Meta Partners with Africa No Filter to Improve Virtual Reality in African Storytelling

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, and Africa No Filter, a narrative change organization have announced a partnership to launch a programme which is directed at bolstering the use of Virtual Reality in storytelling within Africa.

The programme, which is titled “Future Africa: Telling Stories, Building Worlds” will provide mentorship as well as grants, as it supports Extended Reality storytellers in developing new, compelling content about the African continent.

The programme makes up a part of Meta’s focus on immersive technology, as well as Africa No Filter’s investments in innovative storytelling that directly addresses and eradicates negative stereotypes about the continent.

Africa No Filter’s Executive Director, Moky Makura said that Virtual Reality possesses the potential to elevate storytelling to a higher level. Makura mentioned that in the metaverse, audiences do not only watch a story unfold right before them but they get to partake of that story. Makura touted the programme as an opportunity for content creators in Africa to move beyond the boundaries of their creativity.

From today, the two companies are opening opportunities for Extended Reality creators to apply to the programme, and receive funding of amounts reaching $30,000. Those applying for the programmes must fulfil certain criteria: of African descent, over 18 years old, have a track record of XR (Extended Reality) content creation and have a portfolio of work which shows their creativity and innovation.

The applicants must also show how the project will tell an intriguing African story which changes pre-existing stereotypical narratives about Africa. The projects may make use of 360 Video, VR (Virtual Reality), AR (Augmented Reality) and MR (Mixed Reality).

In collaboration with Electric South and Imisi 3D, participants will receive ongoing mentorship, production support, and opportunities to launch their projects in either a virtual or in-person showcase, which includes the Electric South’s Creators Lab which will be held in February 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The application is open to both organizations and individuals, and applications close on January 7, 2022. The programme will last from February 13 to August 13, 2022 and participants must be available on these dates. The project must also be completed within six months.