Rachel Athieno - a pan-African storytelling - EduCinema Initiative in Uganda

Africa's development depends on narrative and interpretive sovereignty, says one expert. Development fails when lived narratives are ignored. AfricanCurrents spoke with Rachel Athieno, a pan-African storytelling strategist and founder of the EduCinema Initiative in Uganda, about

the power of storytelling in development and why Africans should co-create their stories. The EduCinema Initiative is a Ugandan organization founded by Rachel Athieno that uses film education to promote pan-African narratives. The initiative aims to make African perspectives and traditional viewpoints visible through strategic storytelling and to effect real social change beyond metrics. It strengthens public affairs and intermedial practices at the intersection of film and oral storytelling traditions in East Africa. EduCinema is committed to promoting African stories that enrich global discourse and supports educational projects with film-based approaches. Storno positions herself as a pan-African storytelling strategist who promotes African narratives to effect real change beyond mere metrics. Rachel Athieno works as a public affairs enthusiast and CEO of the EduCinema Initiative in Uganda. The initiative uses film education to strengthen pan-African perspectives and bring traditional African viewpoints into global discourse. She emphasizes the need for genuine visibility for African issues and is committed to strategic narrative education. In February 2026, she spoke with Sputnik Africa about pan-African strategies. For decades, Africa's development was measured by Western indicators that drowned out the continent's own voice. Now, policymakers and strategists are reclaiming the power to tell its stories. But why is it so important who tells Africa's stories?