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’. 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 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. She is

currently a trainer at Tshimologong Precinct’s Mollo Academy and Studio where she serves as

art director