• Bamako hosted the first International Festival of African Documentary (FIDAB) from January 16 to 18, 2026, screening 12 African films.

• UNESCO estimates Africa’s film and audiovisual industry generates about $5 billion in value and 5 million jobs, with far higher potential if structured.

• The festival aligns with wider efforts to professionalize African documentary through training, festivals, and international co-productions.

From Friday, January 16, to Sunday, January 18, 2026, the Amadou Hampâté Bâ Palace of Culture and Mali’s National Center of Cinematography hosted the first edition of the International Festival of African Documentary of Bamako (FIDAB). According to official information, the festival screened twelve African documentary films, including feature-length and short formats, for industry professionals and the Bamako public.

FIDAB organized film screenings, debates, workshops, professional meetings, and a writing residency to foster exchanges between directors, producers, and broadcasters. In the feature documentary competition, the program included “I Boyoro” by Abraham Kamara (Mali), “Loin de moi la colère” by Joël Akafou (Côte d’Ivoire), and “IN Transit” by Tomisin Samuel (Burkina Faso). In the short documentary category, selections included “Foura ou le mariage” (Togo), “TakalaKoyos, les Gardiennes du fleuve” (Niger), and “Izuran” (Algeria).

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Africa’s film and audiovisual industry currently generates nearly $5 billion in value added and about 5 million jobs. UNESCO estimates the sector could reach $20 billion in value and more than 20 million jobs if stakeholders improved structuring. In this context, FIDAB aligns with a broader strategy to promote African know-how in a sector that remains largely informal and underfunded, yet rich in creativity, employment, and cultural identity.

This edition took place as African documentary filmmaking gains momentum in structuring and visibility. The IMPALA project, supported by the French Development Agency (AFD) and African partners, trains young directors, editors, and producers,50% of them womenn across the entire creative chain, from writing to international co-production. The initiative directly reaches nearly 100,000 viewers in ten French-speaking countries.

Festivals also play a key role in promoting documentary works. In April 2025, the 16th edition of Saint-Louis’Docs in Senegal presented 55 documentary films from 24 countries and combined screenings with debates and professional meetings. These initiatives show how African documentary now fits into a continuum of professionalization, distribution, and cultural valuation, reinforcing its strategic role within the continent’s film industry.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum