Ebele Okoye also known as "Omenka Ulonka" is a Berlin-based Nigerian/German independent Animation producer/director, designer, and multi-media artist. She was born on October 6, 1969, in
Onitsha
Onitsha ( or simply ''Ọ̀nị̀chà'') is a city on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Anambra State, Nigeria. Onitsha along with various cities and towns in southern Anambra State, northern Imo State and neighboring Delta State on the we ...
,
Anambra State
Anambra () is a States of Nigeria, state in Nigeria. It is located in the South East (Nigeria), South-eastern region of the country. The state was created on 27 August 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State and Ri ...
, Nigeria. Being Nigeria's first female animator, she is recognized as one of the pioneers of African animation and is often referred to as the "mother of African Animation." With over 16 years of experience in the animation industry, Ebele has made significant contributions to the field and is an influential figure in both the animation and poetry film communities. She has lived in Germany since the year 2000.
Early life and education
Okoye studied Fine and Applied Arts (Graphic Design/Illustration) with a Higher National Diploma from the
Institute of Management and Technology in
Enugu
Enugu () verbally pronounced as "Enụgwụ" by the Igbo indigenes is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the so ...
from 1985 to 1989. Between 1990 and 1995, she worked as a Graphic designer, Copywriter, and Branding specialist as well as a cartoonist for several Agencies, Tabloids, and newspapers in Nigeria, including the defunct posh "Classique magazine" run by
May Ellen Mofe-Damijo and
Richard Mofe-Damijo
Richard Evans Mofe-Damijo (born 6 July 1961), popularly known as RMD, is a foremost Nigerian actor, writer, producer, lawyer, and former journalist. He was also a Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State in 2009. In 2005, he won the ...
.
On arriving in
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
in 2000, she did a guest program in African Studies at the
University of Cologne
The University of Cologne () is a university in Cologne, Germany. It was established in 1388. It closed in 1798 before being re-established in 1919. It is now one of the largest universities in Germany with around 45,187 students. The Universit ...
, She continued with a study-stint in
Communication Design
Communication design is a mixed discipline between design and information-development concerned with how media communicate with people. A communication design approach is concerned with developing the message and aesthetics in media. It also crea ...
at the
University of Applied Sciences
A vocational university or university of applied sciences (UAS), less commonly called a polytechnic university is an institution of higher education and increasingly research that provides applied professional education and grants academic de ...
in
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in the state after Cologne and the List of cities in Germany with more than 100,000 inhabitants, seventh-largest city ...
with a traineeship at the
West German Broadcasting Corporation (WDR) From 2003 to 2004, she trained in traditional 2D cartoon animation at the
Internationale Filmschule Köln
The ifs internationale filmschule köln gmbh (''international film school cologne'') is a privately funded film school in Cologne, Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany. The film school was founded by Filmstiftung NRW.
In the German film school ranki ...
. She is a fluent speaker of
Igbo
Igbo may refer to:
* Igbo people, an ethnic group of Nigeria
* Igbo language, their language
* anything related to Igboland, a cultural region in Nigeria
See also
* Ibo (disambiguation)
* Igbo mythology
* Igbo music
* Igbo art
*
* Igbo-Ukwu, a t ...
,
English, and
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany, the country of the Germans and German things
**Germania (Roman era)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
.
Career
Before migrating to Germany in 200, Ebele Okoye was active in fine and media arts and constantly showed her works in both one-man and group exhibitions (see section). Upon graduation from the Animation school in 2004, Ebele briefly worked as a key animator in animation studios before venturing into independent animation production in 2006.
Earlier in 2009, she founded Shrinkfish Animation Studios in Abuja, Nigeria, which aimed to operate with a remote working model. Though this model was ahead of its time, it inspired the development of her subsequent successful studio, Jolly Squid Ltd (Jolly Squid Media). This studio has thrived, particularly after the adoption of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Between 2007 and 2013, Ebele contributed as a writer in some relevant publications and journals including (compiling the Nigerian Chapter for ) the book in the book “Animation: A World History”, by the Italian historian
Giannalberto Bendazzi
Giannalberto Bendazzi (17 July 1946 – 13 December 2021) was an Italian animation historian, author, and professor.
Life and career
Born in Ravenna, Italy, and raised in Milan, Bendazzi started his career as a journalist and at the same time a ...
. In addition, Ebele contributed to the early editions of the (now defunct) Journal "Nigerian Brands", where she wrote animation-relevant articles. She also founde
"The Animation Club Africa" a networking platform on Facebook in 2010.
In 2013, she founded th
Shrinkfish Media Lab (smedLAB)which was Nigeria's pioneer animation course. After that, she went on to modify the course for further editions but the
Ebola Epidemic
Ebola, also known as Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF), is a viral hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates, caused by ebolaviruses. Symptoms typically start anywhere between two days and three weeks after infe ...
that lasted till 2016 disrupted these plans.
In 2015, ''The Legacy of Rubies'' won the
Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Animation
The Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Animation is an annual merit by the Africa Film Academy to reward the best animated films for the year.
See also
* List of animation awards
References
{{Africa Movie Academy Awards
Lists of award ...
. In her acceptance speech for the award in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Okoye stated, "I did not make this film to chase awards," "I made this film to inspire every African animator who wants to make animation films." ''The Legacy of Rubies'' had its Canadian premiere at the
Toronto Black Film Festival The Toronto Black Film Festival is an annual film festival in Toronto, Ontario.Geoff Pevere, "Toronto Black Film Festival". ''The Globe and Mail'', February 14, 2014. Held in February each year as part of Black History Month, the festival programs a ...
in 2016. In the same year, she announced plans for a feature-length film, hinting that it might be "like ''
Chronicles of Narnia
''The Chronicles of Narnia'' is a series of seven portal fantasy novels by British author C. S. Lewis. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes and originally published between 1950 and 1956, the series is set in the fictional realm of Narnia, ...
'' and ''
Pocahontas
Pocahontas (, ; born Amonute, also known as Matoaka and Rebecca Rolfe; 1596 – March 1617) was a Native American woman belonging to the Powhatan people, notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. S ...
'' put together." Later in 2023, Okoye published a social media article explaining why this film never came to fruition as it was marred by several life occurrences and announced that it is back to the slate for development
In 2019, Okoye began creating virtual reality (VR) art and animation in
Oculus Quill; many of these pieces can be viewed on her website.
In 2021, Ebele introduced
Motion to the SoundMTTS)", a "sustainable" version of smedLAB, with special subprograms
AniJolly Girls (targeting only women) and MTTS Quick Slice (targeting young people). A year later, in 2022, Ebele founded Spunky Toonz, a branded animation and EdTech startup that creates audio-visual materials aimed at shaping healthy, communal, and ecology-friendly mindsets in preschoolers and young children.
Throughout her career so far, Ebele has produced animation films and led international co-productions, collaborating with diverse clients and partners, including
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...
for whom she animated the Motown Hit "
Dancing in the Street
"Dancing in the Street" is a song written by Marvin Gaye, William Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter. It first became popular in 1964 when recorded by Martha and the Vandellas whose version reached No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart for two ...
" by
Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1973 as Martha Reeves & the Vandellas) were an American girl group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1957. The group achieved fame in the 1960s as a major act for Motown Records. Formed by friends Annett ...
, Universal Pictures, Nickelodeon, Deutsche Welle Documentary, ZDF/ARTE, Robert Bosch Foundation, BMZ/GIZ, Focus Features, Deutsche Aidshilfe, and more.
Ebele's work has earned her numerous awards and recognitions, including the Robert Bosch Foundation Promotional Prize for Animation (for ''Anna Blume'', based on a 1919 poem by
Kurt Schwitters
Kurt Hermann Eduard Karl Julius Schwitters (20 June 1887 – 8 January 1948) was a German artist. He was born in Hanover, Germany, but lived in exile from 1937.
Schwitters worked in several genres and media, including Dadaism, Constructivism (a ...
,
"Animated Film: Anna Blume"
Robert Bosch Stiftung, 2007 Winners.), DEFA Foundation Research Prize, Africa Movie Academy Awards (2x), the Redefreiheit of Amnesty International for "Outstanding media work in human rights issues," and the Focus Features Africa First Short Film Programme, (for ''The Legacy of Rubies'') among many others.
Awards
Initiatives
Motion to the Sound - 2021
a site where freelance minority animators can network with other creators, improve their work with challenges, and expose their animations to a larger audience.
Open Toonz Animation Lab - 2015
a project based around the Open Toonz application, where users can connect with each other, share feedback, learn, and even contribute to the development of the software.
Shrinkfish Media Lab (smedLAB) - 2013
Nigeria's pioneer animation course, which aspires to uplift minority voices in animation.
Animation Club Africa - 2010
A community hub on Facebook aimed at networking animators and building a supportive community.
Teaching, speaking, jury, curation and industry writing
Ebele has taught animation at the Bauhaus University Weimar and collaborated as an animation and design instructor with various organizations, including the city of Hamburg, Nollywood Germany, Zanzibar International Film Festival, Goethe Institut
The Goethe-Institut (; GI, ''Goethe Institute'') is a nonprofit German cultural organization operational worldwide with more than 150 cultural centres, promoting the study of the German language abroad and encouraging international cultural ...
Nigeria and Tanzania, Afrika Festival Warsaw, Prirodoslovno grafička škola Zadar
Zadar ( , ), historically known as Zara (from Venetian and Italian, ; see also other names), is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea, at the northwestern part of Ravni Kotari region. Zadar ...
and more.
Ebele is a sought-after voice in film curation, selection committees and juries as well as speakers for animation and film industry-related events, markets and festivals. These include Africa International Film Festival
The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is an annual film festival that takes place in Nigeria. It was founded in 2010 with its Inaugural edition in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. AFRIFF was founded by Chioma Ude a passionate film ...
, the Oscar Qualifying Festival Interfilm Berlin, Durban International Film Festival
The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is an annual film festival that takes place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. It was founded in 1979 by Teddy Sarkin and Ros Sarkin. Presented by Centre for Creative Arts at the Univ ...
, Zebra Poetry Film Festival, "SCHLiNGEL" Children's and Youth Festival, Festival of Animation Berlin, Poetry Film Prize Weimar, Chitrakartha17’ Students‘ Animation festival, Ahmedabad, Madagassy Talent Film Residence, Interfilm Berlin and many others.
Okoye also curates African animation screenings around spaces in Germany.
Brands
Ebele is also involved in branding, design, and art. She founded the art and ethnic fusion label
"Kalodei Berlin ®" and "Olomenka ®.
A self proclaimed eccentric brand with handmade products based in Berlin.
Filmography
* 2023 Spunky TALES , The Lion, the elephant and the Giraffe Director, Voice over* 2022 Jurassic World Dinos De Facto _ Trainhopper promo animation commissioned by Universal Pictures* 2021 The world in my head compilation of several VR animation projects* 2020 Martha and the Vandellas, Dancing in the Street Commissioned by Universal Music , Scriptwriter, Director , Animator* 2020 Oil Promises Co-director, Animator, Voice over* 2019 Summer trance mmersive VR Animation* 2017 Marcas de amor Writer, Animator, Director, Producer* 2016 The Man who fell up Writer, Animator, Director, Producer* 2016 Three Wise Women Writer, Animator, Director, Producer* 2015 Red Fruits Germany, Austria , Scriptwriter, Animator, Director, Producer* 2015 The Legacy of Rubies Writer, Animator, Director, Producer* 2014 Die Liebe in den Zeiten der EU Writer, Animator, Director, Co-Producer* 2013 Closer N' Closer Scriptwriter, Director, Animator, Co-producer* 2012 Meine Heimat Writer, Animator, Director, Co-Producer* 2011 Footy My Love n abstract on Chi-Chi Igbo, the Nigerian female football player* 2010 The Essence Animator, Director, Co-Producer* 2009 Anna Blume Co-Writer, Animator, Co-Director, Producer* 2009 Patterns Writer, Animator, Director, Producer* 2008 Papermouse Writer, Animator, Director, Producer* 2007 The Lunatic Writer, Animator, Director, Co-Producer* 2004 Tag Attack - 05.00 mins. 2D animation. Ifs Cologne (co-director/animator)
* 2002 Once upon a dance - 04.00 mins. digital collage (director/animator)
Selected solo exhibitions
* 2012 Tears of the Invisible - Organ kritischer Kunst, Berlin, Germany
* 2008 Nomadic Diaries - Zimt & Koriander Frankfurt am Main, Germany
* 2003 Between Territories - Galerie Haus 23 Cottbus, Germany
* 2002 Nomadic Diaries (A travelling pictorial storytelling) - Munich, Cologne, Halle; Germany & Neulengbach, Austria
* 2001 Woman about Women - Cologne Germany
* 1999 New Culture - Didi Museum
Didi Museum is a Nigerian private museum established in 1983. It is recognized as the first privately owned museum in Nigeria.
History
Didi Museum was founded by Dr. Newton Jibunoh in memory of his younger sister, Edith Jibunoh, who died at the ...
, Lagos Nigeria
* 1998 Selected Paintings and Portraits in Oil - Lagos. Nigeria
* 1996 Realities - Didi Museum Lagos. Nigeria
* 1995 Storms of the Heart - National Museum, Lagos Nigeria
Selected group exhibitions
* 1995 Mirrors of Society - National Museum, Lagos (Nigeria)
* 1996 Nigeria/China Co-operative exhibition, Lagos (Nigeria)
* 1996 Selected Nigerian artists as chosen by the National Gallery of Modern Art, Nigeria (South Korea)
* 1997 Small-Small Things - National Museum, Lagos (Nigeria)
* 1998 The Rape of Nature - Brazilian Embassy, Lagos (Nigeria)
* 2000 Threshold of Peace - African First-ladies' Peace-Summit exhibition, Abuja (Nigeria)
* 2001 Women about Women - Goethe Institut, Lagos (Nigeria)
* 2003 Ipade Begegnung - Afroasian Institute Gallery Vienna (Austria)
* 2004 Globalia - Frauenmuseum (Women's Museum), Bonn (Germany)
References
External links
The Animation Club Africa
Open Toonz Lab
Ebele Okoye's website
Jolly Squid Media
(Ebele Okoye's remote work-based Studio)
Spunky Toonz
(Ebele Okoye's EdTech for preschoolers and young children)
Motion to the Sound
(Ebele's training Initiative for freelance animators)
AniJolly Girls
(Ebele's Special Animation training for women and girls aged 18 – 25)
smedLAB2013 (Nigeria's pioneer Animation Course)
Ebele on LinkedIn
Ebele on Instagram
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Okoye, Ebele
1969 births
Living people
Artists from Onitsha
21st-century Nigerian painters
Women animators
21st-century Nigerian women painters
Nigerian animators
Nigerian women film directors
Nigerian women film producers
Nigerian film producers
Nigerian animated film directors
Nigerian animated film producers
Women animated film directors
Nigerian film directors