Introduction to AFMAC
Cape Town/Munich. The African Film and Media Arts Collective (AFMAC) was established in April 2025 as part of Julie Mehretu’s BMW Art Car project. This initiative, developed in collaboration with Emmy-nominated film producer Mehret Mandefro and the BMW Group, aims to unite artists and filmmakers from Africa and its diaspora. The goal is to foster new forms of creation and cultural dialogue through workshops led by esteemed artists.
Final Workshop Details
From January 27–31, 2026, AFMAC will conduct its final workshop in Cape Town, following successful sessions in Lagos, Tangier, Nairobi, and Dakar. The workshop will be led by The Otolith Group, a London-based collective founded in 2002 by Anjalika Sagar and Kodwo Eshun. The group is known for its interdisciplinary approach that merges film, installation, and performance, focusing on science fiction histories and global cultural legacies.
Workshop Programme
Titled African Cosmotechnics: Animation, Animism, Abstraction, Automotion, Automation, Aesthetics, the workshop will gather artists, writers, theorists, animators, theatre-makers, and filmmakers. The aim is not merely to produce animation as a technical skill but to rethink the relationships between images, sounds, and voices.
Public Screening and Talk
AFMAC, alongside its local partner Chimurenga, will host a public screening of Infinity Minus Infinity on January 31, 2026, at 7.30pm. This 2019 video work combines dance, music, spoken word, and animation to address the ongoing impacts of historical racism and colonialism on contemporary social and environmental issues.
Chimurenga’s Role
Founded by Ntone Edjabe in 2002, Chimurenga serves as a platform for African ideas and cultural production. The organisation’s mission extends beyond knowledge creation to capturing the intensities of the world and taking action. They publish Chimurenga Magazine and curate the Chimurenga Library, which reimagines African knowledge systems.
Upcoming Exhibition
The culmination of the AFMAC project will take place at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, featuring an exhibition titled “Scaling Intentions” from December 11, 2026, to August 15, 2027. Each lead artist will showcase a film inspired by their respective workshops, alongside Julie Mehretu’s BMW Art Car #20, a BMW M Hybrid V8 unveiled at the Centre Pompidou in 2024.
AFMAC’s Mission
The core mission of AFMAC is to cultivate sustainable artistic networks and reinforce creative communities across Africa. Participants in the workshops will explore cultural heritage and identity while developing innovative approaches to media art using archival African film materials.
Statements from AFMAC Leaders
Mehret Mandefro, co-founder of AFMAC, stated, “The magic of bringing people together starts with us. AFMAC creates forums for conversations in small, critical masses.” Thilosh Moodally, Director of Government Affairs and Communications at BMW Group South Africa, added, “We see our role as more than mobility; it’s about creating space for connection and cultural exchange.”
Additional Resources
For more insights into AFMAC, visit www.afmac.institute or follow their Instagram account @a.f.m.a.c.. For updates on BMW Group’s cultural initiatives, check out their Instagram at @BMWGroupCulture.
Past and Future Events
- April 2025: Lagos, Nigeria – Lead artist: Coco Fusco
- July 2025: Tangier, Morocco – Lead artist: Zeresenay Berhane Mehari
- October 2025: Nairobi, Kenya – Lead artists: Jim Chuchu and Wanuri Kahiu
- December 2025: Dakar, Senegal – Lead artist: Mati Diop
- January 2026: Cape Town, South Africa – Lead artist: The Otolith Group
- December 11, 2026 – August 15, 2027: Final exhibition at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, Cape Town
Biographies of Key Figures
Julie Mehretu: A prominent American artist known for her dynamic visual art that engages contemporary experience. She has received several awards including the MacArthur Award and the US Department of State Medal of Arts.
Mehret Mandefro: Emmy-nominated producer and entrepreneur whose work spans documentary and fiction across various media. She is a co-founder of multiple creative enterprises.
The Otolith Group: Established in London, this collective engages with cross-cultural narratives through their research-driven art practices.
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