Nollywood moment: African film industries ‘could create 20m jobs’

UN study finds streaming services have increased demand for film productions from across the continent, but warns piracy and underinvestment hampering growth

Film industries in Africa could quadruple their revenue to $20bn (15bn) and create an extra 20m jobs in creative industries, according to a UN report about cinema on the continent.

The booming film industry in Nigeria - Nollywood is the world's second-largest film industry in terms of output - and Senegal were examples of African countries with defined business models and growing avenues for local film productions, which are increasingly sought after by television and streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+, said the report by the United Nation's cultural body, Unesco.