Dr. C. Sade Turnipseed
Executive Director
KHAFRE, Inc. / Sankofa Empowerment Initiative
sade@khafreinc.org | +1.662.347.8198
January 2026
Re: Project Update & Partnership Opportunity –
Sankofa Challenge—da’ Movie! and ADIRE: The Beauty in Our Land
Dear Colleagues and Friends:
I am honored to present to you the Project Update Report for the inaugural Sankofa Challenge—
da’ Movie! initiative—an international, student-driven cultural production that has evolved into a
powerful cinematic tribute to Africa’s textile heritage, sustainability, and ancestral legacy.
Guided by the principle that “belonging belongs to everyone”, this work uplifts the stories of Africa’s
cotton-pickin’ ancestors—those whose labor and creativity shaped the global cotton industry from the
Mississippi Delta to Manchester, England, yet were never formally thanked. The film, ADIRE:
The Beauty in Our Land, fuses a passionate love story with historical truth, environmental advocacy,
and the preservation of West Africa’s organic cotton and indigo-dye traditions.
In the past year, we have:
• Trained and guided an international cohort of students from the U.S., Nigeria, Mali, and
Germany in cross-cultural script development.
• Partnered with the Nollywood Filmmakers Association and leading African cultural
institutions to advance authentic storytelling.
• Premiered our table reading at the 29th Biennial FESPACO Pan African Film Festival
in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with translation and critique by distinguished cultural
leaders including Cheikh Oumar Sissoko, former Minister of Culture in Mali.
Looking forward, we are preparing for principal photography in Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso,
the Mississippi Delta, and Manchester, England. Under the artistic direction of Minister Sissoko,
the project will culminate in a global movement to establish Monuments of Gratitude in these
historic cotton regions. These sacred spaces will stand as tangible acknowledgements of African
sweat equity and cultural ingenuity.
To bring this vision to full realization, we are seeking $2,570,000 in production funding (or
$513,000 for Nigeria-based filming) to ensure cinematic excellence, cultural authenticity, and
global impact. This investment will support international travel, on-location festival production,
historical research, post-production, and a robust outreach campaign.ADIRE: The Beauty in Our Land is more than a film—it is a cultural restoration project, an act of
environmental and historical justice, and a global invitation to honor, preserve, and celebrate
Africa’s living traditions.
I welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss partnership possibilities, funding
alignment, and the many ways this project can advance our shared commitment to cultural
preservation, sustainability, and Pan-African unity.
Thank you for your consideration and for your continued commitment to honoring the wisdom,
artistry, and resilience of our ancestors.
With respect and in solidarity,
Dr. C. Sade Turnipseed
Executive Director—KHAFRE, Inc. & Sankofa Empowerment Initiative
Assistant Professor of Public History—Jackson State University
Official Diaspora Representative—FESPACO, Burkina Faso (2003-09)Sankofa Challenge—da’ Movie!
PROJECT UPDATE / REPORT
“Belonging belongs to everyone … It is a historical truth that African sweat equity and cultural contributions envisioned in this
initiative shall be transformative, for the entire Pan-African community.”
Dr. C. Sade. Turnipseed,
Executive Director—Khafre, Inc &Sankofa Empowerment Initiative (SEI)
Greetings Colleagues,
After a year-long process of developing and implementing the inaugural Sankofa Challenge—the Movie!
project, I am pleased to report our timeline of successes, thus far!
JUNE – DECEMBER 2024:
• Sankofa Empowerment Initiative launched the official Orientation session with fifteen
(15) students and twenty-five (25) attendees (scholars/supporters) (June 8th)
• Workshop #1-12 Study sessions held (June 15-July 20)
• Sankofa Scriptwriting sessions held (July 27-31)
• Final Script REVISION (November 16, 2024)
• Reviews/revisions and translations by Editorial Committee held (July- February 8, 2025).
The participating team of students discussed their project’s characters and concepts that
FEBRUARY – MARCH 4:
• ADIRE—The Beauty in our Land, preparation for official “table reading” presentation during the
29th Biennial FESPACO Pan African Film Festival, Ouagagoudou (FESPACO)—(Feb. 22-March
3, 2025)
• ADIRE—The Beauty in our Land –Script reading session held during the 29th Biennial
FESPACO—a success. The final script entitled, ADIRE—The Beauty in our Land was conceived
and written in English, by students from: Jackson State University, USA; Mississippi Valley State
University, USA; University of Ibaden, Nigeria; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria:
centered the beauty in the African Diaspora and the traditional craft of tie and dye, with a
focus on incorporating organically produced fabrics and preserving the symbols and
wisdom of the ancestors in the textile production. The students and SEI team also
discussed the progress of their project, including the involvement of partners from the
Nollywood Filmmakers Association, the design of their official T-shirts, as well as the
casting process for their film ADIRE—Beauty in Our Land. The team also discussed the
need to finalize a package for Cheikh Oumar Sissoko, the new roles and of Issa Napon, et
al; and the upcoming involvement of the casting director Angelic Mister, assisted by Jeri
Hill, and the roles played by Aliah (Rashida); Kaddy (Lindiwe), etc.
1. Oyedare Rachael Oluwakemi
University of Ibadan, Theatre Arts Department
2. Ayelero Fortune Mobolade
Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria, Department of Microbiology
3. Rasheed Abass
University of Ibadan, Department of Educational management, Education
4. Olamide Oluwaseyi Akolawole
University of Ibadan, Special education- faculty of education
5. Innocent Favour Oyebuchi
University of Ibadan, Theatre Arts department
6. Alabi Kabir
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Faculty of Law
7. Ezenandu Ifeoma Faustina
University of Ibadan, Theatre Arts Department
8. Latoya JeffersonJackson State University, USA, History Department
9. Jerry Hills
Jackson State University, USA, History Department
10. Aliah Olukoya
Friederich Alexander Universität, FAU, Germany
• The script was successfully read and critiqued in French, during FESPACO, as part of the official
proceedings by students from New Dawn University.
o Names of students available upon request.
o Hosted by C. Sade Turnipseed, SEI/KHAFRE, Inc.
o Reading Facilitated & Narrated by:
Issa Napon, Journalist, Investigative Journalist RTB–Award-winning journalist
Multimedia and Mass Communication professional- CNN 2008 African Journalist of
the Year Fulbright-H.H.Humphrey Alumnus US Department of State 2010 IVLP
Alumnus
o Script Analysis, Reading Observed, Critiqued by:
Cheikh Oumar Sissoko, Former Minister of Culture, Mali. Sissoko studied
filmmaking at the Ecole Nationale Louis Lumière (National School Louis Lumière),
Paris. Worked as filmmaker at the Centre National de Production
Cinématographique (CNPC) in Mali. Sissoko has created, a collective production
company: Kora Films.
NEXT STEPS:
• Khafre, Inc and the SEI & Sankofa Challenge team shall establish The Kevin Arkadie and The
Patrice Napon Special Prize, to be inaugurated during the 2027 FESPACO festivities. The
prizes shall be awarded to young writers and producers, respectively.
• Former Minister of Culture, Cheikh Oumar Sissoko has agreed to direct the film ADIRE—The
Beauty in our Land. He will travel to Burkina for a workshop on Adire, as time is passing quickly.
• Unfortunately, Min. Sissoko has been involved in an automobile accident and received severe
injuries to the thoracic region of his body. This, of course, has caused a delay in the production.
Be advised, pre-production shall resume as soon as possible. The SEI Team based in
Ouagadougou along with the Mississippi-based team shall work on welcoming him back in
Ouagadougou, as soon as Sissoko is able.
• A proposed budget (see Attachment I) has been developed to identify the how, when, and where
to funds can be located.
• Sissoko needs the SEI team to identify potential cast members (actors), “to play these beautiful
roles,” as well as, any ideas for the costumes (and hair styles), proposed dates of production,
locations, and set designs.
• Consult with Nollywood producers to identify potential partners/collaborators.
• Begin the fund-raising campaign: TBD
• Contact Ryan Coogler, filmmaker (Black Panther, Sinners, etc.), Proximity Media, USA
• Contact FESPACO officials to re-establish “Diaspora Representation” relationship.