“If Africans do not tell their own stories, Africa will soon disappear.”
Ousmane Sembène, Senegalese Filmmaker
“If Africans do not tell their own stories, Africa will soon disappear.”
Ousmane Sembène, Senegalese Filmmaker
We are a Media and technology Production house dedicated to innovative storytelling in film, stage, photography, VR, and gaming. We focus on indigenous talent from Africa and the Middle East to uplift and showcase their cultures and narratives globally.
Through signature productions and collaborations, from cutting edge filmmaking to revolutionary VR and gaming, igniting imaginations worldwide, we seek to tell stories full of awe, wonder, and authenticity, through cutting-edge technology and a commitment to narrative excellence.
FOUNDER
Founded by Naaj, whose vision of making entertainment and art accessible to everyone on the continent—inspired by his own challenges with limited access to electricity and the internet—drives our mission against historical creative marginalization and cultural appropriation of Africans and middle Easteners.
His path through leadership, media production, and major Entertainment institutions like Warener Bros, CONAN, School of Cinematic Arts (USC), Notre Dame Film and Theater, to name a few, has shaped his craft. Driven to make entertainment technology and art accessible in Africa and the MENA region, NAAJ's work embodies a mission to empower and inspire through universal access to storytelling and exploration, reflecting a deep commitment to his roots and a vision for a globally connected entertainment landscape.
NAAJ HARRABI
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Harrabi's path from a Tunisian village to Los Angeles embodies a mix of genuine grassroots and cinematic excellence. Trained at esteemed institutions like USC School of Cinematic Arts, University of Notre Dame, African Leadership Academy (ALA), and Second City in Chicago, Harrabi has earned accolades such as the George Lucas Family Foundation Award, Hesburgh-Yusko Award, FTT Chair Award, and the Francis Deng African Scholar Award. With over a decade of on-set and post-production expertise across multiple continents/nations including the USA, South Africa, Qatar, and Tunisia. His range of experiences spans from a script intern at CONAN to live sports broadcasts with NBC and indie film/commercial directing.
Moreover, his unwavering passion for storytelling and his extensive experience highlight his leadership and commitment to media and storytelling excellence. Harrabi's vision fortifies Shepherdboy Entertainment's innovative approach to championing indigenous auteurs in Africa and the Middle East.
FAQs
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A: Our mission goes beyond entertainment; we aim to be the custodians of African and Middle Eastern narratives. It's about claiming and reclaiming our stories, driving the global narrative forward with indigenous creativity and auteurship that reflect our true identities.
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A: We envision a global ente tainment scene where indigenous African stories are not just heard but felt and experienced, where our rich heritage shapes the global entertainment landscape through innovative storytelling and technological ingenuity.
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A: The current scarcity of African projects and creativity in the global gaming scenes speaks volumes. In cinema, we are often culturally appropriated and left with a sense of “voyeurism”. We aim to fill this void with games that honor our culture and history, providing a platform for authentic African stories to captivate the imagination of gamers worldwide.
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A: VR, Gaming, and Cinema are our canvas for the future, and African narratives are the paint. We are setting a new standard for cultural representation in immersive experiences, ensuring African creativity is not just included but showcased and celebrated.
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A: Our approach is as diverse as the continent itself. We customize every step of production and distribution to the distinct cultural tapestries and narratives of African and Middle Eastern societies, ensuring our stories resonate globally. We believe that with increased access to the internet and electricity, steaming is our way to reach the continent.
Discover our diverse array of narratives in Shepherdboy Entertainment's catalog:
OUR catalog
Our Services
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Through indigenous auteurship, we craft cinematic tapestries, merging untold stories with visual artistry to create films and documentaries that resonate worldwide.
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Our creative alchemy transforms brands and melodies into visually stunning narratives that captivate and engage audiences on TV and the Web.
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In the realm of gaming and virtual worlds, we seok to pionier and offer immersive experiences that redefine the boundaries of digital storytelling especially when it comes to re-exploring african culture, history, mythology, esports, and tradition. Our team uses advanced workflows in blender, unreal engine and MoCap. We plan to put Africa and the Middle East when it comes to developing engaging marvelous gaming experiences especially in VR.
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Our audiovisual maestros ensure that every note and frame in our productions meets the pinnacle of post-production excellence.
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We weave the visual fabric of the digital era, crafting web media that dazzles and communicates with clarity and style.
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Our seasoned consultants elevate media projects with strategic planning and industry insights, ensuring success from inception to final cut.
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Our goal is to arm tomorrow's storytellers with the latest practices and cutting-edge technology. We equip filmmakers with the expertise necessary to excel in the art of storytelling, covering a wide range of production specialties including VFX, sound production, writing, directing, and producing.