Creative writers and storytellers for African inspired storytelling content have been provided an opportunity for actualization through a platform aimed at empowering creatives and social entrepreneurs for social impact.
The visionary initiative, MANASTORY, a media house focused on analysing, teaching, consulting, networking, and investing in creatives and their vision is also aimed at promoting young talented, under-represented storytellers and documentary producers to global prominence, while showcasing the Continent’s rich cultural heritage and history.
Founded by Tony Chuka, an African American of Nigerian descent,Tony is an experienced writer, director, and producer who’s been in media for over 15 years.
Tony, who was recently appointed on the Board of the African International Documentary Festival Foundation (AFIDFF), has experience with The Library Of Congress, development at Miramax, production work at USC, and private consulting for clients in the media and Tech societies.
He is currently attached as head writer, along with frequent collaborator Freddie O. Anyaegbunam Jr., for Ini Dima-Okojie’s latest project, along with in-progress works with Ramsey Nouah and Mildred Okwo.
Although Tony always wanted to keep a low profile so as to focus exclusively on supporting individuals behind-the-scenes, Tony felt compelled to start Manastory for a simple Vision: to maintain the human spirit of art within the face of ever-evolving technology by both embracing and challenging it to empower African StoryTellers as social entrepreneurs for social Impact.
MANASTORY will explore how communication techniques influences how stories are told.
According to Tony, “we seek to research both culturally specific motifs as well as human universals, and from raw analysis, offer creators a unique perspective to enhance their vision.
We thrive on collaboration with them and other like-minded individuals brought together by the brand”.
Beginning with weekly digests that highlight creative news and theory, the brand aims to further expand into consultancy & capital raise to support aspiring storytellers.
The end goal is an online hub that serves as an online academy for story telling.
Manastory will begin with Africa and African diaspora, in part because of the untapped potential of some of the most talented artists in the world.