2025 Africa Day: Facebook launches short films on Ladipoe, Fat Boy Animations, others

Every year on May 25th, the world celebrates Africa Day. Originally, the day was meant to commemorate the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity, now known as the African Union. Over time, denizens have used the day to celebrate the continent of vibrant colours, diverse landscapes, and rich cultural heritage.

Recognised globally, the day now provides the opportunity to acknowledge the continent’s remarkable progress while reflecting on the challenges it continues to face as a testament to its citizens’ resilience and creativity.

In commemoration of this year’s celebration, Facebook, last week, launched the “Made by Africa, loved by the world” campaign to celebrate the creative brilliance and global impact of Africans from across the continent.

For the social media company, this year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” reinforces Facebook as the leading space for conversation around moments globally and as a platform for internationally recognised African creatives from diverse disciplines to create and collaborate.

Three short cinematic films were premiered on the Meta Africa page on Friday. They take viewers through the groundbreaking work, personal stories, and cultural influences of some of Africa’s six most dynamic creative talents: Ladipoe, Fatboy Animations, Lisa Quama, Gilbert Asante, David Tlale and Ofentse Mwase.

Through powerful storytelling, the campaign unites diverse art forms of film, animation, dance, music and photography into a single narrative of creativity and collaboration.

Read also: 13 Ways to Celebrate Africa Day

“Made by Africa, loved by the world”: Meet the creators behind the campaign

It features some of the continent’s most popular and loved creatives from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa. The films also explore themes of identity, creativity, and connection across the continent while celebrating their artistry, widespread influence and cultural resonance.

Meet the creators highlighted by the campaign:

• Ladipoe (Nigeria): A BET award nominee, he is a Nigerian rapper known for fusing global hip-hop sounds with African rhythms. He is a leader of Nigeria’s hip-hop revival, his authenticity and originality inspiring a new generation of artists
• Fatboy Animations (Kenya): A studio founded by self-taught animator Michael Muthiga and twice recognised by Forbes magazine as one to watch, Fatboy Animations is known for creating fun, original African stories, with the studio’s standout character, Kapinto, receiving international acclaim.

• Lisa Quama (Ghana): A dancer and content creator celebrated for her energetic dance videos. She gained major recognition after featuring in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video alongside Shatta Wale.
• Gilbert Asante (Ghana): A creative director, photographer and multidisciplinary artist known for his vibrant visual storytelling and refined style. His work has been featured in GQ, Glam and Glitz Africa.

• David Tlale (SA): A fashion designer who approaches fashion with an eye toward bold and creative designs that fuse African heritage with modern style. His innovative designs have been showcased at major fashion events—from New York and Paris to Cape Town Fashion Weeks, whilst his designs have graced some of entertainment’s biggest events such as the Met Gala.
• Ofentse Mwase (SA): A  talented South African filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his visual storytelling. His creativity shines in his unique visual effects and storytelling, often blending local culture with modern themes.

Commenting on the campaign, Kezia Anim-Addo, Meta’s Communications Director, Africa, Middle East & Turkey (AMET), said:

“We’re incredibly excited to shine a spotlight and celebrate just some of the amazing creative talent that casts a light on our culture and connects us to the world. Facebook is a leading place for conversations around cultural moments, and through this campaign, we’re not only celebrating individual success stories – we’re also showcasing how culture and social media together can drive meaningful connection and inspiration.”