FATA Honors FlickFunds Africa
By Mackie M. Jalloh
The Federation of Allied Tourism Associations (FATA) on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, hosted a dinner and farewell reception in honor of the FlickFunds Africa delegation from Nigeria, recognizing their contribution to the growth and development of Sierra Leone’s film industry.
The event, held at Kabbanna Restaurant and Klub on Lumley Beach Road in Freetown, brought together stakeholders from the tourism, film, media, and creative sectors, as well as government officials and industry leaders, to celebrate a partnership that has helped advance capacity building efforts within the country’s film industry.
The evening was not a training session but rather a moment of reflection and appreciation following weeks of engagement between FlickFunds Africa and key stakeholders in Sierra Leone’s creative sector. The Nigerian based organization had earlier conducted training and professional development programmes aimed at equipping more than 100 Sierra Leonean filmmakers, directors, producers, actors, and other creative professionals with skills needed to strengthen the industry.
In his welcome remarks, FATA Chairman John Donald Sandi highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing Sierra Leone’s tourism and creative industries. He described the gathering as a testament to the growing partnership between tourism and film, noting that both sectors have the potential to promote the country’s image, create jobs, and contribute to economic growth.
Sandi emphasized that FATA’s vision is to position Sierra Leone as a leading sustainable tourism destination in West Africa, celebrated for its unique culture and heritage. He stressed that achieving such a vision requires strong partnerships among tourism operators, creative professionals, investors, government institutions, and development partners.
He noted that the presence of FlickFunds Africa in Sierra Leone represented an important step toward fostering regional cooperation and creating opportunities for filmmakers to develop professionally while strengthening cultural exchanges across borders.
“Our aspiration is to see the film and entertainment industries flourish through meaningful collaboration. We want Sierra Leone’s stories to reach broader audiences while embracing opportunities to learn from our neighbors and strengthen cultural exchanges across the sub-region,” he said.
Tourism advocate Ambassador Bangura also addressed guests, calling for continued support for institutions and organizations working to promote Sierra Leone’s culture, heritage, and creative industries.
He commended the Sierra Leone Film Council, FATA, and all tourism associations represented at the event for their commitment to showcasing the country’s beauty and cultural richness to the world. He urged stakeholders to remain united in preserving Sierra Leone’s heritage and inspiring future generations to celebrate their identity through storytelling and cultural expression.
President of the Sierra Leone Film Council, Aiah Momoh, used the occasion to recognize the significant contribution made by FlickFunds Africa during their stay in Sierra Leone.
According to Momoh, the film industry has long sought opportunities for professional growth, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships capable of elevating the sector to international standards. He noted that the engagement with FlickFunds Africa had provided valuable insights and opened new possibilities for filmmakers and creative entrepreneurs.
He praised FATA for facilitating the partnership and acknowledged the positive impact the delegation had made within a short period.
“Tonight is a special occasion because we are gathered not only to celebrate progress but also to recognize individuals who have come to contribute meaningfully to the growth and transformation of Sierra Leone’s creative industry,” Momoh stated.
A key moment of the evening came when Barrister Musa Uwadia, Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of FlickFunds Africa, formally introduced members of the Nigerian delegation and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to Sierra Leone.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Uwadia expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended to them throughout their visit and described Sierra Leone as a country with enormous creative potential.
He explained that FlickFunds Africa was established as a Pan-African initiative dedicated to supporting transformation, innovation, and sustainable development within Africa’s creative industries. While maintaining a continental vision, he said the organization remains committed to building strong partnerships at the national level.
According to him, Sierra Leone occupies an important place in that vision, and the organization is eager to continue working alongside local stakeholders to support the development of the country’s film and tourism sectors.
The chairman and founder of FlickFunds Africa, Wilson Chabututu, delivered an inspiring address focused on the future of African filmmaking and the importance of building sustainable industry structures.
He highlighted the challenges many filmmakers across Africa continue to face, including limited access to financing, weak production structures, and inadequate distribution opportunities. While acknowledging the abundance of talent across the continent, he stressed that greater professionalism and industry readiness are essential to attracting investment.
Chabututu explained that FlickFunds Africa was created to bridge the gap between creatives and investors by supporting capacity building, mentorship, and professional development initiatives.
He emphasized that Africans are best positioned to tell African stories and called for greater efforts to empower filmmakers to produce authentic content that reflects the realities, cultures, and aspirations of the continent.
The FlickFunds Africa founder also revealed plans to support a major film project that would showcase Sierra Leone’s landscapes, culture, heritage, and people to regional and international audiences while creating opportunities for local talent.
Representing Sierra Leone’s film industry, Sollywood President Marvin Jones praised FlickFunds Africa for the knowledge and industry insights shared with filmmakers during their engagement in the country.
Jones said the experience had encouraged filmmakers to rethink their approach to production, business planning, project management, and industry standards. He noted that one of the most important lessons learned was the need for Sierra Leoneans to embrace their own stories and cultural identity rather than attempting to imitate foreign film industries.
“Our culture is our greatest asset, and our stories are our competitive advantage,” he told attendees.
He expressed confidence that the relationships established through the partnership would contribute significantly to the future growth of the industry.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah commended FATA for organizing what he described as a remarkable initiative that brought together key stakeholders in support of Sierra Leone’s creative sector.
The minister assured industry players of the government’s support and encouraged filmmakers to view the current progress as the beginning of a larger journey toward building a stronger and globally competitive film industry.
Bah praised the efforts of FlickFunds Africa and thanked the delegation for investing their time and expertise in Sierra Leone. He noted that their willingness to share knowledge and experience demonstrated a commitment to African collaboration and development.
“Africa’s stories deserve to be told by Africans. Sierra Leone’s stories deserve to be told by Sierra Leoneans. And with partnerships such as these, we are moving closer to making that vision a reality,” he said.
The dinner and farewell reception concluded with renewed optimism among stakeholders about the future of Sierra Leone’s film industry and the growing partnership between tourism and creative sector institutions.
For FATA, the event represented another step toward fulfilling its mission of uniting and empowering stakeholders through innovation, collaboration, and inclusive prosperity. For the film industry, it marked a celebration of new partnerships and opportunities that could help position Sierra Leone as a recognized destination for film, culture, and tourism within the region and beyond.
