Nigeria’s Comic Republic Signs Production Deal “To Bring African Superheroes to the World” (Exclusive)

By Scott Roxborough

NIGERIA’S COMIC REPUBLIC, Africa’s largest publisher of independent comic books, has signed a production deal with Emagine Content and JackieBoy Entertainment to adapt its catalog of

The Vanguard

African superheroes for film and TV.

Comic Republic publishes such African-based titles as Ireti, the story of a university student in Ibadan, Nigeria blessed with superpowers, Aje, a fantasy title inspired by Yoruba spirituality and mysticism, and The Vanguards, which focuses on an Avengers-style team of superheroes. Most of the publisher’s titles are rooted in traditional African mythology, folktales, and culture.

The companies said the goal of the new venture will be to “portray a positive global influence of Africa and negate previous misconceptions.”

“It’s a great time to be alive. We are in a world where diversity has taken center stage,” says Jide Martin, CEO of Comic Republic. “We are thrilled to be working with Emagine Content and Jackie Boy to bring our heroes and stories to the big screen but mostly because we get the chance to be a part of black history.”

The first project planned under the partnership is a feature film adaptation of

Ireti, which the companies bill as the first “African female superhero.”

“This deal is a major push towards diversity on the silver screen for black superheroes,” says Emagine CEO Ben Phelps, who runs the L.A.-based group together with head of originals Kimberly Boyd, a producer on such series as Into the Badlands and The Shannara Chronicles. “The time is now to showcase heroes of all different backgrounds…The ability to create role models for future generations to come is a unique opportunity that comes with an important responsibility to make sure the storytelling is authentic. For us, finding a partnership that is looking to be a disruptive force with good morals is everything.”

The new agreement with Emagine builds on the cooperation between Comic Republic and JackieBoy, a Marylandbased entertainment group set up by music executive John Tillery, announced earlier this year. “JackieBoy Entertainment is excited to bring the three companies together and embark on this watershed moment in comic book culture, connecting the voices of African stories to universal themes for all to enjoy,” said Tillery, together with JackieBoy EVP EA Brown. “We look forward to working with the stellar teams of Emagine Content and Comic Republic to strengthen the alliance between African-based creatives and comic enthusiasts with genuine characters and storylines.” www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/nigeria-s-comicrepublic-signs-production-deal-to-bringafrican-superheroes-to-the-world-exclusive/arAALg7u1?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=W069 Image credit: grandmotherafrica.com, thecomicrepublic.com, demandafrica.com

CHOCOLATE MAKING WAS NOT originally part of the Addison sisters’ plan. Kimberly studied French and international relations at Boston College with a focus on social justice. Priscilla double majored in international development and French at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania with a concentration in food security. Both were working in Geneva, Switzerland in 2014 but contemplating a change.

“I was working in a nonprofi t that dealt with women in education. I just began to get quite restless, being at a nine to fi ve at a desk,” Kimberly shared with Travel Noire. “I remember speaking to my dad and telling him I feel like I want to create something. And he was like, ‘Well, why don’t you guys consider moving back to Ghana when I retire,’ because he had been planning on retiring soon. It sounded like a great idea. He spoke to us about entrepreneurship. I remember telling him, ‘okay, when you offi cially retire, then I will also resign, and we’ll plan to move back to Ghana.'”

Within three to fi ve months, their father called their bluff and made good on his promise to retire. The sisters prepared to return to Ghana with plans to start a still unknown business venture. The answer would come unexpectedly two weeks before their departure, during a tour with some friends to Maison Cailler, a chocolate factory just outside of Geneva.

In a display showcasing the cocoa beans used and where they were sourced, the most prominent countries were Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. The Addisons were stunned.

“We had become very familiar with Swiss chocolate and just the chocolate culture in Switzerland, and it was quite shocking to realize that most of their beans were coming from West Africa,” recalled Kimberly. “Then the parallel side of that is, we would often go back to Ghana. And though it’s the second-largest producer of cocoa, there wasn’t a chocolate culture here. There wasn’t really chocolate production here, let alone quality chocolate. So together Priscilla and I decided that we wanted to change that and use