By  Sydnee Walcott

In an industry where there are not too many people of colour, one empowered woman is taking the correct steps toward standing out. Chibie Louis-Okoye is a thought-provoking Nigerian Canadian film producer who has received many accolades throughout her career.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Louis-Okoye’s upbringing had its good and bad moments, but she was happy for the most part and provided with everything she needed. Her parents encouraged her and her siblings to go to school and take on a professional path that would lead to a career with a stable income and go on to have a family.

“My parents worked very hard to take us to the best schools they could take us to,” said Louis-Okoye, whose parents wanted both her and her siblings to become something great in the future. Louis-Okoye studied at the University of Windsor as an international student, where she received a Degree in Communication. Afterward, she went to Queen’s University, where she studied innovation and entrepreneurship.

Her inspiration to be a film producer came from wanting to take back the power to create worlds and stories that can influence pop culture and people’s perspectives on how they see things on subjects they don’t know. With a gap in the content of African stories, Louis-Okoye realized the industry needs producers and storytellers to help close the gap. “Producing is all about honing the business side of the creative,” said Louis-Okoye, whose goal is to centre the African diaspora on the world stage through her company COLO Studios.

What Louis-Okoye enjoys the most about producing is the transformation of raw ideas into materialized content.  Yes of course there are other elements of her work that she enjoys (hiring a team, and raising funds), but her heart remains with the creative process. She describes it as making a dream come true. “I believe a film is a tool for activism,” said Louis-Okoye. Activism, politics, spirituality, the monarchy, and the impact of colonialism are some of the thought-provoking content people can find in films and television series produced by Louis-Okoye.

Her latest film, KOFA, is inspired by how the world has moved on after kidnappings in Nigeria and surrounding areas. The film also focuses on how it remains precarious in Nigeria.  KOFA (Louis-Okoye’s favourite project to date) is a psychological thriller that deals with people being locked in a room and waking up nude with no memories.

From the beginning, the plot beckons the watcher to question every character, understand motive, and question what will happen next. With elements of betrayal and finger pointing the film keeps viewers intrigued as they watch the group try to figure out how they ended up where they were. Throughout their drama, a male character continuously enters the room and takes them out one by one. Scared for their lives, the group tries to piece together their memories.

Louis-Okoye loves those topics, because she feels the viewers can put themselves in the character’s shoes and feel their emotions and what’s at stake for them. She describes this as a human condition, because sometimes people may feel trapped. It may not feel like a physical trap in a room, but it can be a physical trap in a career they don’t love and are only doing for economic purposes. “People can feel trapped mentally as well.” Louis-Okoye shared.

KOFA won the Best Feature Film at the African International Film Festival, and received two African Magic Viewer Choice Awards nominations. The film’s trailer also received an award for the best trailer in the African region at the 2023 World Trailer Awards in Portugal.

Louis-Okoye’s current project is a television series called The Third Coming, and she’s having the time of her life on the project. The series centres around what can happen if colonialism and imperialism were to come back to Africa in the present and how that would look.

Louis-Okoye would like to see her career take her back to Africa, where she can continue to tell stories relatable to Africans and have the world look at things through that lens. She also wants to collaborate with others to help tell those stories and provide a technical process for creating a film and television series. She also wants to collaborate with the greats in Hollywood and take some of their lessons and experiences. Her dream is to have COLO Studios maintain its vision of centring the African experiences on the world stage.

As Africans living in the diaspora, we have a strong, and notable impact on this planet, and creatives like Louis-Okoye are the ones who will stamp our impact in the minds of people for generations to come.

Toronto’s Caribbean community is making significant strides in the realm of digital innovation, reflecting a vibrant and dynamic force within the city’s tech sector. This burgeoning influence spans across various sectors, including technology incubation, digital education, and entrepreneurship, underscoring a profound impact on Toronto’s digital economy.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation

The Caribbean community in Toronto is actively contributing to a culture of innovation that is pivotal for the city’s future advancements. Through collaboration with local and international businesses, startups, and academic institutions, this community is part of the driving force behind Toronto’s position as a hub for innovation. The city is home to over 70 incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces, offering programs that support startups in technology, manufacturing, food production, fashion, arts, and music.

Central to this ecosystem is the MaRS Centre, one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs, which houses entrepreneurs building Canada’s next generation of growth companies. Toronto’s impressive tech industry, supported by giants like Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Google, and Facebook, benefits from the diverse talents and innovative spirit of the Caribbean community​​.

Digital Education and Entrepreneurial Spirit

The Toronto Caribbean community’s commitment to digital education and entrepreneurship is evident through initiatives such as the Toronto Reference Library. This hub invites users of all ages and skill levels to explore digital creation, offering activities and workshops on topics like 3D printing, graphic novel book clubs, and crafting circles. Such programs are crucial for fostering a culture of lifelong learning and innovation, enabling community members to acquire and refine digital skills.

Contribution to the Digital Economy

In the rapidly evolving digital economy, Toronto’s Caribbean community is not just a participant but a trendsetter. This is evident in the diverse range of digital services thriving in the city, including sectors such as life sciences and healthcare. The community’s innovative spirit contributes significantly to the city’s standing as a leading North American tech hub, with a vibrant biotechnology cluster and a comprehensive network of hospitals, research institutes, business incubators, and venture capital organizations. Also, initiatives like the Caribbean Digital Summit and The LEGUP Wealth Symposium featuring leaders from Caribbean governments and the tech industry, exemplifies the community’s active engagement and leadership in digital transformation and governance on a broader scale​​.

The real-time table games in Canada exemplify the wide array of online services prospering under this innovative umbrella. This digital sector benefits from the technological advancements and entrepreneurial drive within the Caribbean community, illustrating the diverse impact on Toronto’s digital landscape.

Toronto’s Caribbean community is playing a pivotal role in shaping the city’s digital innovation landscape. Through a commitment to education, entrepreneurship, and collaboration, this vibrant community is contributing to Toronto’s reputation as a global hub for technology and innovation. The synergy between the Caribbean community and the broader tech ecosystem in Toronto is proof of the power of diversity in driving progress and creativity in the digital age.

Jamaica, a small island in the Caribbean, may not be one of the first countries that come to mind when you think of soccer. However, in recent years, the Reggae Boyz have been making waves. And following the underdog stories unfolding at the current African Cup of Nations, the Jamaicans may well feel that success is just around the corner.

2024 – A Big Year For International Football

In the Ivory Coast this winter, AFCON has been making waves following the stunning early exits of almost every heavy hitter. The likes of Algeria, Tunisia, and Ghana all bowed at the group stage, while Egypt and Morocco followed them in the round of 16.

But it isn’t just Africa that has a continental competition taking place this year. Both the 2024 European Championships and Copa America will take place, tournaments that online sports betting sites have made England and Argentina the favorites to win, respectively. Caribbean involvement will have to wait until next year when the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup gets underway, and Jamaica will be hoping to channel their success from years gone by into action.

2015

The 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup was held in Canada and the United States, with Jamaica competing against some of the best teams from North and Central America. Despite being underdogs in many matches, the Reggae Boyz managed to make it all the way to the final. Inspired by the performances of former Premier League wingers Jobi McAnuff and Gareth McCleary, the Caribbean outfit defeated the highly-rated Costa Rica to top Group B.

That set up a meeting with Haiti in the quarterfinals, and a goal from former Derby County man Giles Barnes was enough to secure a narrow 1-0 victory. In the semifinals, they met a much fancied United States in front of 70,000 raucous fans at the Georgia Dome. But they weren’t intimidated, racing into a two-goal lead before clinging on for dear life in the second half and eventually running out 2-1 victors. Unfortunately, they were ultimately downed 3-1 by Mexico in the final, but not before they had captured the hearts of North America.

2017

Two years later, in 2017, Jamaica once again found themselves in the final of the tournament. This time around they faced the reigning champion Mexicans in the group stage, holding them to a goalless draw. Victories against Curacao and a draw with El Salvador were enough to seal their spot in the knockout round however, they headed into the latter stages as an unfancied side once more.

In the quarterfinals, the Jamaicans duly brushed aside Canada thanks to goals from Shaun Francis and Romario Williams. That set up a meeting with Mexico once again, and this time around, they would have their redemption. Fullback Kemar Lawrence scored the only goal of the game in the 88th minute, leaving El Tri stunned and sealing the Reggae Boyz’ spot in the final.

There, they faced off against the hosting United States at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California – home of the San Francisco 49ers. The Jamaicans were hoping to repeat their heroics of two years prior and come out on top, however, this time around it was the Stars and Stripes that ran out victorious. With the contest level at one goal apiece, Seattle Sounders striker Jordan Morris popped up with an 88th-minute winner to secure the victory.