Nigerian initiative DCAA aims to put Africa at centre of microdrama boom

Ifeoma Areh and Elijah Affi

The Digital Creator Africa Academy for Microdrama (DCAA) has launched in Nigeria with the aim of turning the continent into a leading hub for vertical content production.

Co-founded by pan-African creative strategist Ifeoma ‘Oma’ Areh and media exec Elijah Affi, Lagos-based DCAA aims to position Africa as a dominant player in the global microdrama space.

The initiative acts as a career accelerator for working professionals, intending to upskill 300 experienced filmmakers, videographers and writers, pivoting their skills from horizontal storytelling to vertical storytelling.

Noting that while African content “thrives on open platforms like YouTube” it is “yet to fully tap into” vertical drama platforms like ReelShort, DramaBox and ShortMax, DCAA said.

The initiative is looking to bridge that gap by “equipping talent with the specific pacing, visual language and hook structures required to monetise content on a global scale.”

Areh said: “We are looking for storytellers who are ready to scale. We are building the ecosystem for African microdrama by equipping our best talent with the specific skills and the business acumen to compete on a global stage.”

The DCAA curriculum “combines African creativity with the structural discipline of Asian microdrama models.” The faculty includes “veterans from the mature vertical markets” of China (Duanju), India and Western streaming hubs.

The free, three-week intensive programme runs across six specialised streams: scriptwriting, directing, production, editing, AI filmmaking and acting.

The launch is supported by a coalition of organisations including Ingene Studios, Africa Creative Market, TechMedia Foundation, Digital Native Africa, the Fourth Mainland Fund and WildPepper Studios.

Prior to its official launch, DCAA attended industry events including the Soweto International Film Festival, The Kingdom Film Festival and The Africa Creative Market and since then has received “hundreds of applications” from creatives, according to the organisation.

Applications for the inaugural cohort are open until April, with classes starting in May. DCAA is inviting experienced filmmakers from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia and the diaspora to apply.