Muwado Community Management
Week 7 of the Muwado Commercial Storytelling Webinars happened on Tuesday, 15th April, with Lorna Okeng – a creative technologist, immersive curator, foresight practitioner, and researcher with a deep interest in futures, new frontiers of storytelling, cultural diplomacy, and technology experimentation. She spoke on the topic: Leveraging Technology, AI, and Multimedia for Better Storytelling.
Lorna led a session on leveraging AI and multimedia technologies for storytelling, emphasizing Africa’s unique position to benefit from these advancements. She discussed the potential of AI and extended reality to transform various sectors, highlighting practical applications, ethical considerations, and the importance of prompt engineering in creating AI-assisted content.
Next steps
• All attendees to participate in the 30-day AI prompting challenge (to be shared by Roland).
• All attendees are to create a short digital story using AI tools like ChatGPT, Canva, Midjourney, and Runway.
• All attendees are to experiment with creating AI-generated fiction stories grounded in an imagined future Africa.
• The Muwado Team to share the 30-day prompting challenge details with the group.
• The Muwado Team to share resources on AI festivals, residencies, and commercial opportunities with Roland for distribution to the group.
• All attendees are to consider translating their existing stories into comic books or animated versions for upcoming events like Comic Con in Cape Town.
• All attendees are to explore opportunities in the gaming and animation spaces for AI-assisted storytelling.
• Roland to share Lorna’s additional resources and links in the group and follow-up emails.
Summary
Leveraging AI for Enhanced Storytelling
Lorna, a creative technologist and immersive curator, introduces the session on leveraging technology, AI, and multimedia for better storytelling. The participants, including filmmakers, writers, marketers, and publishers, introduce themselves and express their interest in learning about AI applications in storytelling. Lorna plans to give a presentation followed by a hands-on session and Q&A, aiming to tailor the content to the diverse group of storytellers present.
AI and XR in Africa
Lorna discussed the potential of disruptive technologies, particularly AI and Extended Reality (XR), for Africa. She highlighted the continent’s unique position in the development and deployment of these technologies, contrasting it with the previous digital revolution where Africa was left behind. Lorna emphasized the scalability of these technologies, using the example of the music industry, which has evolved significantly over the past century. She suggested that AI and XR could similarly transform various sectors in Africa, making them more accessible and lucrative.
Africa’s Narrative Control and AI Innovation
Lorna emphasized the importance of Africa taking control of its narrative and shaping its story. She discussed the challenges of information overload and the need for multimedia storytelling to evoke emotions and attract wider audiences. Lorna also highlighted the role of AI in enhancing creativity and streamlining workflows, particularly in filmmaking. She shared a case study of a Nigerian filmmaker who used AI to create a viral fashion runway concept for elderly people, demonstrating the potential of AI to revolutionize traditional industries and create new markets.
AI-Generated Art and Storytelling Opportunities
Lorna discussed the growing global interest in AI-generated art and storytelling, highlighting dedicated AI festivals and new spaces for experimental media. She outlined a practical approach to creating AI-assisted content, from script generation to image creation and video production, using various tools and platforms. Lorna emphasized the importance of understanding ethical considerations and copyright issues when using AI. She also explores the potential of extended reality (XR) technologies, including augmented and virtual reality, for storytelling across multiple formats. Lorna encourages creators to experiment with these new tools, reimagine the future, and tap into the opportunities they present for African storytellers to share their unique perspectives and cultural richness.
Prompt Engineering for AI Effectiveness
Lorna discussed the importance of prompt engineering in using AI tools effectively. She explains that the quality of AI outputs depends on how well the tools are trained with data, and currently, many tools lack comprehensive data on African languages and contexts. Lorna emphasized that becoming proficient in prompt engineering requires practice, experimentation, and thinking in first principles. She suggested that creators who understand their craft deeply can use AI as a powerful tool to generate original work that mirrors their own style and thinking process. Lorna also mentioned that layered, phased prompting often yields better results than overloading the AI with too much information at once.
AI in African Storytelling and History
The discussion focused on the role of AI in storytelling and preserving African history. Lorna emphasizes the convergence of disciplines in the AI era, highlighting the importance of generalists who can work across various fields. She noted that while African history may not have been documented in traditional Western formats, there is now an opportunity to capture and reclaim this knowledge using new technologies. Lorna stressed the urgency for Africans to participate in building AI datasets and algorithms, while also being mindful of what knowledge should be shared or kept sacred.
AI Adoption in Africa: Policy and Skills
Cynthia and Lorna discussed the role of policy in the adoption of AI technologies in Africa. Lorna emphasized the need for Africa to have a seat at the table in global AI discussions, to regulate for itself, and to focus on skills development for the future workforce. She also highlighted the importance of decolonizing AI regulation to ensure innovation is not stifled. Cynthia agreed with Lorna’s points and added that the conversation around AI in Africa is still in its early stages, with many concerns and fears.
AI Industry Power Dynamics and Africa
Lorna discussed the power dynamics in the AI industry, emphasizing the importance of collective action and representation. She highlighted the need for Africa to reclaim its seat at the table and participate in shaping the future of AI. Lorna also touched on the energy requirements for powering AI technologies, noting that advancements in technology have made it possible to achieve similar results with fewer resources. She encouraged the team to explore opportunities for collaboration and innovation, citing examples of African countries actively pursuing AI and tech agendas.
AI Storytelling Opportunities and Challenges
Lorna concluded her presentation on AI and storytelling, offering practical assignments for participants to engage with AI tools. She suggests a 30-day prompting challenge and encourages creating digital stories using platforms like Canva, Midjourney, and Runway. Lorna also discussed current opportunities for storytellers in the AI space, highlighting festivals, residencies, and the potential for commercialization in animation and gaming. She emphasized the importance of sharing work on social media and participating in events like Comic Con to connect with producers and monetize AI-generated content.
The next session is on Tuesday, 22nd April – BUILDING A COMMERCIAL BRAND ON AND OFFLINE
Uncle Mo is a sensational Ugandan comedian, actor, and social commentator who has made significant strides in the entertainment industry since his rise.
Leveraging platforms like YouTube and TikTok, Uncle Mo has built a substantial following. His content includes skits that resonate with everyday experiences of Ugandans.Uncle Mo’s work has not only entertained but also sparked conversations around important societal issues.
Kiboneka believes in the potential technology and social media has to transform the comedy scene in Uganda.
With this session, the goal is to learn:
-Branding as a storyteller and getting business-ready
-Creative, authentic influencing/collaborations
-PR and brand protection
Training Community Group On Muwado
To make the most of this training, it is better if you are a member of Muwado. If you are not yet, you can register here: https://muwado.com/register.
Once you have created an account and are logged in, you can start sharing your stories here: https://muwado.com/create.
We have created a community group where we shall be discussing the lessons, posting assignments for feedback from our peers and working to ensure we are all learning together. When you are logged in, join the group here: https://muwado.com/groups/the-muwado-art-of-commercial-storytelling-webinars/
We have also recently created a Whatsapp Group due to popular demand, so send us an email at [email protected] with your contact, and we shall add you.
We’ll be sharing additional features of the platform that you can take advantage of over the course of the training. If you have any questions or challenges, you can reply to this email, and we will help you out.
