Apart from historical links, cultural similarities and products tie TT and the Caribbean to the African continent.
Nigerian-born talent agent and media, entertainment, sport and lifestyle entrepreneur Fela Oke hopes these cultural similarities and the development of cultural products can deepen the burgeoning relationship between TT, the region and countries on the African continent.
That is why he has been coming back and forth to TT since May 2023.
He hopes to accomplish this through his agency Hyphen8 Media Partners, working alongside organisations, groups and individuals in TT.
Oke has 20 years' experience in the entertainment industry and has been a consultant for MTV Africa; VP of media, events, and content at SPINLET (a digital music-streaming company); director at Trace TV Africa; managing director at Brights Africa which is the premier rights management agency for Warner Bros that enforces their use of content and products; and head of commercial at Temple Management, a bio at Imdb said.
[caption id="attachment_1066108" align="alignnone" width="825"] Nigerian-born talent agent and media, entertainment, sport and lifestyle entrepreneur Fela Oke wants to deepen the relationship between TT, the region and countries on the African continent. -[/caption]
He was responsible for the recent visit of Yellowstone actor Denim Richards to TT.
Not only is it important to deepen ties between the spaces but to assist in growing "soft power," he explained.
Soft power is defined as the ability to influence others without resorting to coercive power, and usually originates outside government. It can also be exerted through music, sports, the media and industries like technology and film.
Oke discovered he and FilmTT’s general manager Leslie Ann Wills-Caton had similar ideas about bridging the cultural gap between Africa and the Caribbean at a chance meeting.
He has sponsored events such as Music TT’s RVRB X conference, which ran from July 5-7 last year, and recently held a two-week workshop for in-front-of-camera talent (actors). He hopes to host another in April, as well as a technical-skills workshop.
[caption id="attachment_1066109" align="alignnone" width="1024"] FilmTT's film finance masterclass being conducted by Fela Oke at The UWI, St Augustine, in July 2023. - courtesy FilmTT[/caption]
All of this is being done to develop the film, sports, media and music industries in this country.
Oke said there was huge talent here, but it was not going to be an overnight thing to develop – hence his many visits to TT.
“It was important to understand the landscape, so that is what I have kind of been doing, and that is where the interest lies.
“I know my culture. I am extremely proud of where I come from and I wanted to tap into that in the Caribbean. TT was the first place that embraced us and what we are trying to do.”
To many on the continent, the Caribbean is the sixth African region.
For Oke, bridging the gap between the two spaces must start with cultural diplomacy.
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