About The Organization

 
A pair of brown hands holding up a yellow film camera with the words KOSINIMA in a green circle, beneath it
 

KOSINIMA, Inc. (pronounced “co-cinema”) is a leading force in connecting Black filmmakers across Africa and the African diaspora through film production, grants, screenings, networking, and mentorship. A sanctuary for creative voices, KOSINIMA, Inc. is well-positioned to lead in an industry that is rejecting traditional structures, supporting Black filmmakers to define their paths and share their stories with the world.

The future of KOSINIMA, Inc. is one of freedom: for the filmmakers we serve and for the organization itself. As film industries around the world continue to evolve, we are increasingly aligned with the movement toward independent, unfiltered storytelling.

About The Founder

 
 
Oluwaseun Babalola, a young dark skinned Black woman wearling glasses and a white tank top with the kosinima inc logo, holding a microphone in front of a red and oranhe background.
 

Proud to be a Sierra Leonean-Nigerian creative, Executive Director and Founder, Oluwaseun Babalola, is also a Fulbright Specialist, Emmy-nominated producer, director, and DOC NYC 40 Under 40 honoree, bringing a global perspective to African storytelling.

With over a decade of experience in documentary and unscripted content, she has created for CNN, HBO, Netflix, AMC, Starz, and more. Her work encompasses travel, identity, politics, and global Black experiences, most notably through the Emmy-nominated HBO film “Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches,” CNN’s “United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell,” and a three-season digital docuseries and media platform that she created, directed, and produced independently, titled “ṢOJU,” that highlights youth culture in Africa and its diaspora.

Oluwaseun is a community organizer, having hosted and executed panels, events, and conventions internationally, with over a decade of travel, film, and television expertise in 20+ countries. These experiences and passion for equity and creative autonomy for Black creators led to the founding of KOSINIMA, Inc.