own screenings in the coming days, expanding the project’s reach and strengthening its vision of a continent where African audiences can watch and appreciate one another’s stories.
For students and aspiring creatives, the initiative offers an opportunity to experience African cinema while recognising the importance of storytelling in preserving history, promoting culture and connecting communities.
FAN has acknowledged the support of the project’s sponsors, staff and supporters across Africa and its diaspora, whose contributions have helped advance the campaign.
With its successful launch at Baze University, “Africa Watches Together” is building momentum towards a future in which African films can reach more screens, connect more viewers and inspire a stronger appreciation of the continent’s creative achievements.
