5 African Movies For Entrepreneurs

Here, we present five African movies for entrepreneurs with lessons to help them in their daily lives as entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial learning occurs through a variety of channels. Film, as an educational medium, makes a significant contribution to economic and social growth.

Many amazing African films may inspire and inform businesses. Here are some of the best African movies for entrepreneurs.

The Last Fishing Boat (2012)

A Kenyan movie that explores the impact of globalization on small-scale fishing communities. The movie shows how businesses can both help and harm local communities, and the importance of sustainable development. It is one of the best African movies for entrepreneurs.

The Last Fishing Boat tells the story of a small fishing community facing the threat of a large foreign fishing company that is depleting the fish population. Here are some entrepreneurship lessons that can be learned from the movie:

Sustainable practices: The movie emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices in entrepreneurship, specifically in the fishing industry. Entrepreneurs should prioritize sustainability and think about the long-term impact of their businesses on the environment and local communities.

Collaboration and networking: The fishing community in the movie comes together to form a cooperative to compete with the large foreign fishing company. Entrepreneurs can also collaborate with others and build networks to achieve their goals.

Innovation and adaptation: The community in the movie must adapt to changing circumstances to survive, such as using new fishing techniques or finding new sources of income. Entrepreneurs should also be adaptable and willing to innovate to stay competitive and meet changing market demands.

Community impact: The movie shows the impact that businesses can have on local communities. Entrepreneurs should be mindful of the impact their businesses have on the communities they operate in and strive to create positive social and economic outcomes for those communities.

Persistence and resilience: The fishing community in the movie faces many challenges, but they persist in their efforts to protect their livelihoods. Entrepreneurs will also face challenges and setbacks on their entrepreneurial journeys, and it is important to persist and be resilient in the face of adversity. 

The CEO (2016) 

Here is one of the best African movies for entrepreneurs. This movie follows the story of five executives who compete for the top position at a telecommunications company. It showcases the challenges of leadership, decision-making, and teamwork.

Strategic thinking: The CEO in the movie had a clear strategy in place to achieve his business goals. As an entrepreneur, it’s important to have a solid business plan that outlines your vision, mission, and goals.

Risk management: The CEO in the movie was able to manage risks effectively by identifying potential challenges and having contingency plans in place. As an entrepreneur, it’s important to be prepared for unexpected obstacles and have a plan to mitigate them.

Effective communication: The CEO in the movie was able to communicate his vision and expectations clearly to his team. Effective communication is critical in business to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals.

Adaptability: The CEO in the movie was able to adapt to changing circumstances and make adjustments to his plan as needed. As an entrepreneur, it’s important to be flexible and adaptable in response to market changes and other factors that may impact your business.

People management: The CEO in the movie was able to build a strong team and motivate them to work towards the company’s goals. As an entrepreneur, it’s important to hire the right people and create a positive work environment to foster productivity and creativity.

Black Panther (2018) 

Although not exclusively African, this Marvel superhero movie has an all-black cast and features an African kingdom with advanced technology and a strong sense of community. It showcases the importance of innovation, leadership, and culture.

The movie Black Panther offers several valuable entrepreneurship lessons that can be applied to any business venture. Here are a few key takeaways:

Innovation and creativity: One of the key strengths of the Black Panther’s kingdom, Wakanda, is its ability to innovate and create new technologies. As an entrepreneur, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve and continually innovate to keep your business relevant and competitive.

Strong leadership: Black Panther’s leadership style is characterized by a combination of strength, vision, and empathy. This type of leadership can inspire and motivate your team, and help your business achieve its goals.

Collaboration: The Wakandans work together to achieve common goals, rather than competing against each other. Collaboration can help your business achieve greater success by leveraging the strengths of each team member.

Purpose-driven business: Wakanda’s focus on using its technological advancements to help others is a key factor in its success. As an entrepreneur, it’s important to consider how your business can make a positive impact on society.

Risk-taking: The Wakandans take risks in order to protect their country and achieve their goals. As an entrepreneur, it’s important to be willing to take calculated risks in order to grow and succeed.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a movie based on the true story of a young Malawian boy named William Kamkwamba who overcame adversity and built a wind turbine to bring electricity to his rural village. Here are some entrepreneurship lessons that can be learned from the movie:

Identify a problem and create a solution: William identified a problem in his community – a lack of electricity – and he created a solution by building a wind turbine. Entrepreneurs can also identify problems in their communities or industries and create solutions that address those problems.

Resourcefulness and creativity: William did not have access to a lot of resources or materials, but he used his resourcefulness and creativity to build his wind turbine using scrap materials. Entrepreneurs can also use their creativity and resourcefulness to find innovative solutions to problems.

Perseverance and resilience: William faced many challenges and setbacks while building his wind turbine, but he persisted and overcome those challenges. Entrepreneurs will also face challenges and setbacks on their entrepreneurial journeys, and it is important to persevere and be resilient in the face of adversity.

Collaboration and networking: William collaborated with other people in his community to build his wind turbine, and he also reached out to experts for advice and guidance. Entrepreneurs can also collaborate with others and build networks to help them achieve their goals.

Social impact: William’s wind turbine had a significant social impact on his community by bringing electricity to the village. Entrepreneurs can also strive to create businesses and products that have a positive social impact on their communities.

Who’s the Boss  (2020) 

It is a romantic comedy directed by Chinaza Onuzo. The plot follows the story of Liah, a young and ambitious career woman, who meets her former classmate, EB, who is now a successful tech entrepreneur. EB hires Liah as his personal assistant, but their work relationship becomes complicated as they try to balance their feelings for each other with their professional responsibilities. It is one of the best African movies for entrepreneurs. There are several entrepreneur lessons that can be learned from the movie, including:

Don’t be afraid to take risks: EB took a risk when he decided to start his own company, despite not having any formal training in tech. This paid off as he became a successful entrepreneur.

Be adaptable: Liah had to adapt to her new role as EB’s personal assistant, even though it was not her desired job. Being adaptable and open to new experiences can lead to unexpected opportunities.

Build a strong team: EB built a strong team of employees who were passionate about his vision and dedicated to the success of the company.

Communication is key: EB and Liah had to communicate openly and honestly with each other to navigate their complex work relationship. Effective communication is essential for building strong relationships and achieving success in business.

Pursue your passion: Liah’s dream was to become a fashion designer, but she put her passion aside to work as a personal assistant. Eventually, she was able to combine her passion with her work by designing clothes for EB’s company. Pursuing your passion can lead to fulfilling and rewarding experiences.

Don’t let setbacks define you: EB faced setbacks and challenges while building his company, but he persevered and continued to work towards his goals. It’s important to learn from setbacks and not let them define your future success.