Filmmaker Launches New Series Showcasing Black Business Owners
Twenty-year-old founder Munashe Tanjani introduces Africa FX to share stories from the Utah Black community.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in African-American
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Munashe Tanjani, a 20-year-old creator based in Salt Lake City, has founded the production company Africa FX. She is currently developing a documentary series titled Feature Spread to highlight the narratives of Black community members.
Why it matters
The project aims to elevate the visibility of local entrepreneurs by capturing their personal and professional journeys on film. Through community support, the series seeks to build a narrative space dedicated specifically to the experiences of Utah's Black community.
The production includes two pilot episodes: one featuring Dr. Sidni Shorter, President of the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce, and another highlighting Alassane A. Niang, owner of Leverage To Live.
The players
Munashe Tanjani
She is a 20-year-old filmmaker based in Salt Lake City who founded the production company Africa FX to create documentary content.
Dr. Sidni Shorter
She serves as the President of the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce and is featured in the first episode of the documentary series.
Alassane A. Niang
He is the owner of the business Leverage To Live and appears as a featured subject in the second episode of the project.
The details
The production process utilizes professional techniques and custom clothing to document the stories of local figures. Tanjani also intends to expand the project reach by creating a supplemental publication titled UBUNTU.
Timeline
December 2026: The planned release date for the first two pilot episodes of the documentary series.
Culture Shift
This venture exemplifies the shift toward creator-led media projects that bypass traditional gatekeepers to document underrepresented local narratives. Such initiatives mirror a broader trend of independent production houses leveraging digital crowdfunding to reclaim cultural storytelling.
Readers interested in supporting the initiative can follow the development of the documentary and the upcoming UBUNTU magazine through the project's digital presence. The series provides a new platform for residents to engage with the stories of local business leaders and community advocates.
The takeaway
Community-led storytelling initiatives demonstrate how young creators can mobilize public support to build professional media platforms from the ground up. Individuals looking to support local art can engage with these platforms to ensure diverse community voices reach a wider audience.
Further reading
Learn more about local cultural narratives and media representation on the African-American section page.
More information
For more information on the documentary series or to provide support, visit the Africa FX website for support.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC 4.
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