Authenticity is the current storyteller's buzzword. We use it and claim it ourselves at KWANDINOBVA. African creatives around the globe are becoming bolder and more daring in their infusion of African culture in the media. By all means, the world is witnessing something truly monumental. And yet, the bigger the monument, the bigger the shadow.

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The Mzansi Magic series, Shaka Ilembe, sparked continent-wide celebration when it aired back in June 2023. There is a sense of pride and fulfillment when such stories are told "by us, for us". Still, the audience's longing for authentic African storytelling didn't shield the production from criticism with regards to both the production and the narrative. Though rumors of the show's cancelation have since been squashed, the question of authenticity, how to truly uphold it and the price we must pay to achieve it, continues to hang over our heads.

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The natural hair movement is a useful illustration here. The movement experienced a resurgence in the 2000s and 2010s as a result of social media. Caring for natural hair became almost an art, a form of expression. New products flooded the market and every other 'naturalista' was a DIY expert, mixing ingredients in their kitchen. Celebrating curls and coils was the only acceptable narrative, especially since black hair has been historically ridiculed. 

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However, as the years rolled by and fads were differentiated from facts, more people began to speak up about the shadow side of maintaining natural hair: the hours spent in the shower on wash-day, the financial strain due to all the products and equipment 'needed' for healthy hair, the level of expertise required to style the hair at home. Creatives who were honest about this downside cemented their position as the experts in the field. They were the ones that shifted the movement from an obsession with authenticity and celebration, to the acceptance of real experience.

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Another example to illustrate this point is the Hollywood blockbuster, The Woman King. With no shortage of stellar performances from its impressive cast led by the incredible Viola Davis, the film came under fire for its apparent reimagining of the Dahomey's attitude towards slave trade. Contrary to the film's portrayal, the kingdom of Dahomey was pro-slavery, even opposing its abolishment. And so, while the story may be categorized as authentic, people seemed to expect something more.

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Which brings us back to the questions we creators must now consider. How do we make our stories both authentic and real without undoing all the progress we've made? Is there unnecessary pressure on African creatives to be authentic? What sort of impact are we really striving for with our "authentic" stories? 

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In my humble opinion, authenticity is a strong starting point for African storytelling, but cannot be the end goal. My theory is that once we outgrow authenticity - as we did with the natural hair movement - and embrace realness in our stories (whether it's in animation, documentaries or comedies) we will begin to witness a stronger, more potent global interaction with African narratives. 

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