Young. Committed. Predominantly female.
Wawkumba Film is above all a team driven by a shared passion for African cinema — building, through action, a more inclusive industry along the way.
Oumou Diégane Niang
Born in Dakar in 1994, Oumou Diégane Niang followed a classical education in Senegal, graduating from high school with honors. She first enrolled at the Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences of Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar before turning to journalism and communications at a leading professional school. Choosing to remain in Senegal rather than join her family in Spain, she committed herself to promoting Senegalese culture. In 2017, her passion for cinema led her to meet Abdel Aziz Boye, who invited her to join his collective Cinebanlieue, a platform dedicated to film training and creation. In 2019, she made cinema her profession through the Yennenga Center, founded by Franco-Senegalese director Alain Gomis. Self-taught, she became a producer and distributor — gaining significant experience on Mamadou Dia's "Baamum Nafi", shortlisted for the 2021 Oscars. She supported the film's tour across multiple regions and handled the theatrical release of Philippe Lacoste's "La Nuit des Rois", as well as the international distribution of Irène Tassembedo's "La Traversée", which received a jury mention at FESPACO 2021. She co-produced Yoro Mbaye's short film "Fagada" and supported Medessè Agohoundjé's debut feature "Ayele, la jeune fille". In 2023, she founded her independent company WAWKUMBA FILM, dedicated to production, distribution and international sales. She handled the distribution of Awa Moctar Gueye's "Timis" across Africa, and supervised the international release of Sada's "Le Mouton", directed by Pape Lopy — which received a special jury mention at FESPACO 2023. In 2024, she led the Africa-wide distribution strategy for "DEMBA", which recorded one of the largest national openings ever for an African film in Senegal. The film is currently in the running for the Yennenga Golden Stallion at FESPACO. She represented Senegal at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival within the CannesMakers program. Oumou firmly believes in the capacity of women to transform Africa's film industry — under the slogan "Selling the African Dream".
Sokhna Aïssatou Camara
Born on October 4, 1993 in Dakar, Sokhna Aïssatou Camara is a Senegalese passionate about the seventh art. After completing her studies in Senegal up to the final year of high school, she left academia to embrace the world of cinema. She began her career as a production manager, while continuing to train — taking directing classes in 2017 at the Académie des Métiers and in 2018 at the Dakar-Court talent workshop, earning diplomas from both. Driven by her dream of producing, she trained in production through Dsm-Production, Sunuy Films, Thiely Films and at Cinekap as part of the Up-Court program. In 2023, she co-founded Wawkumba Film with a sister, friend and colleague — a structure dedicated to the production and distribution of films. As producer and co-founder, she produced her first short film, directed by Ibrahima Barry Combé, in April 2024.
Joseph Avimadje
Born on March 19, 1998, Joseph Avimadje grew up nurturing a fierce passion for writing and filmmaking. In 2018, driven by a desire to explore the depths of the seventh art, he enrolled at the Higher Institute of Audiovisual in Benin. During his studies he directed two powerful short films: "Femmes en couleurs", a documentary portrait celebrating the strength and beauty of women; and "Demain" (2022), a poignant film on sickle cell disease. Both works screened at prestigious festivals — FESPACO in Burkina Faso, Vues d'Afrique in Montreal, Emergence Film in Togo and Student World Impact in the United States, among many others. Deeply committed to the promotion of African cinema and aware of the urgent shortage of distributors on the continent, he joined Wawkumba Films in 2023. After an enriching internship, he now serves as assistant in charge of festival distribution — determined to make Africa's voice heard and to sell the African Dream to the world.
Fatou Ndao Mbaye
Fatou Ndao Mbaye is a journalist by training. She has worked in several Senegalese newsrooms as a cultural reporter. In 2014, while still a Modern Literature student at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, she met Abdel Aziz Boye, who introduced her to cinema through the Ciné-Ucad collective and later Ciné-Banlieue. Since then, she has continued to evolve within the film landscape. Fatou has taken part in international programs of the U.S. Department of State such as IVLP (International Visitor Leadership Program) and the American Film Showcase in 2021. She served as chargée de mission at the Ministry of Culture and Historical Heritage from 2022 to 2024, and has been the communications officer for the Senegalese Cultural Press Association (APCS) since 2020. Today, Fatou Ndao Mbaye is also the communications manager at Wawkumba Film.
Nogaye Ndiaye
Nogaye Ndiaye is certified as a Digital Facilitator at Simplon Sénégal, with additional certifications in digital entrepreneurship and the prevention of gender-based violence. Her background reflects a strong commitment to responsible digital practices, women's leadership, and the empowerment of young people through digital tools and social initiatives. She is currently working as a Distribution Assistant Intern at Wawkumba Film.
"We push limits, we learn, we innovate — building a more inclusive, bold and forward-looking cinema."