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MWC 25: We’re Creating a Media Hub to Amplify Africa’s Voice— Canal+ Rwanda MD Sophie Tchatchoua
Sophie Tchatchoua, Managing Director of Canal+ Rwanda and President of the French Business Club, delivered a stirring call for Africa to take charge of its narrative by building a continental media hub capable of amplifying authentic African voices.
In her presentation titled “Creating a Media Hub and Enhancing the African Voice”, Madam Tchatchoua unveiled Canal+’s bold vision to empower African storytellers, expand the continent’s creative economy, and project Africa’s cultural wealth to the global stage.
“We are present in more than fifty countries with more than twenty million subscribers and fifty thousand employees across the continent,” she said. “Our ambition is simple yet powerful — to elevate African stories to the world stage, to amplify their reach beyond the continent, and to reshape how Africa is perceived both at home and abroad.”
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According to her, Africa must own its stories — written, produced, and shared through African creativity rather than borrowed global lenses.
“When we tell the story of the Zulu king, Shakaylande, we are not recreating Black Panther. Both are great stories, but we are writing for Africa — from Africa,” she explained to applause from participants.
Tchatchoua outlined how Canal+ is driving this vision through training, co-production, and investment in local studios. The company, she noted, is focused on transferring technical expertise — from storytelling to special effects — to strengthen Africa’s creative backbone.
“We are transferring our production know-how—how to tell a better story, how to rework a screenplay to make it more captivating, which special effects to use and when. These are tangible skills that enable African creators to compete globally,” she said.
The Canal+ executive cited the company’s Kenyan partnership with Maisha Magic as a model of success, noting that a local acquisition five years ago has since produced over 450 hours of original content in Kenya, entirely created and managed by local filmmakers.
“That is what we mean by investing in Africa — building capacity and showcasing what Africans can do when given the tools and the platform,” she emphasised.
Tchatchoua highlighted that Canal+ now broadcasts over 10,000 hours of African content every year across 72 dedicated entertainment channels, describing it as one of the largest showcases of African creativity on any platform.
“We are not just distributors; we are collaborators and promoters of African art,” she said. “Every movie, every documentary, every series tells a story that matters — to Africans and to the world.”
Beyond production, Tchatchoua turned her attention to the role of technology in transforming Africa’s media ecosystem. Canal+ is expanding its reach through two streaming applications — a replay and on-demand app with over 50,000 pieces of content and integration with the Showmax platform.
“Technology is an incredible opportunity for growth and accessibility,” she observed. “But it also presents a major challenge — piracy. If we don’t protect our content, the industry risks collapse.”
She revealed that Canal+ is working with Rwanda’s ICT Ministry and regulators to establish strong anti-piracy frameworks, describing the fight as “a daily and necessary battle” to safeguard intellectual property across the continent.
Concluding her remarks, Madam Tchatchoua described herself as an “Afro-optimist”, confident that Africa’s media revolution is underway. She pointed to Canal+’s acquisition of MultiChoice as a landmark step in creating a unified African entertainment powerhouse that will boost digital distribution, content diversity, and global recognition for African talent.
“We are creating a true media hub for Africa—a space where stories are crafted by Africans, for Africans, and shared with the world. Through technology, partnerships, and creativity, we are giving Africa a stronger voice on the global map,” she declared.
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