She's made 4 films, interviewed 14 heads of state - oh, and she's only 12
Lauren Said-Moorhouse

By Lauren Said-Moorhouse, for CNN


Zuriel Oduwole is a 12-year-old filmmaker
To date, she has interviewed 14 heads of state

(CNN)Most kids want to go out and play when they finish their homework early. But Zuriel Oduwole isn't "most kids." When she gets ahead of her work, she packs her camera and microphones, jumps on a plane and interviews presidents instead.

Born in California to a Nigerian father and a Mauritian mother, Oduwole is often described as "the world's youngest filmmaker." Aged 12, she already has four documentaries under her belt -- all of which focus on African issues.

Early beginnings

It all started three years ago when Oduwole decided to enter a school documentary-making competition with a film about the Ghana revolution.
Just who has Zuriel Oduwole interviewed?

Jerry John Rawlings (Ghana)

John Kufour (Ghana)

Joyce Banda (Malawi)

Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania)

Rajkeswur Purryag (Mauritius)

Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya)

Goodluck Johnathan (Nigeria)

Salva Kirr Mayardit (South Sudan)

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia)

Jorge Fonseco (Cape Verde)

Portia Simpson Miller (Jamaica)

Thomas Thabane (Lesotho)

Ralph Gonsalves (St Vincent & Grenadines)

Denzil Douglas (St Kitts & Nevis)

After this first foray into filmmaking, Oduwole was bitten by the director's bug and quickly wanted to make more movies. She turned to the web to find the tools she needed and got involved in the entire filmmaking process.

"As I edit, produce, set up and write the scripts for my documentaries, I have to learn a lot of things," says Oduwole, who is self-taught and uses online editing and voice software.

Her second outing, "Educating and Healing Africa Out of Poverty," looked at the creation of the African Union in 1963. She followed it up in 2014 with her movie "Technology in Educational Development."

But it was her most recent project that catapulted her to international recognition. Released late last year, "A Promising Africa" (watch trailer below) is the first in an ongoing series which will profile five African nations, starting with her father's homeland of Nigeria.

"I've interviewed 14 heads of state and a few of those include the President of Tanzania, Liberia, Kenya, South Sudan, Nigeria and Cape Verde, to name a few," says Oduwole. "I've also been able to interview business leaders like my friend Mr Aliko Dangote."

Changing the narrative

To date, "A Promising Africa" has received a limited-release on the big screen in five countries -- Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, UK and Japan.

The young trailblazer, who was named by Business Insider as one of world's 100 most powerful individuals last year, delightedly recalls seeing her film on the big screen and walking the red carpet in Lagos.

"I'm hoping that when people see these documentaries they will see Africa is full of positive things -- not just the things that are on the news like war, famine, disease," she says.

"I want to show them there is a lot more to Africa than what we see on the news -- there's dancing, music, great culture and more."

'Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up'

Although she's just 12, Oduwole, who is home-schooled through an online Californian system, is already a 9th grader -- two years ahead of the rest of the kids her age.

Her mother, Patricia, has a full-time job as a computer engineer, whilst her father, Ademola, has taken time off his work in the tourism sector to help organize a lot of what Zuriel and her three other siblings are doing. "There really is a lot happening in our household but somehow we make it work," says Patricia Oduwole.

In addition to her documentary work, Oduwole has also become something of an education advocate. She travels to different African countries and the diaspora on a regular basis to talk to students about the importance of education.

So far, through her side project "Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up" she says she's had the opportunity to talk to 21,000 children in nine countries.

"Girl's education is important because on the African continent, where there are not as many resources, the boys are the first [to get an education]," says Oduwole.

"The boys go to school and get an education while the girls stay at home. And those girls aren't educated and have fewer options in life when they get older."

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/30/africa/zuriel-oduwole-filmmaker/

Pretty

The ministry is moving.

Kudos to her

Zuriel,I heard means GOD is my Rock.This girl is a glowing gem.I am feeling her..truely
That other girl in the pix looks very much like Zuriel.Are they somewhat related?Pls don't tell me to ask Google

hmm

KOOOL.That is a big leap in the entertainment world.
Nigerians conquering the world silently. lol

Oduwole was the youngest person to make FORBES at the age of 10..

Meet Zuriel Oduwole, a ten year-old Nigerian girl who has made history as the youngest person ever to be interviewed in Forbes, the global iconic magazine title.

The interview with the award winning documentary film maker, conference speaker and writer is featured in the August 2013 edition of Forbes Africa.

Touted by some as the next Larry King, and ARISE News at the next Oprah Winfrey, Oduwole is reportedly committed to Rebrand Africa by showing the positive things in about the continent, and making the case for education the Girl Child in Africa and Emerging Markets.

As an invited guest to the recent African Union 50th anniversary celebrations in Ethiopia, she has in her quest of pursuing her goal interviewed leading African business, political, and sports personalities, including eight current African Presidents, Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote and Tennis super stars – Venus and Serena Williams.

Zuriel (which is Hebrew for God is my Rock) believes if she can walk a mile, then there are girls who on seeing her work and progress made, would walk a mile and half.

That, she believes is one simple way to inspire the African Girl Child, and show the world the need to educate the continents often forgotten Girl Child, of which Zuriel is one.
http://www.spreadmediang.com/zuriel-oduwole-10year-nigerian-forbes-magazine-history/

mercyville:
Oduwole was the youngest person to make FORBES at the age of 10..

Meet Zuriel Oduwole, a ten year-old Nigerian girl who has made history as the youngest person ever to be interviewed in Forbes, the global iconic magazine title.

The interview with the award winning documentary film maker, conference speaker and writer is featured in the August 2013 edition of Forbes Africa.

Touted by some as the next Larry King, and ARISE News at the next Oprah Winfrey, Oduwole is reportedly committed to Rebrand Africa by showing the positive things in about the continent, and making the case for education the Girl Child in Africa and Emerging Markets.

As an invited guest to the recent African Union 50th anniversary celebrations in Ethiopia, she has in her quest of pursuing her goal interviewed leading African business, political, and sports personalities, including eight current African Presidents, Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote and Tennis super stars – Venus and Serena Williams.

Zuriel (which is Hebrew for God is my Rock) believes if she can walk a mile, then there are girls who on seeing her work and progress made, would walk a mile and half.

That, she believes is one simple way to inspire the African Girl Child, and show the world the need to educate the continents often forgotten Girl Child, of which Zuriel is one.
http://www.spreadmediang.com/zuriel-oduwole-10year-nigerian-forbes-magazine-history/

This is another record by itself.Kudos to all shining gems of Africa.

sirade:
The ministry is moving.

Kudos to her

I was prompted to search for Zuriel on google and I saw this youtube thing.Watch this interview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2RTs3w1d08
That girl is good.

Cosbyrich:
Zuriel,I heard means GOD is my Rock.This girl is a glowing gem.I am feeling her..truely
That other girl in the pix looks very much like Zuriel.Are they somewhat related?Pls don't tell me to ask Google

ok. Ask Bing or Yahoo search!

shockwave91:

ok. Ask Bing or Yahoo search!

lol