David Ayeni

David is the driving force behind Shades of Survival. A highly proficient polymath across every aspect of filmmaking, David is a passionate creative and deeply experienced technician. 

He has twenty years of experience working in TV broadcast in Africa, Europe and North America. He has worked as director, producer and technical director for African Independent Television (AIT), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), MaxTV (Ghana) and the Moroccan Government. 

In 2019, David founded Creative Rhino, which now acts as his primary way to fulfill his ultimate dream: of telling African stories.

He brings those stories alive with authenticity and passion. He breaks the normal rules for documentaries, capturing emotion through stunning visuals, poetry and music. 

Hilary is Creative Rhino’s COO and Lead Producer. Responsible for all Creative Rhino’s major film projects, with several films in development. 

Hilary is Producer and Screenwriter for the multi award-winning feature documentary, Shades of Survival, which explores the experiences of Black women with breast cancer, and shines a spotlight on inequity. This film premiered in October 2025, screened at the Africa International Film Festival in Lagos (AFRIFF), Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles (PAFF). Winning the audience award for best documentary at the Cambridge Film Festival and best documentary feature at the London Directors’ Talent Award. As Producer of Shades, Hilary managed all strategy, communication, research, as well as financial, legal and project-management aspects. She also served as a thought partner to Director David Ayeni in crafting the film's vision and wrote most of the Narration. She is now leading on the impact production. 

Hilary was born in Malawi, lived also in Eswatini and is now married to a Nigerian; she is passionate about telling African stories and stories with a strong female focus. Hilary has a PhD, MA, and EMBA. She has lived in three continents and worked in over 20 countries. She has published six books across a variety of genres. She worked as a Communication Expert in one of the major global management consultancies for thirteen years, before stepping down to dedicate herself fully to film-making.