The race to bring African film, comedy, and dramatic series to the United States took another positive turn this year when MultiChoice, a television platform for African film and television original content, launched Africa Magic GO, a video-on-demand service aimed at Africans and African Americans living in the Diaspora.
In August, the network appointed acclaimed Ghanaian actress Juliet Ibrahim as one of its ambassadors to help push the brand, generate traffic, and increase viewership.
Driven and determined, Ibrahim was recently in the U.S. to support the network and to attend a movie award ceremony in Los Angeles. She also recently completed filming 30 Days in Atlanta with Vivica Fox and Lynn Whitfield, a movie produced by Ayo Makun, an award-winning Nigerian actor and entertainer, and directed by Robert Peters.
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Upon being made ambassador, Ibrahim says she was humbled and flattered by the honor. “It’s a way for Africans in the diaspora to stay in touch with events back home,” she says. “Film is a medium. My fans can actually watch my movies and a rundown of other African hit movies online without waiting for the DVD’s back home. It’s just a great platform for anyone serious about watching African film, television shows and programs that are happening in Africa. It’s not limited to only Ghana or Nigeria — South African programming is uploaded there as well.”
Many around the world have been paying attention to the continent in industries from business to politics to entertainment. According to Ken Onwu, Product Manager for Africa
Magic GO, “There is a growing interest in stories from Africa told from an African perspective.” Onwu says, “Given the limited quality of African content available in the Diaspora, Africa Magic GO provides audiences with great programming from across the entire continent. Juliet Ibrahim is a multitalented Ghanaian actress, film producer, singer, and humanitarian of Lebanese, Liberian, and Ghanaian descent. Her philanthropic endeavors and commitment to helping and inspiring Africans all over the world through her acting made working with Juliet an incredibly easy decision and an absolute pleasure.”Learn more about Ibrahim’s role, career journey and success on the next page …
She plans to start work on her first American film in 2015, and says she has her sights set on Hollywood, although her choice is to be one of the most sought-after producers out of Africa.
Ibrahim says Africa Magic GO is the best platform on the market to get African Americans engaged in African film and to experience the African lifestyle. “They contacted me out of so many actresses across Nollywood and Ghana, and I was happy to be a part of it because this is a brand you want to be associated with when you’re in Africa. And for the fact that I’m a producer as well, I can have my movies included on the site.”
She says she’s also looking out for potential American investors who want a piece of an African film production. She plans to bring Hollywood actresses to Africa to star in some of her films — another reason why she was in the States.
Her next movie, a fantasy feature about a man who “falls from the sky,” will be shot on location in Ghana. She expects to complete filming next year.
Ibrahim has also been helping to spread awareness about the Ebola virus that has ravaged parts of West Africa.
“It’s scary, very scary,” she tells BE. “I’m working on a video project with UNICEF about awareness. It’s frightening because anyone can contract the virus. It can come into Ghana anytime because we share borders with some of the hardest hit countries, and there are flights coming through every day.”