Bridging Cultures & Economies: A Festival in Valpolicella, Verona
What do cinema, community, and cross-cultural collaboration have in common? Quite a lot, as demonstrated during an important conference held yesterday, May 17, in Negrar, in the Valpolicella region of Verona. The event, an integral part of the fourth edition of the Valpolicella Film Festival, brought together local leaders, cultural advocates, and international thinkers to explore how storytelling and intercultural dialogue can shape not just communities but also economies.
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One of the key voices at the gathering was Obehi Ewanfoh, author, podcast host, and director of the WeDiasporan initiative. Ewanfoh delivered an impactful presentation centered on the evolving role of African immigrants in Italian society and the untapped economic potential of African diaspora networks.
He shared the stage with distinguished guests, including Fausto Rossignoli, Mayor of Negrar di Valpolicella, and Alberto Mazzurana, Provincial Counselor of Verona. Both officials opened the event with welcoming remarks, emphasizing their administration’s commitment to fostering inclusive local development and improving the quality of life for residents.
The conference was moderated by a seasoned journalist, Mariangela Bonfanti of Telenuovo, who guided the discussions with precision and insight. She introduced Renato Cremonese, President of My Planet 2050 APS and director of Verona Green Movie Land, for the opening address.
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Cremonese spoke passionately about the role of cinema as a vehicle for cultural promotion and community engagement, citing the importance of regional theaters across Verona’s provinces as hubs for social storytelling and dialogue.
The event marked the conclusion of the five-day Valpolicella Film Festival, held from May 14 to 17, under the artistic direction of filmmaker Alberto Rizzi.
This year’s theme, Il Viaggio (The Journey), celebrated stories of movement, migration, and transformation, all within a framework of environmental sustainability and intercultural exchange. The festival was organized by My Planet 2050 in collaboration with the Municipality of Negrar and formed part of the larger initiative, Verona Green Movie Land 2025.
From Verona to Nollywood: A New Chapter of Collaboration
In the lead-up to the conference, Ewanfoh met with Cremonese to explore possible partnerships between Nigerian Nollywood filmmakers and Italian creatives. This conversation aligns with the goals of WeDiasporan, the Verona-based socio-cultural research organization Ewanfoh leads.
WeDiasporan, through its project DMTE: The Diaspora Memorial & Tourism Exchange, is dedicated to reconnecting people of African descent with their cultural heritage while fostering meaningful global partnerships.
By creating opportunities for cultural exploration and exchange, WeDiasporan aims to strengthen ties between the African diaspora and their ancestral roots, paving the way for impactful collaboration and shared growth on a global scale.
One of WeDiasporan’s core missions is to act as a cultural bridge between African heritage institutions and their European counterparts, a mission that was reflected in Ewanfoh’s presentation and subsequent remarks yesterday.
Challenges and Opportunities in Valpolicella
The roundtable discussions began with Giovanni Viviani, who spoke about the social evolution of the Valpolicella region.
He touched on several pressing challenges, from demographic shifts to the need for more meaningful community engagement, particularly with the area’s aging population.
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Viviani underscored the importance of creating more spaces for dialogue and intergenerational exchange, noting that inclusion is not just a moral imperative but a practical necessity for local development.
Ewanfoh followed with a thought-provoking presentation on the theme of “Immigrants and the Local Community.” Drawing from his research project, The Journey, which explores African presence in Verona and Northern Italy, he challenged common misconceptions about immigrants in Italy. “Immigrants are not a burden—they are a blessing,” he said, receiving nods of agreement from the audience.
He argued that the challenges communities face—whether economic, social, or cultural—can only be addressed when viewed as shared problems. “There is no challenge greater than the collective will of a people,” he said. “While an individual may be limited, together, people are capable of overcoming anything.”
He urged locals to view immigrants as fellow human beings with common goals: a better life, a secure future, and opportunities for their children. Seen from this perspective, he emphasized that immigrants are part of the solution, not the problem.
Laudato Si’ and the Call for Youth Engagement
The session concluded with a powerful contribution from Alessandro Lanteri, who reflected on Laudato Si’ (Praise Be to You), the 2015 encyclical by Pope Francis.
Building on the messages shared by earlier speakers, Lanteri focused on the need to engage younger generations in local and global development.
Laudato Si’, a seminal work advocating environmental responsibility and social justice, also served as a reminder of the moral urgency to act collectively and inclusively. “The youth must be the torchbearers of a more just and sustainable world,” Lanteri said.
Looking Forward: Economic Potential in African Diaspora Connections
Mayor Fausto Rossignoli closed the conference with heartfelt appreciation for the speakers and attendees. He was particularly moved by receiving a copy of Africans in Verona, Ewanfoh’s book documenting the experiences of Africans in Verona and northern Italy.
In his closing remarks, Rossignoli echoed Ewanfoh’s central message: the challenges we face—whether in Valpolicella, Italy, or across the globe—can be overcome when we recognize our shared humanity and work together as one community.
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One of the most forward-looking aspects of Ewanfoh’s address centered on economic collaboration between Italy and the African diaspora. With over one million African immigrants living in Italy, including nearly 100,000 Nigerians, Ewanfoh emphasized the enormous potential this community represents for Italian businesses seeking to expand into African markets.
He cited the wine industry in particular, highlighting the potential profits for Verona’s winemakers in the Nigerian market. Nigeria, home to over 230 million people, is one of Africa’s largest and fastest-growing economies.
Its burgeoning middle class and urban population are driving a steady rise in wine consumption, making it an ideal export destination for quality Italian wines. “This is not just about solidarity,” Ewanfoh said. “It’s about smart business opportunities.”
Italy–Africa: A Partnership for the Future
The significance of this message is backed by real numbers. According to Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bilateral trade with Africa topped €60 billion in 2023, with major investments in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and agribusiness.
Africa is increasingly seen not just as a commercial partner but as a vital collaborator across economic, cultural, scientific, and political domains. This sentiment was at the heart of a recent speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who emphasized the importance of developing strong, mutually beneficial relationships with African nations.
Tajani underscored that the organization of the Forum marks a significant step toward deepening this partnership. A partnership built on a win-win approach aimed at long-term shared growth and stability.
Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, reinforces the country’s strategic commitment to building long-term, sustainable partnerships across the African continent.
Reflecting growing interest in this initiative, Obehi Ewanfoh recently explored the plan in greater depth on the Italian edition of The Obehi Podcast. In a compelling episode, he interviewed Carlo Brignolo Gorla, a regional expert on the Mattei Plan in Lombardy, to discuss its objectives and the crucial role the African diaspora in Italy can play in bridging relationships between Italy and their home countries.
This vision of collaboration is not new, but it is gaining momentum. The African diaspora, both in Italy and beyond, represents a bridge, not just between cultures, but between markets, innovations, and growth strategies.
As Ewanfoh passionately conveyed during yesterday’s conference, engaging with this community isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do.
And that message landed. As the audience rose to its feet at the end of the event, many approached Ewanfoh to exchange contacts, continue the conversation, and explore what comes next.
It was a fitting end to a conference that began with the theme of The Journey—a journey that now, perhaps more than ever, includes Verona, Valpolicella, Lagos, and beyond.
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