A Story of the Unifying Power of Art

Violinists practice in the back yard of the Kambangist church for their recital on June 28 to commemorate independence day, in Kinshasa.

I was inspired to post this story of the Kinshasha Symphony Orchestra, on an equally inspiring day as South Sudan becomes the world’s newest nation. In January of last year the film debuted at the Berlinale Special and in April of this year photographer Marcus Bleasdale spoke to Need to Know about his series of photographs that capture the power of pride and love of music eminating from this spectactular ensemble of women and men. 

Football! Polyandry! Land Grabs!

From April 6th through April 12th the 18th New York African Film Festival will settle on the city bringing quiet expression to a continent considered.

A Trip to Algiers, directed by Abdelkrim Bahloul, 2010. Thu Apr 7: 8:30 pm. In 1962, an Algerian woman and her children are dealing with life after the war for independence, when an emigrating Frenchman offers them his home..

AFRICA FIRST! Shorts Program, 2010-2011. Thu Apr 7: 6:00 pm. Dirty Laundry (Stephen Abbott, South Africa, 2010; 15m ), Umkhungo (The Gift, Matthew Jankes, South Africa, 2011; 26m), Tinye So (Daouda Coulibaly, Mali, 2010; 25m), and Mwansa the Great (Rungano Nyoni, Zambia/UK, 2011; 23m).

Africa United, directed by Debs Gardner-Paterson, 2010. Sun Apr 10: 8:30 pm. The extraordinary story of three Rwandan children trying to achieve their lifelong dream: to take part in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Football World Cup in Johannesburg.

An Uncommon Woman, directed by Abdoulaye Dao, 2009. Sat Apr 9: 9:30 pm | Mon Apr 11: 4:15 pm. The chairwoman of a big company decides to take a second husband in a society where polyandry is an unknown practice.

Besouro, directed by João Daniel Tikhomiroff, 2004. Thu Apr 7: 3:30 pm | Sat Apr 9: 6:45 pm. In 1920s Bahia, legendary capoeira fighter Besouro leads an uprising of agricultural workers against their exploitative landowner. Based on a true story! SCREENING WITH EBONY GODDESS: QUEEN OF ILÊ AIYÊ (Carolina Moraes-Liu, 2010, USA/Brazil; 20m) Three women compete to be carnival queen of an Afro-Brazilian group.

For the Best and for the Onion, directed by Elhadj Magori Sani, 2008. Sat Apr 9: 4:45 pm. An engaged couple devise a plan to hasten their wedding before the bride’s father can postpone it once again. SCREENING WITH BONDO: A JOURNEY INTO KONO WOMANHOOD (Sunju Ahmadu, Sierra Leone, 2006; 26m) The filmmaker reflects on her initiation into a women’s secret society.

Kinshasa Symphony, directed by: Claus Wischmann & Martin Baer, 2010. Wed Apr 6: 8:00 pm | Fri Apr 8: 3:30 pm. Picture 200 musicians playing Beethoven’s Ninth in the Congo! A fascinating look at the lone Congolese symphony orchestra, which has persevered through war and other crises. SCREENING WITH BONGO BARBERSHOP (Charlie Ahearn, 2005, USA; 8m) Original hip hop stylings from the source.

Kongo: Grand Illusions, directed by: Daniel Cattier, 2011. Fri Apr 8: 1:30 pm | Tue Apr 12: 6:15 pm. Through the use of animation and never-before-seen colonial footage, this documentary recounts the extraordinary history of Belgian Congo. SCREENING WITH WHY ARE THEY HERE? CHINESE STORIES IN AFRICA (Yara Costa, Mozambique, 2011; 35m) Poor Chinese immigrants struggle in Lesotho, Mozambique, and Ghana.

One Way, a Tuareg Journey, directed by: Fabio Caramaschi, 2010. Sun Apr 10: 2:00 pm | Tue Apr 12: 4:30 pm. Caramaschi’s inspirational documentary chronicles a separated family’s slow, fractured, emigration from Niger to Italy, and the adversity and opportunities they find there. SCREENING WITH SAY GRACE BEFORE DROWNING (Nikyatu Jusu, USA, 2010; 17m) A boy meets his disturbed refugee mother for the first time.

Shooting with Mursi, directed by: Olisarali Olibui & Ben Young, 2009. Wed Apr 6: 2:00 pm | Mon Apr 11: 6:30 pm. A rare, insightful glimpse of Africa’s most isolated tribes, the Mursi, through the eyes of a member who fears for its survival amidst cultural upheaval. SCREENING WITH LEZARE (aka FOR TODAY, Zelalem Woldemariam Ezare, 2010, Ethiopia; 14m) A beautifully shot short story about a homeless boy in an Ethiopian village.

Sierra Leone and Tanzania Celebrate Independence 1963–1977. Wed Apr 6: 6:00 pm | Tue Apr 12: 3:00 pm. Never-before-seen footage of African-Soviet relationships: Sierra Leonean parliamentarians meet exchange students in the USSR, Soviet delegates in Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, and more.

Soul Boy, directed by: Hawa Essuman, 2010. Wed Apr 6: 4:00 pm | Sun Apr 10: 6:15 pm. When his father falls ill, a teenager sets out to find the cure, only to learn that a witch has stolen his father’s soul. SCREENING WITH OUSMANE (DEWENETI, Dyana Gaye, Senegal/France, 2006; 15m) A child beggar decides to write a letter to Santa Claus…

Stolen, directed by: Violeta Ayala & Daniel Fallshaw, 2009. Fri Apr 8: 6:15 pm | Tue Apr 12: 8:30 pm. Filmmakers Ayala and Fallshaw uncover modern-day slavery in the Western Sahara while attempting to document family reunions, making for a documentary that plays like a thriller.

The Witches of Gambaga, directed by: Yaba Badoe, 2010.Thu Apr 7: 1:30 pm | Mon Apr 11: 8:30 pm. An intimate record and disturbing exposé of women condemned to live as witches in Northern Ghana, largely told by its subjects. SCREENING WITH: THE DELIVERANCE OF COMFORT (Zina Saro Wiwa, Nigeria, 2010; 8m) A short satirical fable about a “child witch” called Comfort; TAHARUKI (SUSPENSE (Ekwa Msangi-Omari, USA/Kenya, 2011; 12m) A tale of underground liberationists set amidst Kenya’s 2007-08 post-election violence.; and PHYLLIS (Zina Saro Wiwa, Nigeria, 2010; 14m) The Nollywood-style yarn about a psychic vampire.

Thembi, directed by: Jo Menell, 2010. Sun Apr 10: 4:00 pm. A gentle and incisive documentary about one-time NPR diarist Thembi, who captivated South Africa when she candidly documented her tragic struggle with HIV. Show producer Joe Richman will also introduce excerpts from Thembi’s broadcasts with photographs. SCREENING WITH EXCERPTS FROM THEMBI’S RADIO DIARIES, WITH ACCOMPANYING PHOTOGRAPHS (2004-2005, 7m)

Viva Riva, directed by: Djo Tunda Wa Munga, 2010. Fri Apr 8: 8:15 pm | Mon Apr 11: 2:00 pm. A small-time operator returns to Kinsasha— a seductively vibrant, lawless, fuel-starved sprawl of shantytowns, gated villas, bordellos and nightclubs—and falls for a gangster’s girl.

A Framework for Doing Good + Mandela? Hmm.

All that he touches turns to gold and certainly this will given the powerful PR machine behind the launch of 46664 Apparel’s clothing line launch. Based on these looks, they’ve some serious work ahead and of course we would love to know the price points. Madiba may be loved but this clothing line is not-at least by this blogger. Official launch? August 2011.

MAD! for Africa

We posted a brief commentary on the MAD museum’s exhibit The Global Africa Project that runs through May 15, 2011 and features over 100 artists, but felt compelled to repost and (re)inspire you to visit this thorough eclection of contemporary African art.

Watch a profile of Lowery Stokes Sims, a co-curator of the Global Africa Project and to enlarge the young minds, a teacher resource packet here

David Kato, we mourn your gentle soul and carry forth the struggle

Peace builder, rights protector, teacher, friend, father, son, brother, activist, pioneer, (hu)man, hero.

 

Inspired by Africa, Minus the Africans

I might be a season late with this one  {blame it on priorities} and shamefully desirous of these threads, but really Gwen? Did you have to display such sharpened artistry only to blatantly overlook strong African representation on the catwalk? Whaaat.

Gwen-you should be ashamed of yourself.

C.I.A

We’re thinking of starting a new series called CIA. A tongue in cheek comment on the business of international aid and its plethora of acronyms, but more importantly we are interested in taking a closer, critical look at China in Africa. A photo to set the foundation: