Discover Ahoé: A Show Built on Passion and Crowdfunding
Notice: This blog article has been translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). While every effort has been made to maintain accuracy, please be aware that nuances and the original essence of the writing may vary in translation. Thank you for your understanding and continued support!
A few weeks ago, during one of my perpetual searches for a new series to watch, I stumbled upon Ahoé, a Togolese web series. Curious to explore the world of Togolese audiovisuals, I dove right in!
Within the first few minutes, I realized that the series would mostly be in Mina - one of Togo's main languages - with subtitles available in French and English. In a moment of laziness, I briefly considered putting off watching this series. Yet, I quickly reminded myself that I had just finished a whole season of Love Is Blind in Swedish, and I had picked up some basics of Wolof from Maîtresse d'un homme marié... so I had no excuse.
Ten episodes later, I had no regrets. Ahoé tells the story of Eli Doussi, a young Togolese man living in France for about ten years, who returns to his home country under unfortunate circumstances: the death of his mother. If you've ever attended a funeral in Africa, you already know that his stay could only be eventful! This first season explores the complexity of family dynamics, the cultural shock experienced by diasporas returning home, love, betrayal, and the relationship with money.
All these themes are addressed with impeccable image quality, a solid storyline, and convincing acting. This first season was also a beautiful immersion into Togolese culture. I discovered new Togolese artists beyond the unavoidable Toofan, I salivated over ayimolou dishes, and I dreamed of being able to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Blue Turtle. At the same time, through the hilarious gossip of the Doussi household staff and the challenges faced by the couples in the series, I remembered that certain socio-cultural realities transcend borders.
All this to say that I had a real crush on this series. So imagine my surprise when I learned that no actor or member of the Ahoé production team had been paid! Yes, this series came to life thanks to an online crowdfunding campaign, but above all thanks to the hard work and dedication of Togolese creatives who felt an urgent need to tell their stories, in their own way, and especially without constraints.
Indeed, it would have taken at least 150 million FCFA ($250,000 USD) to finance this first season. However, when it comes to audiovisual production in several African countries, access to financing remains a battle. Many series have never seen the light of day, or have had to stop halfway due to lack of funds. Most of the time, series creators collaborate with large media groups with a pan-African presence. These groups agree to finance and co-produce their projects in exchange for broadcast rights. This agreement comes with a set of conditions aimed at having content capable of reaching as many people in as many countries as possible. Creators must therefore be careful about the topics addressed, the language of the content, the artistic direction, etc... This model has created several successful series, but it has also contributed to a sadly limited and sanitized media landscape.
Angela Aquereburu and Madie Foltek, the creators of Ahoé, have long been immersed in this world. Indeed, they together created successful series like Oasis on Canal+ and Hospital IT on TV5 Monde. But this time, they decided to defy the codes of their industry and tell a story that would be for Togolese people, by Togolese people, without constraints, and accessible to all. The financial sacrifice necessary to materialize this ambition was not insignificant, but the enthusiasm with which this first season was received is more than encouraging. Ahoé set the Togolese internet ablaze with over 600,000 views in 3 months on their first episode, sparking the interest of local broadcasters, and earning congratulations from the Togolese Prime Minister for the quality of the project.
The sad reality is that Ahoé probably wouldn't have received funding from major media groups. The simple fact that the series is in Mina, a language spoken by very few people in Africa, would have been a major point of contention. However, its success is a reminder that many communities are thirsty for stories that authentically relate their experiences. In the absence of this, they settle for approximate stories from elsewhere. However, when authentic content is offered to them, it is consumed without moderation and eventually exported, against all odds. The boom of Senegalese series has shown us this, and Ahoé is bound to follow this trajectory soon.
It's time for the industry to adapt to this trend and normalize editorial risk-taking. There are so many stories to tell, but above all, there is money to be made from these stories! But since things won't change overnight, Ahoé offers us the opportunity to concretely participate in the continent's creative revolution. The number of views is an important indicator for content creators, so I strongly encourage you to indulge in this first season full of twists and turns. And if you like what you've seen, you can also help the production raise the 200 million FCFA ($330K USD) they need for a second season by making a donation here.
