adminBongani Ndlovu Entertainment Correspondent
BULAWAYO animator Nqobizitha “Enqore” Mlilo has made it into the final 10 of the Google Africa Connected competition and is in the running to win $25 000 in prize money.The Harare-based Nafuna TV creator is competing among the best in Africa.
In an interview with Saturday Leisure, Enqore said he was grateful to those who are voting for him.
“I have seen a lot of Zimbabweans voting for me online and I thank each and every one of them. They have been supporting me and I want them to continue voting as the competition is closing on March 7,” he said.
Enqore who was the first in Zimbabwe to create an animated music video, said it was a great opportunity to raise the Zimbabwean flag high.
“It feels great to make it there and represent the country. It’s good to represent Zimbabwe in this way. People from Kenya and Ghana are voting and they have larger populations compared to Zimbabwe. However I know my chances are good because I know we support each other in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Those who want to vote for him can go to http://www.africaconnected.com/ and look for his profile and vote for him. The five winners of Google Africa Connected will each walk way with $25,000 and will also by assisted by Google in using its tools for their business.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held in Nairobi Kenya on April 1. Enqore broke into the industry in 2002 after releasing the first animated music video in Zimbabwe for Bulawayo-based comedian Babongile.
He moved to Harare to study and began directing and editing music videos for some of Zimbabwe’s elite musicians and artistes as well as commercials.
Enqore has been to Namibia, South Africa, California and Rwanda where he has lectured on animation and visual effects.
Nafuna was founded in 2012 when Enqore came back to Zimbabwe as a digital creative agency and began building the studio which has taken on commercial and national campaigns while developing in-house content and concepts for TV shows as well as movies.
Presently Nafuna is working on a feature length animation titled Tanga Nyika. The production features some of Zimbabwe’s talented artistes, such as Munyaradzi Chidzonga, Roki and Aura.
Enqore has done productions for artistes such as Harare-based Tehn Diamond and Winky D.
Online Reporter