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MultiChoice Talent Factory in West Africa: A Year of Empowering Creatives and Transforming the Industry

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MultiChoice Talent Factory

Since its launch in 2018,  MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), a dynamic corporate shared value (CSV) initiative, has been at the forefront of imparting the technical skills needed for high-quality film production in Africa.

Yearly, the MTF West Africa Academy trains and graduates a new set of African storytellers, via a 12-month fully funded training programme that equips them to project the culture of African communities through their films and moves. Some of these young talents have gone on to produce movies and series, some of which aired on Africa Magic channels.

Like in any industry, partnerships are the strategic anchor of the programme, as they will provide the crucial and practical training ground for the chosen candidates to not only learn from but also use to conceptualize, plan and shoot their visual content, as part of the training curriculum. Partners such as the New York Film Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (NYFA), the Henley Business School and Dolby are among the strategic partners of the MTF Academy.

On December 14, MTF will graduate the class of 2023 at an elaborate ceremony in Lagos. This will cap another eventful year for MTF. Here is a review of MTF’s activity, impact and industry contribution in 2023:  

Masterclass with Stakeholders in Ghana: High-quality films and TV shows are however not as prevalent as they should be, which points to the fact that the level of technical skills, as well as the access to high-quality production tools and facilities among many Nigerian film and TV makers, is still a work in progress. In March 2023, MTF organised an enlightening masterclass in Ghana, bringing together key stakeholders from the Ghanaian film industry. This event showcased the commitment to nurturing local talent and fostering collaboration across borders. It was a platform for Ghanaian and Nigerian filmmakers to exchange ideas, further strengthening the ties between the Director’s Guild of Ghana and the Director’s Guild of Nigeria.

Alumni Success and Commissioning Discussions: Several alumni from the MultiChoice Talent Factory’s class of 2022 have garnered attention, with both Akwaaba Magic and Africa Magic engaging in discussions for potential commissions. The collaboration with Akwaaba Magic has already been successfully finalized, while ongoing negotiations with Africa Magic are in progress. The noteworthy aspect lies in the fact that these alumni, now at the helm of their respective production companies alongside fellow graduates, exemplify the enduring sustainability and expansion of the MTF ecosystem. This development underscores the collective impact and success achieved by the alumni as a cohesive group. “West Africa has a rich history of incredible storytelling, and this is beautifully translated into its film and TV industry. MTF’s main aim is to take this a step further by providing seasoned and emerging creatives in this industry with a world-class opportunity to hone their skills with some of the best teachers and organizations in this sector so that they can elevate their already incredible storytelling skills to meet world-class standards,” said Atinuke Babatunde, MTF Academy Director for West Africa.

Roundtable Discussion on Economic Empowerment in Nigeria: The impact of MTF as an economic empowerment platform took centre stage during a roundtable discussion organised by Business Africa Online in April 2023. Industry experts gathered to discuss how MTF is not just creating filmmakers but also contributing to the economic growth of Nigeria. This conversation highlighted MTF’s role in elevating the industry and empowering individuals to become entrepreneurs in the creative sector.

Panel Roundtable Discussion on the Future of Creatives: In May 2023, OYA Media, founded by the renowned Nigerian journalist Funmi Iyanda, organised a panel roundtable discussion. The focus was on the future of creatives in Nigeria, and MTF played a pivotal role in this conversation. The impact of MTF in nurturing and empowering the next generation of creatives was a significant highlight.

Industry Masterclass at the AMVCA: As part of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) activities, MTF conducted an industry masterclass in May 2023. This provided a platform for emerging talent to learn from industry veterans and sharpen their skills. It also emphasised MTF’s commitment to promoting excellence in African filmmaking.

 “Take Back The Night” Acquisition by Africa Magic: One remarkable success story involves Elvis Damptey, a current MTF student, who produced the short film “Take Back The Night” using his fellow students as the cast. This remarkable achievement led to discussions with Africa Magic for the acquisition of the film as filler content for their channels. This collaboration showcases MTF’s impact in providing real-world opportunities for emerging filmmakers.

Recognition in International Festivals: MTF students were a part of the production of three films that received nominations in different international festivals, highlighting the quality and potential of MTF talent. These achievements include films like “The Delectable Azeezah Sama,” “Dark Echoes,” and “Love from Bayelsa.” These accolades demonstrate MTF’s dedication to nurturing filmmakers who create content that resonates globally. 

The MTF’s impact is multiplying, as seen through the success of its alumni and its strategic partnerships. It is creating a ripple effect that will lead to a flourishing film and television industry in Africa. MultiChoice, through the MTF, is not just investing in local talent; it is investing in Africa’s future, one story at a time.

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When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn, What do You do?

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Dotted Line GOtv dramas

Every memorable movie has that one moment that changes everything.

Sometimes it’s a secret that finally comes to light. Sometimes it’s opening the wrong door, taking the wrong job, or coming face to face with the one person you never expected to meet. Whatever it is, there’s no going back after that.

This week’s GOtv movie lineup is filled with stories built around those moments. The kind that pulls you in not because you know what’s coming, but because you genuinely want to find out what happens next.

Dotted Line

What happens when trust disappears before a person does?

A seemingly perfect marriage begins to unravel under the weight of betrayal and suspicion. When Munachi vanishes under a new identity, Tayo is left searching for answers while wrestling with forgiveness, heartbreak and hope. Just when it seems everything has been lost, a life-changing revelation about a baby changes everything.

Catch Dotted Line on Wednesday at 10:32 PM on Africa Magic Showcase GOtv Ch 8.

Big Momma’s House 2

Sometimes the fastest way to catch a criminal is to blend into the family.

An FBI agent goes undercover as a nanny and housekeeper to get close to the creator of a dangerous computer worm. The mission sounds simple until keeping up the disguise becomes just as challenging as catching the suspect. Packed with Martin Lawrence’s signature humour, this undercover operation delivers plenty of laughs alongside the action.

Watch Big Momma’s House 2 on Thursday at 5:15 PM on Studio Universal, GOtv Ch 54.

Gemini Man

Imagine discovering your toughest opponent knows your every move because he is you.

An ageing hitman ready to leave his dangerous life behind suddenly finds himself pursued by a younger, stronger version of himself. As the mystery unfolds, survival becomes more than a test of skill; it’s a confrontation with the past, the future, and everything in between.

Watch Gemini Man on Friday at 5:00 PM on MovieRoom Africa, GOtv Ch 51.

Armor

Some jobs come with risk. This one comes with an army.

A father and son working security for an armoured truck company expect another routine shift until a ruthless gang targets their vehicle. Trapped and outnumbered, they must rely on courage, quick thinking and each other to survive. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Armor is an action thriller that doesn’t waste time getting to the tension.

Catch Armor on Saturday, July 4, at 6:20 PM on M-Net Movies 3, GOtv Ch 53.

My Chauffeur

Some secrets don’t destroy a marriage overnight; they quietly grow between two people.

Years of infertility, unspoken pain and hidden truths put a childless couple’s relationship under immense pressure. As long-buried secrets come to light, they’re forced to decide whether love can survive honesty, forgiveness and the weight of expectations.

Watch My Chauffeur on Sunday, July 5, at 9:50 AM on Africa Magic Showcase, GOtv Ch 8.

No matter what kind of story you’re looking for this week, GOtv’s lineup offers plenty of reasons to stay on the couch a little longer. From explosive action and undercover comedy to emotional family dramas that stay with you long after the credits roll, there’s something waiting to surprise you, one unexpected twist at a time.

To upgrade, subscribe or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.

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How Entertainment Quietly Escaped the Living Room

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Living Room entertainment

The living room used to be run by a quiet dictatorship: one television, one remote, and an entire household constantly fighting for control. That hierarchy didn’t just organise entertainment; it defined it. Now it’s gone. Not because television disappeared, but because it stopped being contained. At the centre of this shift is on-demand access, and it has completely rewritten viewing behaviour.

Streaming platforms, smart TVs, and mobile apps have removed the idea of “waiting for something to come on.” Content no longer asks for your time; you give it fragments of your attention whenever it fits. A commute becomes an episode. A lunch break becomes a binge. A late-night scroll becomes a full viewing session you didn’t plan for. Entertainment isn’t scheduled anymore. It’s ambient.

Where Traditional TV Didn’t Die, It Adapted

Here’s the part people often miss: broadcast television didn’t lose the fight; it changed tactics. Platforms like DStv and GOtv Africa didn’t just sit back and watch streaming take over. They adapted by merging the old reliability of curated channels with the flexibility audiences now expect.

Live sports still pull people into real-time viewing. Reality shows still create shared moments. But now those same experiences can move with the viewer through mobile access and digital extensions that keep the screen from being tied to one place. The decoder is no longer the endpoint. It’s just one entry point.

Televisions aren’t just televisions anymore; they’re control centres. Your screen now talks to your speakers, your phone, your console, even your lights. A single command can dim the room, switch inputs, and drop you straight into a match or a movie. The experience is no longer “watching TV.” It’s entering an environment. Entertainment has quietly stopped being passive.

Everyone Is Now a Broadcaster

Content creation has also been completely flattened. You don’t need a studio anymore, just a phone, a decent idea, and enough consistency to survive the algorithm. High-end production still exists, but it now shares the same battlefield with short-form clips filmed in bedrooms, cars, and street corners.

People don’t just watch anymore. They react, remix, argue, quote, and push content into new spaces. A clip isn’t finished when it ends; it’s finished when the internet is done with it. That shift has turned entertainment into something closer to a live conversation than a finished product.

Nigeria’s Hybrid Reality

In markets like Nigeria, the change is not replacement; it’s layering. Global streaming platforms sit alongside established broadcasters like DStv and GOtv in the same household, often on the same devices. One moment it’s a curated channel lineup. Next, it’s YouTube, Netflix, or a TikTok feed.

Sports nights still bring families together around live TV. At the same time, everyone in that same room is also watching something else on a second screen. Coexistence isn’t a transition phase here; it’s the new normal.

Ultimately, technology has not killed traditional entertainment; it has expanded it. The living room is no longer the only stage. It now includes mobile screens, smart devices, and cloud platforms. And as innovation continues, the question is no longer “what’s on TV tonight?” but “what do I feel like watching right now?”

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MasterChef Nigeria Fire, Flavour and Fabulous Fads

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MasterChef Nigeria Chef Fads

White Apron Day brought pizza drama, pasta pressure and a Dish of the Day performance worthy of applause

It was White Apron Day in the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen — which meant nobody was going home. But make no mistake, this was not a day off.

With elimination off the menu, creativity took centre stage as the contestants were challenged to bring two worlds together in one unforgettable feast. Their task? Create two Afro-Italian dishes — Italian favourites reimagined with a proudly Nigerian twist.

From rich sauces to bold spices, fresh dough to fearless flavour combinations, the home cooks had 90 minutes to prove that Nigerian ingredients and Italian classics can speak the same delicious language. And as always in the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen, the contestants were running against the clock.

Even though nobody would be packing their knives, the competition was still piping hot. Up for grabs was the Dish of the Day title — and a dream prize for any pizza lover: an Ooni pizza oven.

Pizza quickly became the star of the conversation. Loved across the world and made to be shared, pizza is the ultimate social food — the kind of dish that brings friends together, fills a table, and starts a debate before the first slice is even taken.

Chef Stone made it clear that he is all about a thick, satisfying pizza base, while Chef Eros stood firmly on the side of a thin, crisp base. Thick or thin, soft or crunchy, classic or reinvented — the contestants had to find their own way to impress.

But for the judges, the biggest concern was clear: the dough. A pizza can have the boldest toppings and the most exciting Nigerian twist, but if the base is not right, the whole dish falls flat. The contestants had to prove they understood that great pizza starts long before it reaches the oven.

The pasta dish brought its own pressure. It was not enough to simply add Nigerian flavour to an Italian favourite; the home cooks had to elevate the dish to true MasterChef quality. The judges were looking for refinement, balance, technique and a plate that felt worthy of the competition.

And then came the extra drama: fire in the kitchen.

Isabella had a fiery moment with the pizza oven, while Favy faced separate fire drama at her bench. But fear not, Chef Stone came to the rescue, proving that even on White Apron Day, the kitchen can still bring the heat in more ways than one.

Of course, there is another kind of danger in the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen: Chef Eros removing his glasses. That is never a casual move. It is the clearest sign that he does not approve of what he is tasting.

Unfortunately for David and Isabella, both experienced the glasses-off moment. Chef Eros was not impressed with what they served, and the message was loud without needing to be shouted.

Favy also had a serious setback when she served uncooked mussels in her pasta — a mistake that could have cost her dearly on an elimination day. However, while the mussels missed the mark, the judges still enjoyed the overall flavours of her dish.

But the standout of the day belonged to Fads.

Her pizza and pasta impressed the judges the most, earning praise as restaurant-ready, delicious, classy, elegant and beautiful. It was the kind of plate that showed confidence, control and creativity — and it even earned her a round of applause from Chef Eros.

Newly named “Fabulous Fads” by Chef Eros, Fads walked away with Dish of the Day, the Ooni pizza oven and serious bragging rights.

Nobody went home, but the Afro-Italian challenge still delivered fire, flavour, pressure and a winning performance to remember.

Next week, the safety of the white apron is gone.  The Top 4 will be cooking in black aprons, which means one contestant will be eliminated.

With only three coveted spots left in the competition, every dish, every decision and every mistake could change everything. The remaining home cooks will be fighting for a place in the Top 3 — and moving one step closer to the 73 million grand prize and the title of MasterChef Nigeria.

The show airs weekly on Sundays at 7 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Africa Magic Family, with rebroadcasts on Wednesdays at 6 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Thursdays at 12 pm on Africa Magic Family.

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