Africell to release a feature-length documentary exploring the Lobito Corridor, a region on the brink of colossal change.
Africell announces a new documentary about the ‘Lobito Corridor’: a multi-billion-dollar idea that promises to put Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Tanzania at the heart of the global economy.
Lobito Bound follows BAFTA-nominated British-Jamaican explorer Dwayne Fields as he undertakes an epic 4,000km expedition across Africa. Setting off from the Tanzanian capital of Dar Es Salaam on Africa’s Indian Ocean coast, Dwayne travels by road, rail, and on foot through the breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cities and remote communities of Zambia, the DRC and Angola, ending his journey at the deepwater port of Lobito on Angola’s Atlantic shore: a fledgling gateway between Africa and the world.
Sponsored by Africell, produced by Grammar Productions and made with the support of INEOS Automotive, The Halo Trust, Ivanhoe Mines, the Financial Times and the U.S. Department of State, Lobito Bound brings to life a fascinating story of development and investment that is already having a huge political impact but which is less well known among ordinary people. The documentary illuminates the human side of the Lobito Corridor, demonstrating its far-reaching significance and showing that it is a concept we should all be taking seriously, wherever we are in the world.
“Doing the journey when we did was special because we captured the moment before the region changes irreversibly”, says Dwayne Fields. “The mission was personal, because my ancestry spans Angola, DRC and Zambia. It was also a thrilling adventure through tough terrain and beautiful scenery. Ultimately, Lobito Bound is an exploration not just of a specific place, but also of Africa’s history, of the future of our planet, and of the power of big ideas”.
Ziad Dalloul, CEO and President of Africell, says: “The Lobito Corridor is a project with global implications. Lobito Bound will make it more exciting, relevant and relatable. By travelling from coast-to-coast and speaking to people along the way, Dwayne and the crew are contributing to a greater understanding of Africa’s most hotly contested region. We hope that the film will help unlock the Lobito Corridor and transform it from an idea into a reality”.
Explaining the challenges of making a road-trip documentary across 4,000km and four countries, Alex Bescoby, co-founder of Grammar Productions, says: “Expedition filmmaking in remote environments is Grammar’s bread and butter, but this was different. The environment put Dwayne, our vehicles and my filmmaking team through their paces, but getting the chance to tell this story with Africell at this pivotal moment for Africa made the hardships worth it”.
A teaser of the documentary will be shown at a private event during the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2024. The full documentary will be released in January 2025. More information about the film can be found at www.lobitobound.com.