In celebration of Africa Day on May 25, Instagram has launched its international and pan-African campaign ‘Made By Africa, Loved by the World’.
The campaign is in its fourth year, and this year, in what turns out to be a first, the campaign celebrates women of impact, shining the spotlight on four trailblazing women from the continent and diaspora, all of whom have built a global presence through their exceptional talents and passions across sports, entertainment and music.
The four women – Eniola Aluko (Nigeria), Bontle Modiselle (South Africa), Victoria Kimani (Kenya), and Tasneem Elaidy (Egypt) – tell their inspiring stories in four beautiful short films highlighting their successes, challenges and passions.
The films, shot in collaboration with five rising filmmakers, Haya Khairat from Egypt, Michael Rodriques from South Africa, Nyasha Kadandara from Kenya, and London-based Nigerian Aaliyah Mckay alongside co-director Shehroze Khan, amplify the unique voices and stories of women who are changing the way Africa is viewed on the international stage.
As part of the campaign, Instagram is also partnering with local African content creators to host the third edition of its community challenge, ‘#ShareYourAfrica’, bringing together emerging and established content creators to create a movement and celebrate what it means to be African.
Communications Director, Africa, Middle East & Turkey (AMET) at Meta, Kezia Anim-Addo, said for the fourth year running, Instagram was excited to shine a spotlight and celebrate some of the amazing women from across Africa and beyond making a remarkable impact globally.
“These are women who are contributing to positively shaping the female African narrative and inspiring change across football, music, entertainment and culture,” Anim-Addo said.
“At Instagram, we’re deeply rooted in culture and connection, and we know our platform provides the perfect space to showcase passions and creativity, whilst inspiring a worldwide audience,” she said.
Meet the stars
Bontle Modiselle is an award-winning dancer and influential figure in the South African entertainment industry. She has won numerous awards, including a ‘Africa Movie Academy Award’ and has travelled the world showcasing her impressive dance skills.
Eniola Aluko is a trailblazer in women’s football whose contributions to the women’s game has made her a significant figure in the world of sports. She has played for some of the world’s leading football clubs, and recently made history by becoming the first African female to make the board of Italy’s female top-flight football club, FC Como Women.
Victoria Kimani is a singer, songwriter and entertainer known for her distinctive blend of R&B, Afropop and Hip-Hop. Victoria has carved a successful path in the African music scene and beyond, collaborating with well-known local and global artists, and was once referred to by the Grammy Awards as ‘Kenya’s Best Kept Secret’.
Tasneem Elaidy is a singer and songwriter with strong vocals whose songs have earned her international recognition. She started out on social media, releasing cover songs and original music, but went viral after releasing her version of a popular song. Today, she has a growing audience of nearly 2 million followers on Instagram, 3 million on TikTok and over 100 million combined views for her music.
