Lola Aikins

Lola Aikins is an award-winning  Sierra Leonean born South African film  director, visual development artist specialising in environment design and a 2D animator. She studied 2D animation at LISAA in Paris, France. She is most known for her current project ‘NALEDI’ Whilst growing up, she saw a lack of representation of stories and characters that she could relate to or looked like her. As a result, in her work she pushes for authentic African aesthetics to help build the identity of animation coming from Africa. As a  freelance visual development artist and animator she has worked on a number of short films, TV series as well as feature films in development. Lola is now directing her first solo short film called ‘Naledi’. The teaser trailer for 'Naledi' has been screened at numerous film festivals including the Cape Town International Animation Festival. The trailer is the 2023 Faku’gesi award winner for best animated short film. In 2023 Lola was selected as one of The Mail and Guardian's top 200 Young South Africans in the Film and Media category.