Dance of the Crocodiles: Nigeria at Annecy

Nigerian Animation Steps Onto the Global Stage: Dance of the Crocodiles Makes History at Annecy.

It’s a historic first for Nigeria. At the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the global reference for animated cinema, the Nigerian feature film Dance of the Crocodiles has been selected from over 250 projects to take part in the highly anticipated pitching sessions of the Mifa (International Animation Film Market). This marks a symbolic milestone for Nigerian animation, which now dreams of following in the footsteps of Nollywood, Africa’s cinematic powerhouse and the world’s second-largest film industry by volume.

Directed by Shofela Coker, Dance of the Crocodiles is a dark, captivating fable blending drama and horror, inspired by West African mythology. The story follows a cursed musician who must rediscover her voice to save her city from a mythical goddess. Hovering over the narrative is the aquatic figure of Mami Wata, a central character in many African legends.

“This isn’t just a Nigerian story,” says co-director Shofela Coker. “I want the world to discover our African perspectives. My greatest hope is that this story travels as far as possible, helping to bridge the cultural gap between us.”

Behind this creative surge, however, remain significant challenges. Nigeria is rich in artistic talent, but its animation industry still struggles with fragile infrastructure and limited funding. To address this, the country is betting on education and professional training, gradually integrating animation into university curricula and empowering local studios.

“Today, we’re training creators who can produce content not only for Nigeria but for the entire world,” explains Mbuotidem Johnson, founder of Basement Animation.

Since 2022, the French Embassy in Lagos has actively supported this momentum by bringing Nigerian delegations to Annecy each year. The goal: to facilitate meetings with international co-producers and help structure a sustainable ecosystem for the industry. “Many promising projects remain on the shelf due to lack of funding,” warns Christophe Pécot, audiovisual attaché at the French Embassy. “There’s an urgent need to build proper support structures.”

Encouraging results are already emerging: three co-productions have been launched, and five new Nigerian projects have been selected at this year’s Mifa.

For young illustrator Afor Racheal, who is also present in Annecy, the festival is an extraordinary platform: “I don’t think people realize how beautiful it is to be Nigerian, to be African. I want to share our culture beyond the continent. I want to show the world our journey and our resilience.”

Dance of the Crocodiles symbolizes the ambition of a new generation of Nigerian artists determined to elevate Africa to its rightful place in the global animation industry. A bold and collective dream, driven by creativity, perseverance, and a desire to reshape the global narrative about African art and storytelling.