32nd New York African Film Festival Launches in May

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER AND AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCE THE COMPLETE LINEUP FOR
THE 32ND NEW YORK AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL, MAY 7–13

Opening Night selection is the New York premiere of

Afolabi Olalekan’s feature debut, Freedom Way

Inheritance, Mweze, Black Tea, Freedom Way, and Everybody Loves Touda

New York, NY (April 9, 2025) — Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) and African Film Festival, Inc. (AFF) will partner to present the 32nd edition of the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF). NYAFF features more than 30 contemporary and classic films from Africa and its diaspora screening at FLC May 7 through May 13, with 100 films in total as the festival continues at other esteemed New York City cultural venues throughout the month of May, with many filmmakers in attendance for post-screening Q&As. Since its inception in 1993, the festival has been at the forefront of showcasing African and diaspora filmmakers’ unique storytelling through the moving image.

This year’s theme, “Fluid Horizons: A Shifting Lens on a Hopeful World,” honors the resilience of African youth and the forebearers who paved the way for them. As cinema was an integral part of the African continent’s struggle for independence and the triumph of its liberation, this edition of the festival celebrates the African youth who have turned to their cameras to document their experiences and the influence of those who came before them. With a multitude of genres ranging from comedies to experimental films, the 32nd New York African Film Festival offers a multidimensional take on African culture, history, and cinema.

“In a world of uncertainty, the 32nd New York African Film Festival presents a vision of the future through the eyes of Africa’s youth—bold, determined, and endlessly creative. As the youngest and fastest-growing continent, Africa is brimming with stories that demand to be told, not just as reflections of today’s challenges but as blueprints for a future shaped by resilience and possibility,” said Mahen Bonetti, NYAFF founder and AFF executive director. “This year’s festival is a testament to the power of cinema to inspire, provoke, and remind us that hope is always in motion.”

The Opening Night selection is the New York premiere of Afolabi Olalekan’s feature debut, Freedom Way, a powerful tale of the limitless drive of Nigerian youth, which follows the lives of nine individuals set on a collision course in a fast-paced, electric thriller shot on location in Lagos. The Centerpiece film is Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s Memories of Love Returned, an intimate, nuanced documentary about the transformative power of photography, executive produced by Steven Soderbergh and named best documentary at the Africa International Film Festival. Closing Night will feature the shorts program “In the Arms of the Mother,” which spotlights films by or about African women from all walks of life, including the world premiere of Kounkou Hoveyda’s We Will Be Who We Are; the North American premieres of Dika Ofoma’s God’s Wife and Anil Padia and Michael Mwangi Maina’s Temple Road; the U.S. premiere of Zoé Cauwet’s Le Grand Calao; the New York premiere of Mariame N’diaye’s Sira; and Kagure N. Kabue’s Iron Fist.

This year’s NYAFF will also spotlight the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the works of veteran and emerging Congolese filmmakers such as Mwezé Ngangura, Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda, Nelson Makengo, David-Pierre Fila, Sammy Baloji, and Xavier Mwamba. Their films include the U.S. premiere of Baloji’s The Tree of Authenticity, a gripping documentary recounting the ecological destruction that began at the time of colonization through the voices of two emblematic scientists.

The festival will also host the North American premiere of Furu by Fatou Cissé, the daughter of legendary filmmaker Souleymane Cissé, which explores the impact of forced marriage on young women in Mali. Two additional features making their U.S. debuts include Awam Amkpa’s The Man Died, based on the harrowing prison memoir by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka; and Ndar, Saga Waalo, Ousmane William Mbaye’s powerful documentary about Saint-Louis, Senegal, the port of colonial penetration into West Africa.

Special programs include a free panel presented by AFF and OkayAfrica on May 10 entitled “From Then to Now: Celebrating 15 Years of African Cinema,” featuring a discussion with four acclaimed filmmakers from this year’s festival and offering a rare opportunity to reflect on the creative shifts and enduring themes shaping African cinema today. Two free art exhibits running May 8–13 in the Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center include “Congo RE-Vue: A Fresh Perspective by Emerging Congolese Talent,” a dynamic digital photo exhibition dedicated to highlighting the vibrant talent of the next generation of Congolese artists; and Bereket Adamu’s “All Night We Waited for Morning, All Morning We Waited for Night,” a welded steel light sculpture and animated video that reflects on African resistance, migration, and global interconnectedness.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 10, at 2pm ET, with an early access period for FLC Members starting Thursday, April 10, at noon. Ticket prices are $17 for the general public; $14 for students, seniors, and persons with disabilities; and $12 for FLC Members. See more and save with a 3+ Film Package ($15 for general public; $12 for students, seniors (62+), and persons with disabilities; and $10 for FLC Members), the $99 All-Access Pass, or the $79 Student All-Access Pass. Contact info@africanfilmny.org for information about attending the Opening Night Party.

The festival continues at Maysles Documentary Center in Harlem from April 15 to 18 and at Brooklyn Academy of Music under the name FilmAfrica from May 23 to May 29 during DanceAfrica, and culminates with an outdoor screening at St. Nicholas Park on May 31.

The programs of AFF are made possible by the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts,  Bradley Family Foundation, Color Congress, NYC & Company, The New York Community Trust, French Cultural Services, Manhattan Portage, Organization de la Francophonie, Essentia Water, Ministre du Tourisme République démocratique du Congo, ZOPMEDIA, South African Consulate General, National Film and Video Foundation, and Motion Picture Enterprises.

FILMS & DESCRIPTIONS
The Opening Night premiere of Freedom Way on May 7 will take place at

the Walter Reade Theater (165 W. 65th Street).

All other films will screen at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center (144 W. 65th Street).

Opening Night

Freedom Way

Afolabi Olalekan, 2024, Nigeria, 83m

New York Premiere

Faced with unfavorable laws and incessant police harassment, three young co-founders struggle to keep their start-up alive. A motorcyclist faces dark times with his family after losing his livelihood. A doctor struggles with his conscience on the job while battling outdated government policies. A police pair find themselves on different sides of the law with a difficult choice to make. The lives of nine individuals are set on a collision course in Afolabi Olalekan’s feature debut, a fast-paced, electric thriller shot on location in Lagos.

Wednesday, May 7 at 6:30pm – Q&A with Afolabi Olalekan

Thursday, May 8 at 4:00pm

Centerpiece

Memories of Love Returned

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, 2024, Uganda/U.S., 76m

Luganda and English with English subtitles

New York Premiere

On April 24, 2002, filmmaker Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s car broke down in the small town of Mbirizi, Uganda. While waiting for it to be repaired he stumbled upon a small photo studio and met photographer Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo, whose work spanned from the late 1950s to his death in 2006. This chance encounter turned into a 22-year journey documenting and exploring Kibaate’s life and photography and the profound impact it had on Ntare’s life and the lives of the entire community he documented. Executive produced by Steven Soderbergh, this intimate, nuanced documentary about the transformative power of photography was named best documentary at the Africa International Film Festival and won the Audience Award at the Pan African Film Festival. 

Saturday, May 10 at 6:30pm – Q&A with Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine

Closing Night

Shorts Program 4: In the Arms of the Mother

110m

This program of short films by and/or about African women includes Mariame N’diaye’s Sira, Anil Padia and Michael Mwangi Maina’s Temple Road, Dika Ofoma’s God’s Wife, Kagure N. Kabue’s Iron Fist, Zoé Cauwet’s Le Grand Calao, and Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda’s We Will Be Who We Are.

Tuesday, May 13 at 8:30pm

Sira

Mariame N’diaye, 2023, France, 24m

Soninké and French with English subtitles

New York Premiere

To stay with her daughter and her husband, a young Malian woman living in France in the 1980s has to abide by one condition.

Temple Road

Anil Padia, Michael Mwangi Maina, 2024, France/Kenya, 13m

Swahili with English subtitles

North American Premiere

Inspired by childhood experiences of women-only ceremonies and family Polaroids from the 1950s to the 1970s, Temple Road recreates the spiritual and ritualistic preparation of a woman. Weaving a dreamlike narrative, it blends rituals from Kenyan Indian heritage with diverse Kenyan cultures, reflected in a multicultural cast and interwoven ceremonies. Emphasizing the reverence women deserve as the pillars of society, the film is both a tribute to the past and a call to recognize women as bearers of culture, tradition, and life amidst rising violence against women in Kenya.

God’s Wife

Dika Ofoma, 2024, Nigeria, 15m

Igbo with English subtitles

North American Premiere

A young widow is propositioned by her late husband’s brother. When she refuses his advances, he threatens to have her ousted from her husband’s home, and she has to reconcile her personal convictions and Catholic beliefs with her in-laws’ demands.

Iron Fist

Kagure N. Kabue, 2024, Kenya, 15m

Swahili with English subtitles

In Nairobi’s bustling streets, hardworking mother Wangari, haunted by trauma, discovers empowerment in a local boxing gym. Her unexpected journey sparks a transformative rebirth, fostering resilience and a thriving spirit amid life’s fiercest battles.

Le Grand Calao

Zoé Cauwet, 2024, France/Burkina Faso, 27m

Mooré and French with English subtitles

U.S. Premiere

It’s a hot day, as it often is in Ouagadougou. It’s also a very special day for a group of women taking a long-awaited getaway, a moment of discovery, and a break from the hustle and bustle of the world and their lives. A few tourists are there too, a wealthy family from Burkina Faso is lounging around, and a few soldiers are watching over the place. It’s a small world that moves slowly around the Grand Calao’s swimming pool. Until sunset, the women spend a moment out of time, talking about their lives and their problems, while exploring the new sensation of their bodies in the calm blue water.

We Will Be Who We Are

Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda, 2024, Sierra Leone, 16m

World Premiere

In Sierra Leone, best friends Aya and Boi decide to marry each other in an attempt to escape society’s pressures to conform.

Black Tea

Abderrahmane Sissako, 2024, Mauritania/Luxembourg/Taiwan/Côte d'Ivoire, 111m

New York Premiere

Mandarin, French, English, and Portuguese with English subtitles

After saying no on her wedding day, Aya leaves the Ivory Coast for a new life in the buzzing “Chocolate City” of Guangzhou, China. In this district where the African diaspora meets Chinese culture, she gets hired in a tea boutique owned by Cai, a Chinese man. In the secrecy of the back shop, Cai decides to initiate Aya to the tea ceremony. Through the teaching of this ancient art, their relationship slowly turns into tender love. But for their burgeoning passion to lead to mutual trust, they must let go of their burdens and face their past.

Thursday, May 8 at 6:30pm – Q&A with Abderrahmane Sissako and producer Kessen Tall

Tuesday, May 13 at 3:15pm

Everybody Loves Touda

Nabil Ayouch, 2024, Morocco/France/Belgium/Denmark/Netherlands, 101m

Arabic with English subtitles

New York Premiere

Irrepressible Touda dreams of only one thing—being a Sheikha, a respected traditional Moroccan performer. Empowered by the songs of resistance and emancipation of the fierce female poets who came before her, she takes the stage every evening in provincial bars. Tired of performing under the lustful gaze of men, Touda sets her sights on leaving her small village for the bright lights of Casablanca, where she hopes to be recognized as a true artist—and secure a better future for her and her son. The latest from award-winning director Nabil Ayouch (Casablanca Beats, Horses of God) premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and was Morocco’s submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

Monday, May 12 at 8:30pm

The Fisherman

Zoey Martinson, 2024, Ghana, 105m

New York Premiere

Atta Oko has spent his life as a proud traditional fisherman in rural Ghana. When he is suddenly forced into retirement his life takes a whimsical turn as he is partnered with a modern, bougie talking fish. As fishy chaos ensues, Atta and his three quirky “associates” navigate the vibrant streets of Accra, chasing their shared dream of owning a fishing boat. Filled with laughter, magic, and the rich culture of Ghana, The Fisherman is a heartwarming tale of family, resilience, and the enduring spirit of a true fisherman.

Sunday, May 11 at 1:00pm – Q&A with Zoey Martinson

Furu

Fatou Cissé, 2024, Mali, 67m

Bambara with English subtitles

North American Premiere

This powerful social drama from director Fatou Cissé, daughter of legendary Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé, explores the impact of forced marriage on young women in Mali. The film follows Tou, who is pressured to marry an older man after becoming pregnant, and Ami, who resists village pressure to wed in favor of her independence. Through these parallel stories, Furu examines the complex and often painful choices young women face when their futures are shaped by tradition rather than personal agency. The film confronts the enduring practice of forced marriage and its psychological consequences, offering a poignant and urgent reflection on gender, autonomy, and resistance within a patriarchal society. Preceded by a clip from Cissé’s 2022 documentary A Daughter’s Tribute to Her Father, an intimate portrayal of the life and career of Souleymane Cissé.

Friday, May 9 at 6:00pm – Q&A with Fatou Cissé

Identity Pieces / Pièces d’identités

Mwezé Ngangura, 1998, Democratic Republic of the Congo/Belgium, 97m

Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba, French, English, and Dutch with English subtitles

In Mwezé Ngangura’s modern comic fairy tale, Mani Kongo, King of the Bakongo, embarks on a trip to Belgium to find his beloved daughter, Mwana, whom he has lost touch with. Dignified and outfitted in full regalia, the African king walks into a society that neither respects his title nor values his humanity. On arriving in Belgium, he has to cope with the very best and the very worst of the Black diaspora, as well as with prejudices rampant in European society, and finds good friends amongst the poor, lower-class whites—showing that nothing is ever black or white.

Saturday, May 10 at 3:45pm

Juju Factory

Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda, 2006, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 97m

French with English subtitles

Kongo lives in the Matonge district of Brussels, where he is writing a book. His editor wants a kind of traveler’s book spiced with ethnic ingredients. However, Kongo is inspired by his vision of complex and tormented souls that he meets at all proverbial and literal crossings. His story, and Juju Factory’s narrative, follow invisible trajectories intertwined with Congolese history and Belgium’s ghosts.

Sunday, May 11 at 8:45pm – Q&A with Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda

The Man Died

Awam Amkpa, 2024, Nigeria, 105m

U.S. Premiere

Based on the harrowing prison memoir by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, The Man Died is a powerful tale of resistance, courage, and the unyielding human spirit. Set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s civil war, the film chronicles Soyinka’s imprisonment without trial by a brutal military regime determined to silence his voice. Through solitary confinement, torture, and deprivation, Soyinka’s resolve to fight against tyranny and injustice only grows stronger. Interwoven with flashbacks to his earlier life as a writer and activist, the film reveals the profound inner strength and unbreakable spirit that drive Soyinka’s resistance. As he documents his experiences on scraps of paper smuggled out of his cell, his writings become a beacon of hope and a call to action for others living under oppression. The Man Died is not just a personal story but a universal testament to the enduring power of truth and the necessity of standing up against tyranny. It is a poignant reminder that in the face of oppression, silence is not an option, and the human spirit can never truly be extinguished.

Tuesday, May 13 at 6:00pm – Q&A with Awam Amkpa

Mweze

David-Pierre Fila, 2020, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 80m

French and Lingala with English subtitles

David-Pierre Fila’s documentary on Mwezé Ngangura—the visionary Congolese director of Kin Kiesse; Life Is Beautiful; Changa Changa; The King, the Cow and the Banana Tree; Pieces d’identités; and The Governor’s New Clothes—unfolds as a meditation on history, politics, cinema, image, and time. Shot in Kinshasa, Ouagadougou, and Brussels, it is not a biography but an introspective exploration of Mwezé’s life today in Belgium, where he has settled with his family. What emerges is a self-portrait conceived by Mwezé himself, a collage of images layered with sound impressions. From the very first frames, the film presents itself with an understated elegance and subtle charms, its subject less concerned with intellectual discourse and more with stirring the heart.

Saturday, May 10 at 1:30pm

Ndar, Saga Waalo

Ousmane William Mbaye, 2024, Senegal, 91m

French and Wolof with English subtitles

U.S. Premiere

Ndar, the original name of Saint-Louis, an island at the mouth of the Senegal River in the former Waalo kingdom, was the port of colonial penetration into West Africa four centuries ago. An economic, cultural, and political crossroads, it served as a laboratory for the “civilizing mission.” Commerce, town planning, education, and mixed heritage were the instruments for French colonists to assimilate populations, establish themselves in the country, and exploit the wealth. While some cannot deny history and have kept their Saint-Louisian way of living intact, others want to put an end to the colonial heritage. For many young people today, it is time to think about history differently. Yet everyone has managed to preserve their keen sense of living well together.

Sunday, May 11 at 6:30pm – Q&A with Ousmane William Mbaye and producer Laurence Attali

Rising Up at Night / Tongo Saa

Nelson Makengo, 2024, Democratic Republic of the Congo/Belgium/Germany/Burkina Faso/Qatar, 96m

Lingala with English subtitles

As the Congo constructs Africa’s largest power station, Kinshasa and its inhabitants are trapped in literal darkness, waiting and struggling to get access to electric light while also dealing with extensive flooding and preparing to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. Nelson Makengo’s first feature documentary, which premiered at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival Panorama, is a vivid portrait of Kinshasa’s residents—their hopes, disappointments, religious faith, and resilience. Makengo’s subtle, fragmented storytelling captures a population reinventing itself while immersed in the beauty of Kinshasa’s nights.

Preceded by

Profiling

Zaza Mon Amour, 2025, France, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 15m

French with English subtitles

World Premiere

In Marseille, a city of rich cultural diversity that still carries the deep scars of segregation, three childhood friends reunite after years apart, but what begins as a joyful gathering takes a tragic turn due to racial profiling. 

Friday, May 9 at 8:30pm

The Tree of Authenticity / L’Arbre de l’Authenticité

Sammy Baloji, 2025, Belgium/Democratic Republic of the Congo, 89m

French and Dutch with English subtitles

U.S. Premiere

Nestled in Africa’s largest rainforest lies one of the many gravesites of the West’s efforts to control nations and nature—one of the world’s largest tropical agricultural research centers. Located on the banks of the Congo River, the Yangambi INERA Research Station was a booming scientific center in its heyday, but today, it is an amalgam of jungle and ruin. Sammy Baloji’s gripping documentary The Tree of Authenticity recounts the stigma of ecological destruction that began at the time of colonization through the voices of two emblematic scientists who worked at Yangambi between 1910 and 1950, Paul Panda Farnana and Abiron Beirnaert. Their stories embody the legacies of colonial modernity and trace the origins of today’s environmental injustice.

Preceded by

The Planet of Water

Leonardo Gámez Gil, 2024, Mexico, 3m

Spanish with English subtitles

New York Premiere

In the near future, humanity—obsessed with saving water while destroying its own planet—faces a devastating environmental crisis. Humans begin to explore space in search of water, and in their absence, the Earth regenerates itself.

La Serpiente de Shelmeca

Laura Bermúdez, 2023, Honduras, 3m

Miskitu and Spanish with English subtitles

New York Premiere

The second most important rainforest in the Americas hides an archaeological secret of an ancient indigenous population, known today as Ciudad Blanca. Wildres Wood, the first biologist from the Miskitu ethnic group, embarks on a journey to the heart of the jungle to protect Honduras’ most important treasure for the world.

Monday, May 12 at 6:00pm

 New York African Film Festival Shorts Programs

 Shorts Program 1: Notions of Home

102m

This program of diaspora short films from around the globe includes Ahmed Samir’s Grandma, Hans Augustave’s Nwa (Black), Adesola Thomas’s Sister Salad Days, Devin Powell’s Where Are You From?, Shawn Antoine II’s Green Bay, Rhys Aaron Lewis’s Run Like We, and Francis Y. Brown’s Blinded by the Lights.

Thursday, May 8 at 9:15pm – Q&A with Shawn Antoine II, Hans Augustave, Daty Kaba, and Ahmed Samir

Friday, May 9 at 3:00pm

Grandma

Ahmed Samir, 2024, Egypt, 23m

Arabic with English subtitles

North American Premiere

While living in isolation, Mona and her young son await the birth of a new baby while still carrying the weight of the grandma’s recent death. When her son begins listening to her pregnant belly, convinced his grandmother’s spirit exists inside and wants to return, Mona is unsettled by his quiet certainty. As she struggles to comfort him, she confronts her own fears of failing as a mother, of being unable to fill the absence left behind, and of opening herself to the unknown. With each passing moment, the fragile balance between grief and hope threatens to collapse, forcing her to face the life growing inside her and the love she’s afraid she can’t give.

Nwa (Black)

Hans Augustave, 2024, U.S., 20m

English, French, and Haitian with English subtitles

Nwa is a candid, emotional coming-of-age film about Frantz, a first-generation Haitian-American boy, torn by the decision to get the haircut he knows his strict immigrant father would approve of, or a trendy cut connecting him to the Black American culture he’s been warned by his father not to embrace.

Sister Salad Days

Adesola Thomas, 2024, U.S., 18m

When an asexual double dutcher’s religious father forces her to get married, she enlists her friends and fiancé to stop the wedding and free her older sister whose soul is trapped on their father’s land.

Where Are You From?

Devin Powell, 2025, U.S., 13m

World Premiere

While Sherif, a 14-year-old Senegalese adolescent student in the U.S., watches international cinema, George, his 11-year-old American host, disrupts his bouts of escapism. Both characters have an issue: Sherif misses home and George has nothing to do. They solve this problem by watching movies together, but George can’t keep quiet.

Green Bay

Shawn Antoine II, U.S., 2024, 2m

World Premiere

On a green-skied shore, a woman’s dance becomes a sacred ritual that summons an extraterrestrial being.

Run Like We

Rhys Aaron Lewis, 2024, U.K., 13m

New York Premiere

It’s the 2012 London Olympics and the whole world is going crazy for the fastest man on the planet: Usain Bolt. Everyone apart from Alvin, an awkward 14-year-old who hates sports and constantly disappoints his Jamaican father, Lester, an ex-athlete who can’t understand why his son is “so soft.” So when Alvin is unexpectedly nominated to represent his class in the upcoming school sports day, it could be his last chance to make his dad proud and prove that he can be just like Bolt.

Blinded by the Lights

Francis Y. Brown, 2025, Ghana, 13m

World Premiere

A powerful and visually striking allegory, Blinded by the Lights explores the insatiable greed of the African leader and the devastating cost of betrayal. Set against the backdrop of a nation trapped in the cycle of neocolonialism, the film unpacks the illusions of power, the corruption that festers behind closed doors, and the silent suffering of a people forgotten by those meant to lead them. With bold symbolism and a haunting narrative, Blinded by the Lights is a chilling reflection on leadership, legacy, and the price of selling one’s soul for power.

 Shorts Program 2: Mzansi Moments

101m

This collection of short films from South Africa includes Ntokozo Mlaba’s The Passage, Michelle Name and Onke Meje’s Intsikelelo Yamanzi, Nduduzo Shandu’s Gogo, Phumi Morare’s Why the Cattle Wait, Hachimiya Ahamada’s Zanatany, When Soulless Shrouds Whisper, Kgomotso Sekhu’s Shap Shap, and Zoe Ramushu’s Damsel, Not in Distress.

Saturday, May 10 at 8:45pm

The Passage

Ntokozo Mlaba, 2024, South Africa, 12m

Southern Sotho and Zulu with English subtitles

North American Premiere

When Mrembula learns that Dakalo has opened a case of rape against him, he blackmails Bafana, his best friend and Dakalo’s boyfriend, into fabricating a story. Bafana tries to resist but realizes that with his hopes of making it out of the hood, it would be better to go with Mrembula’s story than to end up living his days in a jail cell. Mrembula thus sits Bafana down as they recreate the recollections of the events that unfolded on that fateful night in

the passage.

Intsikelelo Yamanzi

Michelle Name, Onke Meje, 2024, South Africa, 8m

English and Xhosa with English subtitles

North American Premiere

When Cape Town encounters an extreme stretch without water, things get desperate. Perhaps it’s a little boy who returns us to our humanity.

Gogo

Nduduzo Shandu, 2024, South Africa, 13m

Zulu with English subtitles

Introduced to storytelling at a young age from her own grandmother, Nduduzo Shandu crafted a story of a lifetime bond between a grandmother and her grandson.

Why the Cattle Wait

Phumi Morare, 2024, South Africa, 20m

Xhosa with English subtitles

New York Premiere

A folklore love story about a Nguni goddess who must find and convince her former mortal lover to return to the eternal world with her, before she destroys the earth.

Zanatany, When Soulless Shrouds Whisper

Hachimiya Ahamada, 2024, Belgium/Madagascar, 27m

Malagasy with English subtitles

New York Premiere

Majunga, Madagascar, December 1976. A wind of revolt sweeps through the city. Ali, a second-in-command in a bookbinding workshop, is raising his two daughters alone. One morning, before going to work, he witnesses what seems to be a simple neighborhood quarrel….

Shap Shap

Kgomotso Sekhu, 2024, South Africa, 10m

English and Tswana with English subtitles

U.S. Premiere

After surviving multiple attempts on his life in a dangerous village, 13-year-old Mmusi sets out to find his father in the township but is taken in by a strict Jehovah’s Witness. Homeless and judged by society, he struggles to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world. On his journey to reunite with his mother in Johannesburg, Mmusi faces discrimination but discovers hope and strength through unexpected friendships. Just as his life begins to improve, he receives a scholarship to go to the United States, but without a fixed address, his future remains uncertain.

Damsel, Not in Distress

Zoe Ramushu, 2025, South Africa, 11m

Aluta​​ infiltrates a crew of party girls who are hustling Johannesburg’s rich and powerful using charm and deception, but what the crew doesn’t know is Aluta is on a secret mission to find her missing sister. But when a job goes wrong, she’s betrayed and needs to stay one step ahead, or she’ll be the next target.

Shorts Program 3: Centennial Legacies

119m

Marking a century of history, culture, and resistance, this short film program honoring the visionaries and movements that shaped the past and continue to inspire the future includes Lou de Lemos’s The Legend of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, Paulin Soumanou Vieyra’s It Was Four Years Ago, Paulin Soumanou Vieyra’s Ousmane Sembène: The Making of Ceddo, Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda’s The Draughtsmen Clash, and Lebert Bethune’s Malcolm X: Struggle for Freedom.

Sunday, May 11 at 3:30pm – Q&A with Leburt Bethune, Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda, and cultural historian Danielle Brito

Monday, May 12 at 3:00pm

The Legend of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg

Lou de Lemos, Puerto Rico/U.S., 1986, 25m

Spanish with English subtitles

This biography tells the story of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, a Puerto Rican of African descent who dedicated his life to studying African history and collecting Black-related materials from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. His collection forms the core of the collection found today at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a research center of the New York Public Library.

It Was Four Years Ago / C’était Il y a Quatre Ans

Paulin Soumanou Vieyra, 1954, France, Senegal, 9m

French with English subtitles

An African student at his desk hears a song from his homeland on the radio. He feels transported back several years to the time when he was preparing to leave for France. He sketches a few dance steps. Meanwhile, his French girlfriend arrives to continue his classical music education. Listening to the first classical record, his mind wanders back to Africa.

Ousmane Sembène: The Making of Ceddo / L’envers du Décor

Paulin Soumanou Vieyra, Senegal, 1981, 25m

Wolof and French with English subtitles

Paulin Soumanou Vieyra captures Ousmane Sembène, one of the greatest African filmmakers, during the filming of Ceddo. The Making of Ceddo was completed after four years of production, while Ceddo itself was censored by the Senegalese authorities under the Senghor regime until 1983.

The Draughtsmen Clash / Le Damier

Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda, 1996, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 40m

French with English subtitles        

The Draughtsmen Clash tells the story of the president of a fictitious African nation who spends a sleepless night playing checkers with a pot-smoking vagabond who claims to be the all-round champion. However, the rules of the game entail the opponents howling vulgar and foul obscenities at one another. The champion proceeds to insult, and trounce, the president. His reward, and his fate, will not surprise anyone.

Malcolm X: Struggle for Freedom

Lebert Bethune, France, 1964, 20m

Bethune’s film portrays Malcolm X at a time when his views were evolving to include what was going on in the world at large. It features interviews filmed during Malcolm X’s trip to Europe and

Africa shortly before his assassination in the United States, interspersed with scenes of African rebellion.

Special Programs

 Art Exhibition: “All Night We Waited for Morning, All Morning We Waited for Night” by Bereket Adamu

“All Night We Waited for Morning, All Morning We Waited for Night” is a welded steel light sculpture and animated video that reflects on African resistance, migration, and global interconnectedness. Constructed from steel, cotton, hide skin glue, ink, paint, and a lightbulb, the piece combines material and conceptual tension, with light and movement obscuring as much as they reveal. Depicting winged African figures, it explores themes of environmental disruption, self-agency, and intergenerational relationships that transcend borders. The work’s shifting figures and forms resist fixed meaning, creating a narrative suspended between presence and absence, illuminated and obscured.

The accompanying animation extends this instability, allowing figures to dissolve and reform as the object is made and un- made, while the illuminated steel structure flickers between clarity and obscurity, revealing only partial truths. Through its dynamic interplay of sculpture and animation, the piece moves beyond monumentality, capturing a fluidity of political, environmental, and personal change in an ongoing, layered rhythm that defies stand still interpretation.
Thursday, May 8 – Tuesday, May 13 – FREE
Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center

Congo RE-Vue: A Fresh Perspective by Emerging Congolese Talent

Congo RE-Vue is a dynamic digital photo exhibition dedicated to highlighting the vibrant talent of the next generation of Congolese artists. This project focuses on young Congolese photographers who, with fresh eyes and a forward-thinking approach, are redefining how their country is viewed both within its borders and beyond. Their vision is one of progress, creativity, and optimism. At the heart of Congo RE-Vue is a dedication to contemporary Congolese culture, seen through the lens of photographers (with future editions to include filmmakers) who are reshaping the narrative of their country.

Curated by Cecilia Zoppelletto and produced by ZOPMEDIA in collaboration with ZEKE and Preston Witman Productions, Congo RE-Vue is an exploration of the artistic innovation coming out of Congo today, crafted with care and pride. This is more than just a photo exhibition—it is a movement, a statement, and an invitation to experience Congo through the eyes of its next generation.

The works featured in Congo RE-Vue are a testament to the immense talent of Congo’s young photography generation. From intimate portraits to bold social commentary, each artist brings their own unique perspective, offering a fresh lens through which to see the beauty, challenges, and triumphs of Congo. This first edition includes the works of Christelle Emulu, Arsène Mpiana, Hardy Bope, Henock Diba, Luther Lupeta, Antalya Mbafumoya, and Fortune Lula.

Thursday, May 8 – Tuesday, May 13 – FREE

Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center

From Then to Now: Celebrating 15 Years of African Cinema — Presented by AFF & OkayAfrica
The African Film Festival (AFF) and OkayAfrica present From Then to Now: Celebrating 15 Years of African Cinema—a thoughtful exploration of the evolving landscape of African film. Bringing together four acclaimed filmmakers featured in this year’s festival, this panel offers a rare opportunity to reflect on the creative shifts and enduring themes shaping African cinema today. Panelists include Abderrahmane Sissako (Black Tea), Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda (Juju Factory), Afolabi Olalekan (Opening Night film Freedom Way), and Fatou Cissé (Furu), who also honors the profound legacy of her father, the late Souleymane Cissé. Together, they trace the threads of continuity and change across a decade and a half of cinematic storytelling, offering insight into the present moment and the future of the art form.
Saturday, May 10 at 11:30am – FREE
Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center

FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER
Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) is a nonprofit organization that celebrates cinema as an essential art form and fosters a vibrant home for film culture to thrive. FLC presents premier film festivals, retrospectives, new releases, and restorations year-round in state-of-the-art theaters at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. FLC offers audiences the opportunity to discover works from established and emerging directors from around the world with a passionate community of film lovers at marquee events including the New York Film Festival and New Directors/New Films. 

Founded in 1969, FLC is committed to preserving the excitement of the theatrical experience for all audiences, advancing high-quality film journalism through the publication of Film Comment, cultivating the next generation of film industry professionals through our FLC Academies, and enriching the lives of all who engage with our programs.

Rolex is the Official Partner and Exclusive Timepiece of Film at Lincoln Center.

Film at Lincoln Center receives generous, year-round support from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. For more information, visit filmlinc.org and follow @filmlinc on X, Instagram, and Bluesky.

AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL, INC.
Since 1990, African Film Festival, Inc. (AFF) has bridged the divide between postcolonial Africa and the American public through the powerful medium of film and video. AFF's unique place in the international arts community is distinguished not only by leadership in festival management, but also by a comprehensive approach to the advocacy of African film and culture. AFF established the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF) in 1993 with Film at Lincoln Center. The New York African Film Festival is presented annually by the African Film Festival, Inc. and Film at Lincoln Center, in association with Brooklyn Academy of Music and Maysles Cinema. AFF also produces a series of local, national, and international programs throughout the year. More information about AFF can be found on the Web at www.africanfilmny.org. You can follow AFF at @africanfilmfest on X and Instagram.

For press inquiries regarding Film at Lincoln Center, please contact:

John Kwiatkowski, Film at Lincoln Center, JKwiatkowski@filmlinc.org

Eva Tooley, Film at Lincoln Center, ETooley@filmlinc.org

For press inquiries regarding African Film Festival, Inc., please contact:

Cheryl Duncan, Cheryl Duncan & Company Inc., cheryl@cdcprnews.com

Prince Alban Gogo Anyanwu: Renowned Sculptor, Educator and Administrator (1934 - 2023)

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Prince Alban Gogo Anyanwu (1934 - 2023) Renowned Sculptor, Educator and Administrator

Prince Gogo studied Fine Arts at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1961-1962) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1962-1965) becoming one of the two pioneer graduates of sculpture at the University of Nigeria. He was a seasoned, mature, experienced professional artist and teacher especially in Creative Arts. He was deliberate in all his endeavours, manifesting unusual talent and skills.  

As a fulfilled educator with deep knowledge in all subjects, Prince Gogo taught in primary, secondary, teacher-training, and tertiary institutions as Headmaster, Principal of Colleges, Lecturer (the pioneer sculpture lecturer in the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT – Enugu, 1972-1976) before joining the Imo State Government after its creation in 1976. He was a Chief Inspector of Education for Creative Arts, Director of State Archives, and the pioneer Director of the Council for Arts and Culture, a role that created the opportunity for him to direct creative arts and culture in the old Imo State.

In his late 70s, driven by passion for quality education, Prince Gogo started a series of penetrating orientation lectures titled – ‘Revolution in Education through the Creative Arts’. The lectures were delivered to secondary schools in Imo State, Nigeria. Those lectures were documented in 3 Creative Art books which he authored and published. The books were presented to the public in 2014 during his 80th birthday celebration.

In 1981, Prince Gogo opened a big Art Studio and Gallery – known as ‘Prefab Galleries’ at Owerri, Imo State where he produced so many art works – drawings, sculptures and paintings. Since his graduation, he has executed over 200 gigantic sculpture pieces and paintings and has participated in solo and group Art Exhibitions.

 Inappropriately, Prince Gogo’s Art Studio and Gallery was demolished in a most barbaric manner in May 2010 – he lost many of his artworks (sculpture pieces and paintings) and that of his son, a graduate painter. Though in 2020, a Court Judgment was delivered in favour of Prince Gogo against the Imo State Housing Corporation (for trespassing) by a competent court of jurisdiction, the belated justice (after 10 years) cannot substitute the destroyed artworks of a renowned professional artist.

On April 2, 2023, Prince Gogo’s journey on earth ended and he returned to his Creator. To celebrate this exceptional STAR and mark one year of his passing, we immortalised him by erecting a life-size bronze bust of him mounted in front of his house in Owerri where Prefab Galleries is located. The bronze statue was produced by Dr Chile Oparaocha, a professor of sculpture at the Department of Fine Arts and Design, University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria (attached are some of the photos of the bust).

To further immortalise this Art Legend after two years of his passing, we have launched a website in his honour – www.prefabgalleries.com, where we invite everyone to watch a 2009 interview by Africa-Related https://youtu.be/tXquu6670AU aired repeatedly in a couple of Multichoice channels and photo speak https://photos.app.goo.gl/tRTFL5h6RSnTYLcx9 showcasing his art life spanning four scores and nine.

DELA Campus Tour Kicks Off With Pan-Atlantic University

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Patricia Igho, Lagos - Nigeria

The Nigeria leg of the DELA Campus Tour kicked off with the Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos on 20th March 2025. From 10:00 am, the technical crew began setting up at Benin Hall, the theatre style 60-seater venue for the screening

L-R: Standing by on of El Anatsui’s early wood works: Ayodele O. Banjo (DELA Editor/TWPC), Clement Eno, Solomon Nkwagu (Head Corporate Communications, Yemisi Shyllon Museum). and Patricia Igho ( Africa-Related). Photo by Yemisi Shyllon Museum

The DELA Team was given a tour of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art by the Head Corporate Communications Mr. Solomon Nkwagu. The museum is situated on the campus, where some of El Anatsui's earlier works are part of the its permanent collection. 

The screening was scheduled to take place at 2:00 pm, and students began arriving as early as 1:30 pm, having completed their registration prior to the event. Those students who had classes scheduled in between the start time and the screening later joined the gathering as they were able. Additionally, several members of the staff also made their way to the venue to participate in the event, contributing to the overall atmosphere of engagement and anticipation.

Dr. Añulika Agina, an Associate Professor, Media Studies and MSc Programme Director, made the introductions, and prompted the students to observe a minute of silence for the late Dr. Tom Adaba, who also served as a Senior  Consultant on the film project. 

The screening kicked off about 2:10 pm and ran through to 4pm. The students displayed keen interest and were actively taking notes during the course. Some of the scenes elicited different reactions such as laughter and awe. 

The ‘intense’ Q&A session that followed lasted for an hour and ten minutes. It was an enlightening session, where five students were given the opportunity to ask questions. Mr. Ayodele O. Banjo, the lead editor and co-producer on the project, answered questions that centered on the technical aspects of the documentary i.e filming, music, editing, and personal motivation..  

Q & A Photos with DELA Editor Mr. Ayodele Banjo

The day ended with three copies each of books authored by two participants in the film,  presented to the PAU library and received by Dr. Ajina. The books are 'But For God' by Dr. Tom Adaba and 'A Samson In The Wild' by Bright Andrew Igho.

DELA: The Making of El Anatsui is a biographical documentary about one of the world's greatest sculptors. The Campus Tour aims to bring art and film students closer to the film's subject. The next stop in Nigeria is the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) on April 10, 2025. In Ghana, the tour will screen at the artist’s five alma mater institutions.

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Water is Life group exhibition of art and poetry

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Mmiri bụ Ndụ - (Water is Life) group exhibition of art and poetry commemorating the 4th International Conference on Water in Africa by *Our Water and Health Network Africa. Opens at 2 pm Wednesday, 19th March 2025, at the Institute of African Studies Museum, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and runs until Friday, 18th April 2025, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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The long-anticipated solo exhibition Ozioma Onuzulike:

The long-anticipated solo exhibition Ozioma Onuzulike: Who Knows Tomorrow opened to an enthusiastic audience yesterday, 14th March 2025, at the Marc Straus Gallery in New York.

In Ozioma Onuzulike’s workshop in Nsukka, Nigeria, the fiery core of the kiln is a crucible of radical transformation. Within this space, the artist experiments, explores, and forges a universal language - one without a name, yet shared across borders. Here, art transcends national divisions, creating dialogues that connect rather than divide. Using pigments from the UK, clay from Nigeria, and exhibiting in New York, Onuzulike’s work speaks in a boundless, cross- cultural discourse.

A major source of inspiration for Onuzulike’s work is his mentor and teacher, Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui, particularly his series of broken pots from the 1970s. Onuzulike extends these ideas to his art making; his process - cutting, smashing, and subjecting clay to violent force - mirrors historical ruptures, evoking war and colonial exploitation. Fire, both destructive and creative, is central to this narrative, transforming materials in an irreversible act of transmutation.

A recurring motif in Onuzulike’s work is the palm kernel, symbolising Africa’s extracted and discarded resources. Whether human or material, Africa has long been exploited without regard for ethics or sustainability. His work features palm kernel shells, both natural and clay-fabricated, together with glass, evoking Venetian trade beads historically used in transactions, including the transatlantic slave trade. Once a symbol of subjugation, these beads have re-emerged as markers of wealth and status - Onuzulike reclaims them, integrating the legacy of trade into contemporary cultural expression.

Deeply rooted in local traditions that have endured for centuries, Onuzulike draws inspiration from his surroundings, incorporating material and non-material heritage, from the intricate patterns of Kente and Babariga textiles to the impermanent lines of Uli design; from naming his works after figures of political and social significance to naming his heavy creations after types of clothing and armour - a purpose they can never serve. All of this informs his practice, adding layers of historical references and semiotic relationships that are evident not only in the forms and textures of his sculptures but also in their very names.

These themes can be seen in Royal Alkyabba, Onuzulike’s most ambitious work to date, a majestic large-scale cape comprised of over 35,000 individually cast ceramic pieces and palm kernels woven into a glorious tapestry. In another more playful work, FlaMboyant Armour for Femi Falana I, Onuzulike brings new colour, reverence, and humour to his oeuvre, naming the piece after Femi Falana, an important human rights activist in Nigeria, participating in a regional custom of naming children, fashion, and other acquisitions based on the circumstances of their birth or significant events of the time.

Onye ma echi—who knows tomorrow? This Igbo maxim echoes throughout Onuzulike’s work, embodying the unpredictability of history, identity, and transformation. Through ceramics, he navigates a complex web of associations, drawing on traditional practices of making, dressing, naming, and thinking to interrogate the shifting relationships between symbols and meaning. In a world of rapid political and environmental change, his work becomes a discourse on history and resilience, asking what is lost, what is reclaimed, and what the future might hold.

The gallery is proud to present Ozioma Onuzulike’s second solo exhibition in the United States. Onuzulike (b. 1972) is Professor of Ceramics and African Art History, and Director of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His solo exhibitions include Seed Yams Of Our Land at the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos, Nigeria (2019), along with a presentation of his poetry collection of the same title also published by the CCA. His works were included in the exhibition at the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge, UK, arising from the [Re:]Entanglements research project led by Professor Paul Basu. Onuzulike is a fellow of the Civitella Ranieri Centre, Umbertide, Perugia, Italy, where he completed a residency under the UNESCO-ASCHBERG Bursary for Artists. He is a 2011 recipient of the African Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship Award from the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) and a 2010 Leventis Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of London Centre of African Studies, SOAS; and an alumnus of the prestigious Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Maine, USA. His work is represented in numerous important collections, including the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Lagos, Nigeria; Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK; Princeton University Museum, Princeton, NJ; The Design Museum, Munich, Germany; Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art, Peekskill, NY; Donnersberg Collection, France.

Ozioma Onuzulike: Who Knows Tomorrow will remain open until April 26, 2025, at the Marc Straus Gallery, 57 Walker Street, New York, New York, 10013. You may follow the artist’s work on Instagram @ozioma.onuzulike.

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#GloryBeToGod

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Metrópolis - DART 2024

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DELA: The Making of El Anatsui

Directed by Oyiza Adaba

Featured on RTVE Spain's Metropolis programme. (19.00-23.35). Other notable art films showcased at Dart Barcelona were, Jeff Koons: A Private Portrait, Jean Cocteau, and Renzo Marten's "The White Cube" etc.

https://www.rtve.es/play/videos/metropolis/dart-2024/16434542/

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FILM REVIEW: Unmissable Traces Of DEMAS NWOKO In Animation VAINGLORIOUS

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By Oyiza Adaba, New York

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Vainglorious Poster: Produced by STL Productionz

Vainglorious is a studio animation short, creatively conceived as a school project by two talented students of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Since its release in 2024, Producer Sebastien Abou-Chakra and Writer/Director Gabriel Oshiomati 'Mati’ Ugbodaga have garnered attention and praise, with numerous notable selections and impressive awards wins at global film festivals.

FILM REVIEW

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Vainglorious is set against the backdrop of the traditional Northern Nigerian boxing style known as "Dambe". The story revolves around the conflict between the talented Haruna, a young boxer dedicated to his craft who must confront Ayeana, a father striving to secure his daughter's future. Both men face painful struggles of identity and risking their loved ones; in a fierce battle between tradition and modernity.

Creative Techniques

The animation team skillfully leveraged body language, visual contrast, facial expressions, and evocative music to effectively and powerfully communicate the characters' exhaustion or remarkable resilience throughout the animation.

• The scene where all three characters lie facing the stars, exhausted from fighting, shows how  body language and positioning is used to depict the characters' physical and emotional fatigue after their ordeal.

• The character Idia is described as “a spirited and caring young girl whose strong will and tough nature are evident in her every action.” The young girl’s small frame contrasts her fierce spirit and shows her resilience and determination despite her stature. 

• The use of facial expressions and eye contact to convey complex emotional dynamics between the characters, is noticed in the conflict between the father and daughter, where their eyes connect. The emotional connection between the young girl and her father was a key element that heightens the overall impact of the narrative.

• The music accompanying these scenes heighten each  emotional impact and reinforce the characters' states of mind.

“We wanted the music to be perfect, because Nigeria and music is a big thing. I believe that music makes or breaks a film… We didn’t want computer generated music or anything like that. We needed somebody on that talking drum with their hands. ”

— Sebastien Abou-Chakra (Producer Vainglorious)

Vainglorious Writer/Director Gabriel Osiomati 'Mati’ Ugbodaga and Producer Sebastien Abou-Chakra (Photo by STL Productionz)

Production Team

The production took place at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and STL Productionz, and this alone points to a collaborative academic environment where students and faculty worked together to bring the project to life. The animation team included a large number of talented individuals and this diverse team of artists  brought different skills and perspectives that helped elevate the visual quality and storytelling of the animation.

The collaborative approach to the music for example, composition helped create a cohesive musical score that enhanced the emotional impact of the animation. It had additional contributions from Bemba Bangura and other key personnel like animation supervisor Selena Perez, Jonathan Cox, Alexa Morales, and Mahogany Martin as the FX animation lead.

Cultural & Personal Influences

Mati and Sabestien are both outstanding in their passion for animation and storytelling, which was shaped by their upbringing in Nigeria and family backgrounds. Sebastien is of Lebanese descent and grew up in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. Oshiomati became interested in animation from a young age, growing up as ‘art royalty’ in Lagos and Abuja. With the "Master Builder" Demas Nwoko as a grandfather, Mati's cultural heritage and family history in Nigeria plays an important role in cultivating his creative and artistic inclinations.

Demas Nwoko at home in Idumeje Ugboko, Delta State Nigeria

Demas Nwoko's artistic influence in Vainglorious

“I always knew I wanted to do something art related. Even before I pieced together what my grandfather was, I was into animation as a child. Finding out more about my grandfather further pushed that, because it added a weight on my shoulders that I didn’t know I had. By then, I already knew I wanted to do art adjacent to my grandfather. I want to make a name for myself as well, and also still honor my grandfather (Demas Nwoko) and his work.”

— Gabriel Oshiomati Ugbodga (Writer/Director VAINGLORIOUS)

This film highlights both their creative vision and artistic skills within the animation industry.

MESSENGERS

Learn more about Vainglorious featured in Season 4 of the TV series MESSENGERS. Coming in Q1 2025. Subscribe to @africarelatedinc for notifications. 

ALBUM REVIEW: Godwin Louis Compels in Psalms & Proverbs

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By Oyiza Adaba, New York

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Album Cover: Godwin Louis’ “Psalms and Proverbs”.

Our spotlight is on Godwin Louis's compelling sophomore album "Psalms and Proverbs," where we will take the time to break down its various tracks in detail. We will engage in a thoughtful discussion about the impressive organ masterpiece featured in the collection, highlighting its profound intensity and the deep thoughts his musical influences evoke throughout the listening experience.

ALBUM REVIEW

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Based on my deep and attentive listening of Godwin Louis's album "Psalms and Proverbs,” I can confidently conclude that the diverse musical influences found throughout the album, as well as the various artistic collaborations featured within it, are intricately woven into the overall theme and message that the artist is trying to convey.

1. African and Haitian influences: Several tracks prominently feature traditional African and Haitian beats, rhythms, and distinctive instrumentation. This musical choice not only reflects Godwin Louis's own roots but also highlights the album's strong connection to his rich cultural heritage and experiences, particularly through his collaborative work with artists in Togo.

2. Meditative and prayerful elements: The organ opening of “Pwoblem Yo” (track 4) serves as convincing evidence of his deep church upbringing, while other tracks such as "Psalm 121" and the various sections of "Psalm 23" offer a meditative and prayerful quality. . This suggests a pervasive spiritual and reflective theme that resonates deeply throughout the entire album. The lead single single Showers of Blessings/ Kplolanyuiade brings listeners to the church with an offering a jazzy and joyful melange of sounds inspired by hymns and other religious songs from the Caribbean and West Africa. Personally, it is reminiscent of the depth behind John Coltane’s ‘The Creator has a Masterplan’.

3. Blending of genres: The album skillfully blends a variety of genres, seamlessly incorporating elements of jazz, blues, rock, and carnival-like sounds. This rich diversity reflects the album's broad appeal and its ability to reach a wide range of listeners from different musical backgrounds, whether they are fans of jazz, gospel, Latino, African music, or world music.

4. New York influence: Tracks 11 and 12 distinctly highlight the album's connection to the vibrant New York jazz scene, thereby adding yet another significant layer of cultural influence. One cannot help but notice Godwin's upbringing in Harlem resonating prominently throughout the journey of “Psalms and Proverbs.”

Band Group photo (photo credit Blue Room Music)

The album features Louis on alto and soprano saxophone, Billy Buss on trumpet and flugelhorn, pianist Axel Tosca, organist Johnny Mercier, drummer Obed Calvaire, percussionist Markus Schwartz, bassist Hogyu Hwang and Trinidad-born trumpet star Etienne Charles.

Overall, I would assert that the diverse musical influences displayed by Godwin Louis in "Psalms and Proverbs" significantly contribute to a rich and multifaceted album that genuinely celebrates the artist's cultural heritage, spiritual journey, and impressive artistic versatility. Ultimately, this creative work serves to uplift and bless the listener in meaningful ways, as I experienced it.

About the artist

The Grammy-nominated Godwin Louis (pronounced god-win lou-ee) is a celebrated saxophonist and composer. He was born in Harlem, New York to Haitian parents and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut and in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He is a professor at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston and also teaches at the summer music camps of the Connecticut jazz nonprofit Back Country Jazz. “Psalms and Proverbs” is Louis’s follow-up to his debut “Global”, released in 2019. The album is available internationally through the Blue Room Music label

MESSENGERS S4

Discover Godwin Louis in Season 4 of our TV series MESSENGERS, arriving in early 2025. Subscribe to @africarelatedinc for updates.  

Two UN Exhibitions Shed Light On Human Rights & Gender-Based Violence

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by Oyiza Adaba

Free guided tours at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. (Africa-Related)

Exhibition

UN Exhibits

United Nations HQ, New York

Two exhibitions are showing at the lobby of the United Nations HQ in New York - Pictures for the Human Rights features 30 pictures by 30 artists of 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; while Uprooted: Resilience in Crisis sheds light on the impact of gender-based violence, exploring the resilience of survivors.

Pictures for the Human Rights

According to UN Exhibits, this exhibition features 30 pictures in which artists from many countries have interpreted the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in their own visual language. These images make human rights easier to understand in words and pictures, inspiring visitors to defend and promote Human Rights for everyone everywhere. The exhibit is in connection with Human Rights Day (10 December).

This exhibit is organized by the Pictures for the Human Rights e.V and endorsed by the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations. 

This exhibition is on display until 10 January 2025

Uprooted: Resilience in Crisis (Photos by Africa-Related)

According to Un Exhibits, this exhibit seeks to shed light on the impact of gender-based violence, exploring the stories of survivors, the resilience of affected communities, and the ongoing struggle for justice and healing. Through a diverse array of art forms, it offers a platform for survivors to share their experiences and for audiences to engage with this urgent issue. This exhibit is organized and endorsed by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

This exhibition is on display until 7 February 2025

Photos by Africa-Related

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DELA @ DART BARCELONA

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Opening Night: Festival Co-Director Enrichetta Cardinale addresses guests at the opening night screening of Lee Shulman’s I Am Martin Parr

DELA: The Making of El Anatsui enjoyed a successful screening at Dart Festival, Barcelona, Spain. Q+A with Director Oyiza Adaba.

Follow the journey

elanatsuifilm.com

DELA Director Oyiza Adaba introduces the brigraphical documentary @ Dart Film Festival

The Art of Making It documentary directed by Kelcey Edwards dives into the complexities of the contemporary art world.

Video by DART Festival

Dart is the meeting point between cinema and art in Spain. It is the first documentary film festival dedicated to contemporary art whose main objective is to intertwine culture and knowledge with the general public, and it does so through documentaries on photography, art curatorship, painting, performance, architecture, artistic movements and, in general, on contemporary art, paying special attention to artists, their creative processes and the stories behind their work.

DELA: The Making of El Anatsui debut alongside other art films and events like: I Am Martin Parr, Depot – Reflecting Boijmans, Artefacto 71, Joaquín Torres Garcia. PAX IN LUCEM, Arte Povera, Notes For History, Jean Cocteau, FRIDA, Jeff Koons, A Private Portrait, El Nombrador de Plantas: Abel Rodriguez, Robert Rauschenberg – Taking Venice, The Pilgrimage of Gilbert and George, Elements of a Journey: Antoni Tàpies, Tàpies, el joc de saber mirar, György Kepes. Interthinking Art + Science, Dahomey, The Art of Making It, Acció>Cinema: Renzo Martens I CATPC, The Wisdom of Wonder, Eugènia Balcells Once and Again, Lolo & Sosaku. The Western Archive, Laie Course: Art and Eroticism – A Journey from Jeff Koons to Classical Art, Laie Laboratory: A Glimpse into the Future of Art Documentaries – Video Games, Androids, and Twin Towers.

Images byLeafhopper/Video by Dart

DELA Premieres at Spain's International Festival of Art Documentaries

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“DELA” premieres in Spain

A "powerful" biographical documentary about one of the world's most celebrated artists El Anatsui, is nominated for the Dart International Award, and will premiere in Barcelona, Spain on November 30, 2024 at the 8th edition of the Art-focused  DART festival.

DART FESTIVAL 2024

November 27 -Dec 4, 2024

Dart is the meeting point between cinema and art in Spain. It is the first documentary film festival dedicated to contemporary art whose main objective is to intertwine culture and knowledge with the general public, and it does so through documentaries on photography, art curatorship, painting, performance, architecture, artistic movements and, in general, on contemporary art, paying special attention to artists, their creative processes and the stories behind their work.

DELA: The Making of El Anatsui will debut alongside other art films such as: I Am Martin Parr, Depot – Reflecting Boijmans, Artefacto 71, Joaquín Torres Garcia. PAX IN LUCEM, Arte Povera, Notes For History, Jean Cocteau, FRIDA, Jeff Koons, A Private Portrait, El Nombrador de Plantas: Abel Rodriguez, Robert Rauschenberg – Taking Venice, The Pilgrimage of Gilbert and George, Elements of a Journey: Antoni Tàpies, Tàpies, el joc de saber mirar, György Kepes. Interthinking Art + Science, Dahomey, The Art of Making It, Acció>Cinema: Renzo Martens I CATPC, The Wisdom of Wonder, Eugènia Balcells Once and Again, Lolo & Sosaku. The Western Archive, Laie Course: Art and Eroticism – A Journey from Jeff Koons to Classical Art, Laie Laboratory: A Glimpse into the Future of Art Documentaries – Video Games, Androids, and Twin Towers.

SPAIN PREMIERE

DELA: The Making of El Anatsui

A brief Q+A with the films director, Oyiza Adaba will follow the screening on November 30, 2024.

Date: Saturday, Nov 30, 2024 

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Venue: Cinemes Girona - Carrer de Girona, 175, L'Eixample. BARCELONA

Follow the journey

elanatsuifilm.com 

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Bronx Council on the Arts Community Engagement

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by Oyiza Adaba

Event Flyer

Event

Artsist Engage - Get Together

Since its founding, BCA has been committed to offering direct services and funding to systematically underresourced and underrepresented groups - artists of color, women, veterans, and the LGBTQ+ community, among others. This legacy of sharing space, connecting, and building brought the community together on November 8, 2024

With drinks, music, light refreshments to go, the Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) hosted a night of connection and reflection at their East Tremont location in the Bronx, New York.

In attendance were artists, staff, and community leaders such as Elena Martínez (Co-Artistic Director, Bronx Music Heritage Center) and Daniel Freeman (Director, Inspiration Point, and Chanelle Aponte Pearson, BCA Programs Manager, who shared experiences and community initiatives.

Photos by Africa-Related

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The South Bronx Inspires BIG TIME! Album Cover

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by Oyiza Adaba

The 2024 Album Cover: BIG TIME! Words By MOE that brought three South Bronx fixtures together.

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Three artistic figures with an intricate historical tie to the South Bronx, seemingly come together on a project targeted at celebrating a borough that is home to global talents and trends. Learn more about André Trenier, Andrew Freedman and Words by MOE.

it’s worth the read

““I have traveled all over the world painting and competing in International Art Competitions and made a lot of friends. I love to see new places, meet new people, and learn new things. Let’s combine my talent with your vision and CREATE SOMETHING!” ”

— André Trenier

BIG TIME! Inspiration Behind the Album Cover 

The inspiration for the debut album cover for Spoken Word artiste Words By MOE, comes from the South Bronx, specifically a mural painted by graffiti artist and muralist, André Trenier.

The mural is located at The Andrew Freedman home, a historic site and designated New York City landmark located on the Grand Concourse in the South Bronx. It is not lost on us that the location is known for its musical history and graffiti art.

Muhammad Ali mural by André Trenier at Andrew Freedman Home in the South Bronx, NY. Photo by Africa-Related

The mural features significant historical and cultural elements, including Muhammad Ali, his butterflies and bees with a positive "wake up" call to transforming dreams into reality. It also has The Amistad painting with Senbge Pieh a.k.a "Jospeh Cinque", the slave sold in 1839, who headed the revolt on board the Amistad ship. Later, he and others would be fareed to return to his native Sierra Leone.

The Historical Significance of the Andrew Freedman Home 

Imagine being a self-made millionaire with a morbid fear of losing your wealth in an instant. This is what drove Andrew Freedman to create a charitable trust to build a retirement home in 1924, for older individuals who had formerly been of good financial circumstances.

At its peak, the home could accommodate about 130 residents, housing 130 residents at a time in comfortable quarters that had Italian-tiled bathrooms. The tenants came mostly from victims of the Wall Street crash and World War II veterans.

The Andrew Freedman home has four-stories with formal English gardens and well-manicured lawns,  public rooms with fireplaces and rugs, and each private residence had white marble shower stalls.

In 1992, the Andrew Freedman home was designated as a New York City landmark. Today it serves as a hub for artists, organizations, residencies, exhibitions, daycare center and event space, with works that address themes like immigration and memory.

Historical Ties

André Trenier and Words by Moe are both South Bronx residents, whose works are relevant to their immediate communities.

André Trenier grew up in the Bronx where he” lived to create”, and began painting murals in 2003. Since 2013 André has painted several dozen murals in the Bronx and beyond,  including a 150- foot wall on the side of Spring Bank on 167 St and Gerard Avenue, commissioned by the Bronx Museum. He has depicted baseball legends like Jackie Robinson (Babe Ruth), Derek Jeter, Roberto Clemente, Joe DiMaggio and Thurman Munson. His renderings of the great Muhammad Ali, his portrait of rapper Sean Price, Citibike mural at Word of Life In’l have all garnered acclaim.

Words By Moe is a South Bronx artiste with West African roots. He writes on various subjects dealing with grace, truth and  love. His 2024 debut album Big Time! offers original writings with an easy flow delivery of poignant and inspirational messages that are relevant to today’s living. As his work takes root, he continues to attract listeners and readers from different  corners of the globe. 

The artistic contributions of these three who have the South Bronx in common,  highlights the significance of conversations that bridges the gap between historical figures like Andrew Freedman and contemporary artists like André Trenier and Words by Moe. It celebrates their overall contributions to the history, music, culture and art scene.

PHOTOS BY Africa-Related

Photos by Africa-Related

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HIGHLIGHTS: "DELA" At ISFMF 2024

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by africa-Related

HIGHLIGHTS

ISFMF 2024

SAMOBOR, Croatia

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Samobor!

it’s worth the search

DELA was nominated for the Crystal Pine Award in Best Picture (Feature-length Category). Photo by Africa-Related

DELA was nominated for the Crystal Pine Award in Best Picture (Feature-length Category). Photo by Africa-Related

DELA: The Making of El Anatsui made its way to Samobor, Croatia as part of the 12th-edition lineup of the International Sound & Film Music Festival. The unique festival celebrates Sound and Music in Film. It was no wonder the small town, 29 km outside capital Zagreb, was filled with the most least recognizable faces. They were faces of those who work tirelessly and efficiently behind the scene, in order to ensure that the sound translates the visuals in fllm production.

The two-day event, which was organized by Dreammaker Productions packed on activities like the music concert tribute to Italian composer and orchestrator Ennio Morricone, an art exhibition, film screening in mostly shorts category, followed by a brief Q&A with the director, sound engineer or music composer; a panel discussion, a children’s concert and many more.

Born from the small family circle of today’s Artistic Director Ozren K. Glaser, Tena Glaser and Željko Glaser, the mission of the International Sound & Film Music Festival (ISFMF) is to promote awareness of the importance of music and sound as irreplaceable elements of film. The festival also provides visibility to audiovisual professions who work in the field of composing music, sound design and sound mixing. 

Best PICTURE (Feature-Lenght Category) - Crystal Pine Award

DELA: Director Oyiza Adaba on the red carpet at ISFMF 2024. DELA was nominated for the Crystal Pine Award in Best Picture (Feature-length Category). Photo by Africa-Relatd

"DELA: The Making of El Anatsui," is an intriguing biographical documentary that records the extraordinary life and artistic journey of arguably Africa’s most globally acclaimed sculptor El Anatsui (pronounced anachwi). "DELA" goes deeply into the life of this legendary artist, tracing his growth from his artistic endeavors to his rise to popularity in the art world.

Interview with Krunoslav Solenički at Radio Samobor

In a later interview with Radio Samobor, Adaba praised the musicians and sound crew that particiated in the film which was scored by Funsho Ogundipe of Jazz collective Ayetoro; and also featured Words By Moe, Yinka Davies, Anayako Cultural Troupe, Tyrone Burirkett, Israel Maweta, Cam Tamura, Baba Ani and Win Big Selasi.

Some of the films that stood out at this year’s festival include CRYSTAL LIGHT by Bart Wierzbicki from Belgium which was nominated best music video. I’M PERFECTLY FINE by Hans Nieuwenhuijsen of The Netherlands won BEST ORIGINAL SCORE SHORT.

One of the other highlights of the event was when SOUNDS LIKE FAME director Robert D. Morais from Canada won for best short. Mr Morais was so emotional, barely uttering a simple “Thank You”, as he exited the stage. He of all people understood and his film celebrated the ‘thankless’ job of the “sound dude”.

Photos by Africa-Related

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Welcome to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

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By Oyiza Adaba

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 Gateway National Recreation Area was established in 1972 to offer a national park service experience to an urban audience. Gateway is a large, diverse urban park with 27,000 acres spanning Sandy Hook in N.J. and Jamaica Bay and Staten Island in N.Y. It is the 4th most visited National Park Service unit with more than 9.2 million annual visitors. 

Video courtesy of National Park Service

Staff from Gateway National Recreation Area and Jamaica Bay Rockaway Parks Conservancy hosted foreign journalists for a press tour of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.  The Foreign Press Center New York organized this tour for members of the foreign press to cover the most recent park activities and initiatives to create a living shoreline, mitigate the impacts of extreme weather, and ensure overall climate resilience not only for this site but also for the surrounding communities. With the devastation and loss from recent hurricanes and floods, public-private partnerships like this are one of the ways coastal communities are working to mitigate environmental degradation and other losses.

LESSON FOR COP29

Climate conferences like the recently concluded COP29 can learn a lesson or two from Jamaica Wildlife Refuge - a prime example of one putting its climate dollar where its mouth is. 

"In the distance, you can see the New York City skyline."

Tucked away in the Queen's Rockaway area is a wildlife refuge that houses a one mile gravel trail visited by 9.2 million visitors yearly, a wide species of rare birds and a preservation story that even Hurricane Sandy couldn't wash away. 

It is no longer news that the earth's land mass is shifting and disappearing due to natural weather occurrences like hurricanes, erosion, drought, tsunamis, etc.

When Hurricane Sandy hit the New York area in 2017, much of the land where the Refuge sits, was wiped away, causing the devastating loss. For its minders, the Gateway National Recreation Area, it was an  opportunity to find new ways to reclaim the conservatory. 

Gateway, the fourth most visited national park unit, was established in 1972 to offer park services to urban audiences through its large diverse urban parks, with 27,000 acres spanning Sandy Hook in New Jersey and Jamaica Bay on Staten Island in New York. 

On this day, Daphne Yun, Terri Carter and Elizabeth took members of the for press on the mile long tour that showed some of the experiments, trials, failures and ultimate success stories that went into rebuilding the shoreline after the storm. 

With mitigating future impact in min, the team adopted both scientific and experimental tricks to 

Worthy of emulation by coastal communities around the world is how the goal became attainable through public private partnership - a structure that kept all stakeholder accountable and paid attention to the littlest detail. 

The Jamaica Wildlife Refuge is open to the public for trail walks, birdwatching. There is a shop/museum on the premises. 

Photos by Africa-Related

Oyiza Adaba Visits The Museum of Broken Relationships

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by oyiza adaba

The Museum of BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS

Zagreb, Croatia

“The Museum of Broken Relationships encourages discussion and reflection not only on the fragility of human relationships but also on the political, social, and cultural circumstances surrounding the stories being told. The museum respects the audience’s capacity for understanding wider historical, social issues inherent to different cultures and identities and provides a catharsis for donors on a more personal level.”

— 2011 Kenneth Hudson Award, European Museum Forum (EMF) judging panel

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With a few hours to my flight, of all Croatia's 222 museums, I chose to visit The Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb's city center. I was curious, and thought it interesting to encounter first hand, how people confronted their past relationships. The museum was founded by two individuals, an artist/film producer, and a sculptor, who survived a breakup. Three years after joking about how to store their personal items, their maturity and innovation led to the museum's first public showing in 2006.

Since then, it has enjoyed an extensive travel history as a global  traveling exhibition to nearly 60 locations from South Africa to North Macedonia. The museum's popularity with fans and tourists is its unique relatable subject matter, and main concept of personal objects from failed relationships. It is something, to which most living beings can relate.

"Brokenships", as it’s popularly called,  is a reflection of Croatia's tenacity to overcome its dark history of war and conflict. The beauty of this peaceful country lies in its ability to confront its past, in order to move forward. It is no wonder that the country houses 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites and 15 intangible cultural heritage items. Art in itself, is healing.

Croatia is a country of 3.9 million people that sits in the Balkans surrounded by Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, and Italy. Beyond its war history, Croatia's historical significance includes Neanderthal fossils and many significant cultural sites.

According to the Croatia Tourism Board, Tourism accounts for up to 20% of the country’s GDP, providing a rich cultural scene, with professional and amateur theaters, orchestras, and cinemas. Croatia operates as a republic with a parliamentary system, and is a member of the EU, Schengen area, the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. 

The 2011 KENNETH HUDSON AWARD, presented by The EUROPEAN MUSEUM FORUM (EMF) goes to… "a museum, person, project or group of people who have demonstrated the most unusual, daring and, perhaps, controversial achievement that challenges common perceptions of the role of museums in society", rating the "importance of public quality and innovation as fundamental elements of a successful museum". (Photo by Africa-Related. Source: Wikipedia).

Photos by Africa-Related

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FILM AFRICA Debuts DELA to UK Audience

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WED 30 OCT | RICH MIX, 3:30 PM

DoP Jason Hill filming Prof El Anatsui in Anyako, Volta Region Ghana. Photo by Africa-Related

The Royal African Society is delighted to announce that Film Africa, one of the most anticipated and celebrated showcases of African cinema in Europe, will return for its 2024 edition from 25 October to 3 November. This year's festival promises an exhilarating array of films, virtual events, director Q&As, panel discussions, professional workshops, master classes, school screenings, and family activities.

The grand Opening Night of the festival will feature the award-winning documentary "Dahomey," directed by award-winning Senegalese filmmaker Mati Diop, who won the Golden Bear at the 2024 Berlinale. Set against the backdrop of the historic Kingdom of Dahomey, (modern-day Republic of Benin) "Dahomey" presents a dramatised account of the return of 26 royal treasures from a museum in France to their rightful home. Through meticulous storytelling and powerful imagery, the film delves into the complexities of cultural repatriation and captures the profound reactions of the Beninese people as they reconnect with their heritage. 

In between, DELA: The Making of El Anatsui, an award-winning biographical documentary on the globally acclaimed sculptor directed by Oyiza Adaba, will be screened on October 30, 2024 at 3.30 PM. Get tickets here. Others include The Knife Woman (LA FEMME AU COUTEAU) by Timite Bassori, The Spectre of Boko Haram by Cyril Raingou, and Made in Ethiopia by Xinyan Yu. 

Closing the festival is "Black Tea," another Berlinale finalist. "Black Tea" is a poignant romantic drama by award-winning Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako. Starring Nina Mélo and Chang Han, the film follows the journey of a young Ivorian woman who embarks on a transformative odyssey to China, where she finds unexpected love and confronts the complexities of cultural assimilation. It reveals a narrative of aspirational migration across the rarely addressed axis of Asia and Africa. 

In addition to the opening and closing films, Film Africa 2024 will showcase an eclectic lineup of features, documentaries, and shorts. Film Africa also recognises and supports new film-making talent through the Baobab Award for Best Short Film and the Audience Award for Best Feature Film. 

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Ominira

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Ominira

Medium: Plastograph

Dimensions: 45cm x 60cm

Artist: Bruce Onobrakpeya

The title Ominira —meaning "Independence" in the Yoruba language—evokes a profound message in Bruce Onobrakpeya’s artwork. This powerful piece reflects the belief that Nigeria possesses the human resources, moral fortitude, and abundant natural wealth to thrive as a modern and prosperous nation.

As we reflect on this artwork , we join Papa Bruce Onobrakpeya—a witness to Nigeria’s transformative journey since gaining independence in 1960—in prayer.

May the Divine bless Nigeria with enduring unity, wisdom, and peace. As we celebrate our nation’s independence, we ask for strength to uphold justice, fairness, and equity for all citizens.

On this special day of commemoration , let us remember that even in times of struggle and uncertainty, we are not without guidance. The courage of our ancestors, the rich heritage of our land, and the unyielding spirit of our people inspire us to move forward. Through the challenges we endure, we carry the hope and promise of a brighter future—one founded on resilience, unity, and collective progress.

Let this Independence Day remind us that , just as our nation's founders envisioned a prosperous Nigeria, we too must continue this journey to realize that dream for future generations. As we walk this path, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to the values of peace, love, and harmony that unite us as one nation under God.

Bruce Onobrakpeya, a UNESCO Living Human Treasure , celebrated his 92nd birthday this past August. For over five decades, he has resided in Mushin, Papa-Ajao, Lagos , continuing to be a beacon of Nigeria’s artistic and cultural legacy.

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FINAL DAYS TO APPLY

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Black Public Media 2024 Open Call offers $175,000 in funding for Black stories

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA ISSUES OPEN CALL FOR BLACK STORIES

BPM to award a total of $175,000 in current round of funding

NEW YORK — Black Public Media (BPM) has issued its 2024 open call for projects that center Black culture, characters, communities and concerns. A total of $175,000 will be awarded this year to U.S. documentary projects currently in pre-production, production or post-production, and intended for public media distribution. The 2024 submission portal (https://blackpublicmedia.org/for-media-makers/bpm-open-call/) is now open and closes on Monday, September 30, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Since its inception, BPM has invested more than $17 million toward iconic documentaries and emerging media projects about the global Black experience.

This year BPM — a Harlem-based national media arts nonprofit that trains talented storytellers and funds and distributes their works — welcomes feature-length documentary projects in a range of formats, styles, subject matter and genres, including those that target specific viewers such as children and teen audiences. The projects should be compelling, nuanced stories that add the point of view, experiences and concerns of the Black communities to the larger public discourse.

Applicants must be the producer or director of the project with at least three years of professional producing and/or directing experience (or must have a senior producer attached to the project). The applicant must be able to complete the project within 18 months. Additional requirements can be found at: https://blackpublicmedia.org/for-media-makers/bpm-open-call/.

This fall, a panel of media professionals across the industry will evaluate the proposals in a two-tier review process that assesses the project idea and story, production readiness, production team, project budget and work sample. And in December, BPM will announce the five applicants who will receive a $5,000 stipend, an invitation to its talent development program and the opportunity to participate in PitchBLACK, the largest pitch competition for independent filmmakers and creative technologists developing new projects about the global Black experience. One of these projects will win a $150,000 PitchBLACK Award for a broadcast-length or feature project.

“Each year we are amazed to see the myriad, layered stories which are bubbling up from all corners of this country from such gifted creatives,” said BPM Executive Director Leslie Fields-Cruz. “We look forward to helping these makers bring their important work to American viewers.”

Prospective applicants may watch BPM’s virtual information session here: https://blackpublicmedia.org/for-media-makers/bpm-open-call/. 

BPM’s 2024 Open Call is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Netflix, the MacArthur Foundation, the Tarver Walls Foundation, Paramount+, the New York Community Trust, the Jerome Foundation, the Tides Foundation, Acton Family Giving and Gimlet.

 For more information on Black Public Media, visit www.blackpublicmedia.org, or follow it on X (@BLKPublicMedia), Facebook (@BlackPublicMedia), Instagram (@blackpublicmedia) or TikTok (@black-public-media).

 ABOUT BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA:

Black Public Media (BPM) supports the development of visionary content creators and distributes stories about the global Black experience to inspire a more equitable and inclusive future. For 45 years, BPM has addressed the needs of unserved and underserved audiences. BPM-supported programs have won five Emmys, 10 Peabodys, three Anthem Awards, 14 Emmy nominations and an Oscar nomination. BPM continues to address historical, contemporary, and systemic challenges that traditionally impede the development and distribution of Black stories. For more information, visit blackpublicmedia.org and follow BPM on Instagram and Facebook and @BLKPublicMedia on X.

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For interview and media inquiries, contact:

Cheryl L. Duncan

Cheryl Duncan & Company Inc.

201-552-9239 (O)

cheryl@cdcprnews.com  

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DELA Premieres In GHANA

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DELA: The Making of El Anatsui Premieres at Black Star International Film Festival in Ghana to rave reviews.

Prof. El Anatsui holds his Achievement Award - a gold bar with a black star /Photo by Africa-Related

The evening of September 22 marked the first screening of the biographical documentary at the World Trade Center in Accra, Ghana. The film’s subject, Professor El Anatsui was ushered into the decorated venue by The Anyako Cultural Troupe, while piano genius Funsho Ogundipe of AYETORO performed alongside Trombonist Elikplim Amewode after the screening. There was a brief Q & A with film Director Oyiza Adaba, followed by a citation presentation, done by Dr. Odoi Oddoye. The film was well received by the audience made up of dignitaries that included diplomats, family, friends, artists and colleagues.

Acceptance Speech

Professor El Anatsui opened his acceptance speech with the challenges faced with continuous camera exposure in over 10 years of filming. He also advised the organisers on the use of the term "lifetime achievement," emphasizing it should be ongoing for living individuals.

He reflected on the global perspective of art and suggested that there are still aspects of art that have not been addressed. He also referenced the "art is life" slogan by KNUST, highlighting the complexity of life and its integration into art.

Cultural Influences and Artistic Journey 

The Emeritus Professor recounted his early career beginning post-school, influenced by Western teachings with little emphasis on local culture. He noted how the discovery of Adinkra signs excited him as a young man growing up in the rural Volta region.  

He also compared the Renaissance period in Europe with the abstract Adinkra signs, emphasizing their cultural significance and citing his influence by abstract art originating from the cultural center in Kumasi. He touched briefly on the challenges and contributions in Art, noting the ease of following but the difficulty of extraction.

For a moment the globally celebrated sculptor reflected on the balance between family and societal influences on his artistic journey, and dedicated the award to society, highlighting its significant role in his development.

He ended by thanking the Black Star International Film Festival organizers for their honor and acknowledged the societal contributions to his growth.

Citation

Black Star International's Tribute honors Professor Anatsui for his transformative works that have changed global perceptions of African art.The citation highlights Professor Anatsui's innovative use of local organic materials and education in his art. We emphasize Professor Natri's contributions to African art on the world stage, showcasing African artistry globally. The tribute acknowledges Professor Anatsui's extraordinary contributions to art and culture in Africa and beyond.

About Black Star International Film Festival

BSIFF IS A CULTURAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO NURTURING, EDUCATING AND INSPIRING LOVE FOR THE BUSINESS OF FILM IN AFRICA.

BSIFF provides a platform that inspires love for film and cinema; supporting independent African filmmakers to reach distribution opportunities, the right network, worldwide audience, film education, acquire relevant skills and that push their creative boundaries beyond limit.

PHOTOS FROM DELA SCREENING

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