DGN Confab Urges Responsible AI Use To Protect African Storytelling Traditions

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s creative industry have called for the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), warning that the technology must complement—not replace—human creativity if Africa’s rich storytelling heritage is to be preserved.

The call was made at the end of a three-day International Conference organised by the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN) in Enugu.

The conference, themed: “Artificial Intelligence, Technology and the Future of Storytelling in Africa,” brought together scholars, filmmakers, media practitioners, technology experts, students and other stakeholders from Nigeria and abroad to examine the opportunities and challenges AI presents for African narratives and the continent’s creative economy.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the conference, participants agreed that the future of African storytelling depends on a productive partnership between human creativity and emerging technologies.

They stressed that AI should be embraced as a complementary tool to enhance creativity rather than replace human imagination, cultural experience and artistic judgment, which they described as the foundation of authentic African storytelling.

“AI should not be demonized. It is a technological advancement that can enhance creativity, boost productivity, expand access to knowledge, and create new opportunities for African filmmakers, scholars, artists and media professionals,” the communiqué stated.

The stakeholders urged Nigeria and other African countries to leverage AI as a catalyst for innovation and global competitiveness instead of viewing it as a threat to jobs, emphasizing the need for continuous reskilling, professional development and the emergence of new roles enabled by the technology.

They also stressed that the deployment of AI in the creative sector must be guided by clear ethical principles, calling on governments, educational institutions and professional bodies to invest in digital infrastructure, AI literacy and technological capacity building.

The communiqué further urged researchers and practitioners to deepen studies on the social, ethical, legal, cultural and economic implications of AI, particularly as they relate to African narratives, heritage preservation, documentary practice and digital content creation.

Participants reaffirmed the need to preserve Africa’s storytelling traditions while embracing responsible innovation to ensure the continent’s creatives remain competitive in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Hyginus Ekwuazi of Pan-Atlantic University traced the evolution of storytelling technologies and urged African creatives to embrace innovation without compromising the authenticity and originality of the continent’s narratives.

In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Coal City University, Prof. Afam Icha Ituma, reiterated the university’s commitment to research and industry collaboration, saying higher institutions must provide intellectual leadership in addressing emerging technologies such as AI and their implications for Africa’s creative economy.

President of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria, Mr. Uche Agbo, thanked participants for their robust contributions and commended Prof. Ituma for providing an enabling environment for intellectual engagement. He also appreciated Prof. Effiong Johnson and his delegation from the University of Uyo for their support.

The conference featured paper presentations and panel discussions on AI in filmmaking, digital media, documentary production, photography, creative education, virtual production, ethics, cultural identity and the future of creative labour in Africa.