How a ground-breaking film school gets down to work in Senegal

Sangare (right) with his collaborator Ly (second from right) and the students during a press conference at the film school in Dakar on Jan 19. Photo: Seyllou/AFP

It's the tale of a boy who cheats on his fiancee – one misdeed too many in a selfish life – and in desperation turns to a genie for help. The genie gives the errant lad five magic cowrie shells to wipe the slate clean... but these will only work if he uses them wisely.

This is the idea for a script pitched by Kine Niang, a 30-year-old student screenwriter at a new film school in Senegal that hopes to unlock Africa's movie-making potential.