NoteSphere, the platform known for documenting and celebrating Africa’s creative industries, has taken a bold new step with its first film project, ‘Don’t Stop Creating’.
The short film stars Akintunde Abidemi Ikudayisi, popularly known as Akthawicked and features an evocative soundtrack from Cosamote and Suurshi. Behind the scenes, it was brought to life by producers Tobi Bankole and Oke Emmanuel, with NoteSphere serving as executive producer. It’s a project that feels both intimate and aspirational, a reflection of the platform’s core belief in celebrating artistry and perseverance.
While ‘Don’t Stop Creating’ marks NoteSphere’s debut in filmmaking, the movie isn’t just about testing a new medium. It is, in many ways, an extension of their mission to shine a light on African creativity in its most authentic forms. The film’s title doubles as a call to action, a reminder to artists, filmmakers, musicians, and innovators to keep pushing forward, no matter the challenges.
For Emmanuel Oke, one of the producers and co-founders of NoteSphere, this is less about launching a full-scale film division and more about showing up where great work is happening. “I can’t promise that we’re going to particularly go into film or produce more films,” he admits. “But we’re definitely looking within our community to see who’s doing the work and how we can come in support.”
Oke adds that Nollywood has been in their sights for a while. “Nollywood has been a primary target for NoteSphere in terms of documentation,” he says. That focus extends to the wider African film industry, with plans to deepen collaborations. “We’ve had plans to collaborate with film companies to host their programmes, premieres and interview sessions.”
For Oke, this is not a sudden change in direction but a natural extension. “It’s still definitely the direction we are gearing towards alongside other fields,” he explains. Part of that drive comes from a belief that film is a space where NoteSphere’s signature touch could make a difference. “We think it’s an important market that needs our level of excellence,” he says.
While there’s no guarantee of a string of future films, the door is open. “We’re going to be happy to take in any opportunity to introduce more of these to our audience.”
Nollywood and Beyond
Though ‘Don’t Stop Creating’ is a small-scale production, its existence points to a bigger picture: the ways in which cross-industry collaborations can elevate African cinema. By drawing on music, fashion, photography, and other creative disciplines, films like this can capture the richness of African art in ways that feel layered and contemporary.
In recent years, Nollywood has enjoyed growing global attention, but Oke sees room for deeper documentation and engagement not just on the screen but around the stories that lead to the screen. “Hosting programmes, premieres, and interview sessions – those are opportunities to not just promote a film but to frame it in a way that resonates with audiences long after the credits roll,” he says.
For now, ‘Don’t Stop Creating’ stands as both a statement and an experiment. It’s proof that when a platform like NoteSphere commits to telling stories visually, the result can be as compelling as any of its written or recorded work. Whether this is the start of a longer journey into filmmaking or a one-off passion project, it reaffirms the platform’s core belief: that African creativity deserves to be seen, celebrated, and remembered.
