Ras Mutabaruka On Telling Nuanced African Stories

By Itoro Bassey, Africa Editor

Ras Mutabaruka is a Rwandan-Canadian entrepreneur, media maker and community builder. Mutabaruka has dedicated his work to changing the way the world sees and thinks about Africa. One story at a time.

Ras Mutabaruka prefers to tell African stories from the sidelines. At Culturs, however, we’re about uncovering voices hidden in plain sight. The extraordinary Rwandan filmmaker, community builder and activist did not miss our radar. Mutabaruka’s story shows how living in-between cultures can be harnessed for good.

Who Is Ras Mutabaruka?

Ras Mutabaruka is a Rwandan-Canadian entrepreneur, media maker, and community-builder. One story at a time. From a young age, Mutabaruka recognized the diversity within the African experience. When he left Rwanda for Kenya during the genocide, he had to expand how he saw Africa. He notes that his experience as a refugee in the Congo and Tanzania and then later living in Nairobi was the catalyst that made him eager to tell nuanced African stories.

“When I moved to Canada for the first time, I had access to a computer and a TV. It was the first time I knew how other people viewed people like me. I guess I was angry about how Africa was often portrayed in the media.”

“We’d see these images of African children and people impoverished and when I went to university it was all about corruption, poverty and disease. I don’t like to feel defeated, so instead of complaining, I started writing stories about different people and that’s how ‘The African Perspective’ was born.”

Showcasing The African Perspective

“The African Perspective” (TAP) — is a digital and print communication hub bringing diverse African stories to a global audience. TAP TV, which is the company’s film wing, released the widely acclaimed documentary, “Homecoming.”

The eight-episode documentary series follows five young African female entrepreneurs who leave the West to start businesses in their homelands. Mutabaruka references how a conversation at the African Union Diaspora in Khartoum sparked his idea to focus on women and their returnee experiences.

“I was interviewing the lady who runs the directorate. She mentioned how in the Diaspora space young women are a not always present. It’s a space that’s full of old men. It was very intentional to show how young women are returning home, and among young people, women are the ones who are leading the movements I’m aware of.”

“Homecoming” is a great example for how those of us living in-between cultures can embrace our legacies while we create new ones. The film does an excellent job of highlighting how African women integrate into their ancestral culture while maintaining their culturally fluid perspectives.

Shifting The Narrative

Mutabaruka speaks about the need for more stories that show the complexities of Afro-Diasporic identity.

“I think we’re one of the biggest communities unrepresented in media. I don’t think our contributions are matched by any other institution or people. We contribute more money than the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the World Bank. We contribute our skills and knowledge,” Matabaruka says. “I wanted to start a trend of telling African Diaspora stories because there are so many rich experiences.” He also wanted to tap into the hidden community of African returnees leaving the West to challenge the belief that all immigrants are eager to leave their homelands.

He continues, “There’s this narrative that every African wants to jump in a boat and cross over to Europe or America. To some extent there’s truth to that, but there are thousands of people who want to go back to the continent. And this story is always missed. Since I’ve been in Canada I have yet to meet a young African person who doesn’t want to move back to their country.”

On Homecoming set with returnee Chrital Beek

Charting A New Pathway

Discussing the multifaceted topic of migration reveals the heartache that can come from a dream deferred. Black immigrants often express their sadness when navigating systemic racism, economic insecurity and culture shock. The pervasiveness of these realities can crowd out the hope people enter into their new countries with. Keeping a positive attitude can be difficult when it feels like no matter your skill and talent, “there’s a metal ceiling.”

He notes how the past decade has forced many Black immigrants to grapple with the racial injustices they navigate in the West. Acknowledging this reality has led many to identify with a global Black movement where they can find comfort while looking for solutions.

“What happened to George Floyd and Trayvon Martin — you can almost argue that these institutions are not built with us in mind. Some of us decide that instead of dealing with this mental stress and fatigue it’s better to go somewhere where we can find a pathway.”

A Nuanced African Story

Africans are creating new pathways to find opportunities while advocating for meaningful change from their specific locales. More poignantly, the idea that success is only attainable in the West is steadily shifting.

The last few years have given us canonical works from the likes of Blitz Bazawule, Chimamanda Adichie, Dennis Ansah, Edwidge Danticat, Jidenna, Mutua Mathenge, Burna Boy, Beyonce and Elsa Majimbo. These artists have brought important conversations about our common threads and differences to the mainstream. Marvels Studios’ “Black Panther” ignited a global discussion about Wakanda while we excavated our shared and complicated histories. When Mutabaruka says, “it’s an exciting time to be an African creative,” it’s because he knows more important dialogues will emerge from this vibrant renaissance.

In 2021, the African story is about presenting narratives of nuance that allows a multiplicity of experiences to take center stage. The filmmaker applauds how the convergence of social media, movement-building and youth culture is showing the world that people of African origins are fundamentally a multicultural people.

“There are all these voices ready to uplift the African story. I think Africa is one of the most diverse places in the world. When you add all these other communities: African-Americans, Colombians, Jamaicans, everyone that has African heritage wants to be a part of this movement,” Mutabaruka says.

Listening Across Difference

Many artists understand that the work of amplifying underrepresented communities is about the long haul. Mutabaruka, true to his self-reflective nature, calls on everyone within the African Diasporic community to continue listening to each other.

“Sit back and learn and embrace others. Hopefully when COVID is done we can travel, meet people and see their experiences. I want to go to Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil and to any space where there are people of African descent. I want to amplify our voices together,” he says.

Ras Mutabaruka conducting an Interview