Nissi Ogulu on Reimagining Africa: Storytelling, Culture, Identity and the Art of Animation

Nissi Ogulu transitioned to becoming the founder of Creele Animation Studios and the co-founder of Kemet Automotive

 

Nissi Ogulu, the founder of Creele Animation Studio and co-founder of Kemet Automotive

Nissi Ogulu is an avant-garde Nigerian talent whose multifaceted talents traverse the exploration of visual arts, music, entrepreneurial ventures and engineering. In an insightful conversation with Business Day, Nissi Ogulu revealed her intents, mostly in reference to her skills, as one of the leading voices among a new generation of African creatives, committed to shaping the global perception of Africa's culture and identity through compelling storytelling. She also revealed the plans for her animation studio, her upcoming animation short, and her preference for animation style as the mode of storytelling over live-action.

Formerly a member of the engineering team at Jaguar Land Rover, Nissi Ogulu transitioned to becoming the founder of Creele Animation Studios and the co-founder of Kemet Automotive. While revealing the work complexities of her previous workplace, she also gave impeccable insights into the invaluable knowledge and experiences gained from such an environment, which has further sharpened her to inculcate similar practices into her daily dealings and businesses.

Refusing to utterly restrict the definition of herself to a talent, she reveals:

"It’s quite challenging for me to single out one talent as more defining than the others. All of these abilities—my music, visual art, engineering skills, and entrepreneurial ventures—are integral parts of who I am. They collectively shape my identity and form the various channels through which I express myself. I believe that the essence of who I am goes beyond these talents....So, my talents are the means through which I express myself and contribute to the world. But my core identity is rooted in my character, my values, and how I relate to others. It’s the combination of all these elements—my skills, my passions, and my personal attributes—that truly defines who I am."

Discussing her animation studio, Creele Animation Studios, and the upcoming 3D animation short, SOPO, which is set to premiere in May 2025, she confirmed that the studio's focus is geared toward offering unique storytelling. Through animation, the studio seeks to "bring African stories to the forefront of global animation, create authentic representation for younger generations, and make African culture appealing and relatable to a wide audience."

Furthermore, she expressed her desire to allow the animation studio to reflect a more authentic perception of African culture and identity and to foster a sense of pride and self-recognition among African audiences. In addition, she gave a synopsis of the short, stating:

"SOPO is a short film that explores the delicate balance between expectation and passion while highlighting the transformative power of parental support in a child’s development. The film delves into themes like the impact of talent and education on personal growth, the crucial role of parental support in boosting a child’s confidence, and how acknowledgement and praise can significantly influence future performance. By showcasing these elements, we aim to emphasise the importance of supportive parenting in character development. SOPO illustrates how a simple ‘job well done’ can profoundly affect a child’s approach to future challenges."

Addressing why she chose animation style for the short, instead of live action, she revealed the extensive and flexible abilities the animation style creates for storytelling, allowing the storytellers to explicatively blend fantasy with reality. She says, "Animation offers unique storytelling possibilities that transcend the limitations of reality. It allows us to visually express abstract concepts and imagination in ways that live-action films cannot...With SOPO, we wanted to explore the world of music and creativity in a way that’s both fantastical and emotionally resonant. Animation gives us the freedom to depict what exists in the mind’s eye."

Also, while talking about SOPO, she revealed the intersection of Afrobeat and its influences in creating the animation and how it was another adaptation of ‘This Fela Sef! The Legend(s) Untold’, by Benson Idonije who was Fela's first band manager.

While we await the release of SOPO, we are also delighted to reflect on her stance to promote Africa's culture and identity through storytelling in a more refined and resonating way, thereby placing Africa among other cultures on the global stages.

 Read the full interview here.

—Adedeji Adebusuyi