African Voices

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
3 minute read
Updated 11:25 AM EDT, Thu April 30, 2015
At just 12 years old, Zuriel Oduwole has already made four documentaries.
At just 12 years old, Zuriel Oduwole has already made four documentaries.
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
Her latest self-produced title -- she writes, shoots and edits each film herself -- "A Promising Africa" recently received a limited cinema release in five countries: Ghana, UK, Nigeria, Japan, South Africa.
Her latest self-produced title -- she writes, shoots and edits each film herself -- "A Promising Africa" recently received a limited cinema release in five countries: Ghana, UK, Nigeria, Japan, South Africa.
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
Zuriel Oduwole gets into the media scrum while interviewing Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia.
Zuriel Oduwole gets into the media scrum while interviewing Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia.
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
Oduwole sits with Nigeria's departing president Goodluck Jonathan.
Oduwole sits with Nigeria's departing president Goodluck Jonathan.
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
Oduwole sits down with the president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit.
Oduwole sits down with the president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit.
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
She is pictured here with her younger sister and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo (left) and ec-Ghanaian president John Kufuor (right).
She is pictured here with her younger sister and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo (left) and ec-Ghanaian president John Kufuor (right).
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
To date, the plucky filmmaker, pictured here with Lesotho's prime minister Tom Thabane, has interviewed 14 presidents and prime ministers.
To date, the plucky filmmaker, pictured here with Lesotho's prime minister Tom Thabane, has interviewed 14 presidents and prime ministers.
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
In addition to her films, Oduwole also spends much of her time traveling to schools around the world giving motivational speeches to students. She's pictured here posing with students from a township school as part of her education campaign, <a href="http://www.dreamupspeakupstandup.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up."</a>
In addition to her films, Oduwole also spends much of her time traveling to schools around the world giving motivational speeches to students. She's pictured here posing with students from a township school as part of her education campaign, "Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up."
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
She is pictured here with former president of Malawi Joyce Banda after her interview.
She is pictured here with former president of Malawi Joyce Banda after her interview.
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
Another day, another interview -- this time with Uhuru Kenyatta, the president of Kenya.
Another day, another interview -- this time with Uhuru Kenyatta, the president of Kenya.
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
Pictured sitting down to chat with Cape Verde's president Jorge Fonseca. Zuriel acknowledges that she still has lots to learn and while you may think she wants to study film-making at college, she's got her eye on bigger goals.
Pictured sitting down to chat with Cape Verde's president Jorge Fonseca. Zuriel acknowledges that she still has lots to learn and while you may think she wants to study film-making at college, she's got her eye on bigger goals.
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
"Most people think because I'm doing filmmaking right now it's something I'm going to study in college. But actually from a young age I've enjoyed building various contraptions, especially robots and I'd like to do programming -- something that could be made in the future for example a rover that goes on Mars."
"Most people think because I'm doing filmmaking right now it's something I'm going to study in college. But actually from a young age I've enjoyed building various contraptions, especially robots and I'd like to do programming -- something that could be made in the future for example a rover that goes on Mars."
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
But that's not the extent of her ambitions as the 9th grader, who recently spoke at the prestigious annual African Economics Forum held at Columbia University (pictured), also has designs on the highest oval-shaped office in the land. "When I get much much older I'd like to become the President of the United States so I can have a positive effect on the U.S. and also all the other countries in the world, especially the countries on the African continent."<br />
But that's not the extent of her ambitions as the 9th grader, who recently spoke at the prestigious annual African Economics Forum held at Columbia University (pictured), also has designs on the highest oval-shaped office in the land. "When I get much much older I'd like to become the President of the United States so I can have a positive effect on the U.S. and also all the other countries in the world, especially the countries on the African continent."
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
But for the time being, Zuriel, seen here striking a pose with humanities students from the University of Pretoria, is going to stick to what she knows -- film-making and her next project will combine her love of education and documentaries.
But for the time being, Zuriel, seen here striking a pose with humanities students from the University of Pretoria, is going to stick to what she knows -- film-making and her next project will combine her love of education and documentaries.
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
"I still have a lot to learn, after all I'm only 12 but what's next is to create another documentary called "Follow the ball for education," she says. "I can't say too much about it just yet but it's going to be about how I took two soccer balls to six countries across three continents to get people talking about girl's education during football season."
"I still have a lot to learn, after all I'm only 12 but what's next is to create another documentary called "Follow the ball for education," she says. "I can't say too much about it just yet but it's going to be about how I took two soccer balls to six countries across three continents to get people talking about girl's education during football season."
Courtesy Zuriel Oduwole
Meet Zuriel Oduwole, the 12-year-old filmmaker

Story highlights

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 wo