In the vibrant and culturally rich landscape of Africa, a formidable force is reshaping the media localization industry—TransPerfect Media. With strategic hubs in the North, South, East, and West, the company is seamlessly weaving the continent’s diverse narratives into the global tapestry.
Its expansion across Africa is a testament to its commitment to authentic storytelling, with established studios in Nairobi, Lagos, Cape Town, and Casablanca tactically positioned to access a vast range of languages and cultures. This widespread presence enables the team to manage and produce large volumes of localization projects, ensuring that African stories are localized with accuracy and cultural authenticity.
Nigeria, home to Nollywood—the continent’s largest film industry—plays a crucial role in this ecosystem. Producing over 2,000 films annually, Nollywood ranks second in global content volume, surpassed only by Bollywood. The demand for high-quality localization has never been greater, and TransPerfect Media’s presence ensures that these stories resonate with audiences across linguistic and cultural divides.
Africa’s storytelling tradition is as old as civilization itself, with each region offering a unique cultural heritage. TransPerfect Media preserves and amplifies these narratives through dubbing, voice-over, audio description, and subtitling, ensuring stories rooted in African heritage transcend linguistic barriers. From the Maasais of the East and the Berbers of the North to the Dogons of the West, the Bakongo of the Central, and the San of the South, we adapt content with cultural authenticity, making Africa’s rich traditions accessible to global audiences.
A notable example is the Yoruba-language film Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Its success was amplified through localization efforts that included English dubbing, subtitles in over 32 languages, and Yoruba audio descriptions for visually impaired audiences. Similarly, The Black Book gained global traction on Netflix, debuting at number three on the platform’s Global Top 10 and accumulating over 5.6 million hours of watch time—further proving the power of effective adaptation.
TransPerfect Media’s dedication to excellence has not gone unnoticed. In our first submission of African content to the Hermes Awards, the company received four nominations—all from Showmax productions. “Outlaws” and “Adulting” earned three nominations for Best Voice Performance in a Television Series, while “Outlaws” also secured a nomination for Best Overall Dubbing. This remarkable achievement underscores the global standards upheld in TransPerfect Media’s studios. Notably, one of the nominated actors embarked on his first voice acting endeavor with the show “Outlaws”, showcasing the ability of strong direction and training to elevate local talent to an international standard.
Over the past year, TransPerfect Media has localized over 3,000 hours of content in the continent, reflecting both the rising demand and the commitment to quality adaptation. At the heart of this process is a respect for cultural nuances. The best localization work is done by engaging native talents and cultural consultants, ensuring translations capture humor, idiomatic expressions, and context rather than simply converting words from one language to another. As Jacques Barreau, Dean of Dubbing and Vice President at TransPerfect Media puts it: “We don’t dub to language, we dub to culture.”
The proliferation of Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming platforms in Africa has revolutionized content consumption. With increased internet accessibility and smartphone penetration, audiences are shifting from traditional broadcast to on-demand viewing. This evolution has escalated the demand for localized content, as viewers seek programming that reflects their languages and cultures, this also empowers local content creators to reach global platforms, amplifying African voices in the international arena.
TransPerfect Media’s commitment to Africa extends beyond content adaptation; it encompasses talent development. The company has established The Dubbing Academy, aiming to nurture a new generation of actors and adaptors. The Dubbing Academy provides training and opportunities for local talent, ensuring that authentic and trained voices bring African stories to life. By investing in local expertise, TransPerfect Media fosters a sustainable ecosystem for the continent’s media industry.
The spirit of collaboration and excellence permeates every TransPerfect Media studio in Africa. From the meticulous work of content creators to the passionate performances of voice actors—many of whom are newcomers trained to global standards—each project reflects a harmonious blend of professionalism and cultural authenticity. This unity, coupled with the company’s strategic expansion and unwavering commitment to quality, has redefined media localization across the continent.
As a localization giant in Africa, capable of adapting content into over 3,000 local languages, TransPerfect Media connects audiences across languages and cultures, ensuring African stories transcend borders and enrich the global media landscape. Championing the authentic representation of Africa’s diverse cultures and languages, the company remains a trusted partner in bringing the continent’s vibrant narratives to the world.
