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africa world
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documentary film festival
Kansas African Studies C enter
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
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Letter from the Festival Director . . . Greetings: Welcome to the 7th E. Desmond Lee Africa World Documentary Film Festival (AWDFF), sponsored by the E. Desmond Lee Professorship in African/African-American Studies, International Studies and Programs at the University of Missouri, Saint Louis. Through the art of documentary filmmaking, the AWDFF is committed to the promotion of knowledge, life and culture of the people of Africa worldwide. This year, in our seventh season, we shall be presenting 29 films submitted by filmmakers from Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Ethiopia, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Italy, Jamaica, Mali, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Portugal, Rwanda, Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, South Africa, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Uganda, USA and Zimbabwe. We celebrate and congratulate the extraordinary group of talented filmmakers who have employed their craft and skills in the exploration of African subjects. Some of the major subjects covered in these documentary films are culture, socio-economic, environment, history, gender, law, music & performing arts, religion, politics, sports, as well as human rights issues. Once again we are grateful to continue our important collaboration with our partners, the Missouri History Museum in Saint Louis; St. Louis University’s Sam and Marilyn Fox Atlas Week Program; the University of Kansas in Lawrence, MO; the Molefi Kete Asante Institute for Afrocentric Studies in Philadelphia, PA; the University of Yaoundé in Yaoundé, Cameroon; the IRep International Film Festival in Lagos, Nigeria; the University of the Western Cape in Bellville, South Africa; the Universities of West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica and Cave Hill, Barbados; as well as “I Will Tell” International Film Festival in London, England. As always, my sincere appreciation goes to the International Studies and Programs, especially the Director, Dr. Joel Glassman and Mr. Ephrem Andemariam, the Coordinator of African/African American Studies and the film festival, and the University of Missouri South Africa Exchange Program (UMSAEP). I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the following individuals: Mr. MK Stalling and the staff at Missouri History Museum; Dr. Vince Casaregola, Dr. Joya Uraizee, Michelle Lorenzini and Austin McIntire of St. Louis University; Dr. Molefi Asante and Dr. Ama Mazama of The Molefi Kete Asante Institute for Afrocentric Studies in Philadelphia; Dr. Daniel Atkinson and Dr. Elizabeth MacGonagle of the University of Kansas; Dr. Donatus Tandem - University of Yaoundé in Cameroon; Mr. Lanre Olupona, Mr. Toyin; Dr. Leolyn Jackson of the University of the Western Cape in South Africa; Dr. Tunde Bewaji, Dr. Rachel Moseley-Wood and Dr. Franklyn St. Juste of the University of West Indies in Jamaica; Dr. Jane Bryce of the University of West Indies in Barbados; Ms. Jenny Lee of “I Will Tell” International Film Festival in London, UK. I wish you an enjoyable festival. ‘Niyi Coker, Jr. E. Desmond Lee Professor Festival Director
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Click on the film title to read the film description and watch the trailer.
Thursday, April 10 4:00 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 6:45 p.m. 8:15 p.m.
Introduction Lost & Found in China: Red, White, Black & Blue (75 min) Sahel Calling (39 min) Audre Lorde: The Berlin Years (79 min) Beyond Forgiving (28 min)
Friday, April 11 12:00 p.m. 1:45 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m.
Comrade President (90 min) Welcome to Loliondo (59 min) Move (73 min) City of the Damned (15 min) Just to Let You Know I’m Alive (64 min) Seeds of Hope (71 min) Daughters of the Niger Delta (56 min)
Saturday, April 13 2:00 p.m. 3:15 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 5:15 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 8:15 p.m. 8:30 p.m.
Sons of Africa (57 min) Brothers of the Blacklist (71 min) Freedom (25 min) Saya: Dance and Survival in an Afro-Bolivian Village (21 min) Black Africa, White Marble (77 min) Even Me (24 min) Finding Home (13 min)
**Note: A short discussion will follow each film.
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Africa World Documentary Film Festival 2014
Thurday 10 April
LOST & FOUND IN CHINA Directed by James Brown
Thurs. 10 April/4:15 p.m./75 min Athletics/China
“Lost & Found in China” follows rugby legend Stuart Krohn as he takes a boys’ and a girls’ rugby team to tour China and Hong Kong. The teams are made up of students from ICEF public schools, a charter school program in South LA that promotes excellence in academics. The students go on an adventure, discovering ancient sights and cultural experiences in an unknown land while playing fiercely on the rugby field.
SAHEL CALLING Directed by John Bosch
Thurs. 10 April/5:45 p.m./39 min Music/Mali
“Sahel Calling” embodies the motivational and re-conciliatory power of music to confront a radical political agenda and its consequences in West Africa. Based around events in 2012-2013 in Mali, the fears and hopes of a terrorized and splintered population are expressed by musicians, the voice of the voiceless. Interviewed at ceremonies, refugee camps and concerts, the musicians demonstrate music’s ability to raise global awareness about Mali, its culture and its challenges. The musicians also carry a local message: sing to bear witness, to forgive and to reconcile. A low budget, independent film, Sahel Calling was released for free as a dedication to Malian people.
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Africa World Documentary Film Festival 2014
AUDRE LORDE: THEDirected BERLIN YEARS by Dagmar Schultz Thurs. 10 April/6:45 p.m./79 min Diaspora/Politics/Germany
Thursday 10 April
Audre Lorde, the highly influential, awardwinning Afro-American lesbian poet lived in West-Berlin in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. She was the mentor and catalyst who helped ignite the Afro-German movement and consequently, challenged white women to acknowledge and constructively use their privileges. With her active support a whole generation of writers and poets gave voice to their unique experience as people of color in Germany. This documentary contains previously unreleased audiovisual material from director Dagmar Schultz’s archives including stunning images of Audre Lorde off stage. With testimony from Lorde’s colleagues and friends the film documents Lorde’s lasting legacy in Germany and the impact of her work and personality.
BEYOND FORGIVING Directed by Imad Karam Thurs. 10 April/8:15 p.m./28 min Post-Conflict/South Africa
A documentary film which depicts the journey of two South Africans trying to bring healing and reconciliation to their country. Ginn Fourie and Letlapa Mphalele form an unlikely pair: a Black atheist man and a White Christian woman. One has suffered directly from actions of the other, but both have been victims -- and risen beyond their pain. What brings them together is a profound story of tragedy and hope.
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Africa World Documentary Film Festival 2014
Friday 11 April
COMRADE PRESIDENT Directed by Mosco Kamwendo Fri. 11 April/12 p.m./90 min History/Mozambique
In the 1930s, Samora Moisés Machel was a boy in a Mozambican village who was initiated into the struggle for the independence of his country, through his own experiences with Portuguese colonialism. With vigor and charisma, he rose to become a daring military strategist and a psychologically resourceful leader. However, the independence of Mozambique alone was not enough as his country could not survive with racist Rhodesia and Apartheid South Africa as neighbors. This was a difficult situation requiring difficult solutions, some of which tarnished his legacy. After helping the Zimbabweans to achieve their independence, Samora decided to go for apartheid South Africa, which had the strongest military on the African continent. Although he enjoyed popular support from his people and his colleagues in government, the war with apartheid South Africa was one he found himself fighting alone.
WELCOME TO LOLIONDO Directed by Morten Vest Fri. 11 April/1:45 p.m./59 min Political Science/Tanzania
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“Welcome to Loliondo” is the untold story behind the presumably harmonic surface of wildlife, tourism and indigenous peoples in the world’s finest safari-location in northern Tanzania. After a Maasai is shot in the head for trespassing, hundreds of Maasai houses are set on fire as tourist-companies, Arab investors and Maasais fight over the right to the land. Meanwhile a young Maasai decides to use music as a weapon in order to get the world’s attention.
Africa World Documentary Film Festival 2014
Friday 11 April
MOVE
Directed by Theodore Collatos Fri. 11 April/3 p.m./73 min Dancing/Gender/USA
“Move” is about world-renowned dance choreographers Kevin Lega Jeff and Gary Abbott and their inspiring Chicago based contemporary Afro-American dance company ‘Deeply Rooted Dance Theater’. Set to the contemplative music of Wynton Marsalis the film follows the group during a winter tour allowing us to peer into the intimate world of the dancers and the spiritual and emotional nature of the artistic process. As the grass roots company struggles to finance the tour, issues of gender identity in dance, race dynamics in a mixed-race company, and politics are explored in a fresh and powerful new way.
CITY OF THE DAMNED Directed by Mor Albalak
Fri. 11 April/4:30 p.m./15 min LGBT/Human Rights/Uganda
“City of the Damned” focuses on LGBT rights in the face of the brutal anti-homosexuality bill before the Ugandan Parliament. Although the death penalty was withdrawn from the bill due to international pressure, punishments remain harsh and public opinion continues to be the biggest threat to the Ugandan LGBT community. The daring non-governmental organization Youth on Rock Foundation is fighting against this stigma by promoting economic empowerment among its members. Najib, YRF’s treasurer, sells clothes in Uganda’s largest market. He wants to prove that his sexuality does not define him; rather it’s his respect for life, his determination for equality, and his aspirations to become a lawyer and self-respecting Ugandan citizen.
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Africa World Documentary Film Festival 2014
Friday 11 April
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I’M ALIVE Directed by Simona Ghizzoni, Emanuela Zuccalà Fri. 11 April/5 p.m./64 min Women’s rights/Western Sahara/Morocco
SEEDS OF HOPE Directed by Fiona Lloyd-Davies Fri. 11 April/6:30 p.m./71 min Advocacy/DRC
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Since 1975, Saharawi people have lived half in Western Sahara and half in refugee camps in Algeria divided by a 2,700 km wall built by Morocco during the war. “Just To Let You Know That I’m Alive” gives voice to Saharawi women who were victims of violence, both in Western Sahara and in the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria. Through their testimonies, diaries and old photographs, the history of the Saharawi people is reconstructed from a uniquely female perspective.
In a corner of Eastern Congo one woman puts herself at risk every day to help thousands of Congolese rape survivors embark on a journey of healing. Seeds of Hope tells the story of Masika, herself the victim of multiple rapes, who runs a centre that helps other rape survivors and children born from rape come to terms with what they have lived through. The women and children farm a small patch of land together that provides them with an income, a sense of stability and a form of therapy. However, the battle against endemic rape is far from over. Filmed over two years, Seeds of Hope takes us deep into the lives of women and children rarely seen.
Africa World Documentary Film Festival 2014
Friday 11 April
DAUGHTERS OF THE NIGER DELTA Directed by Ilse van Lamoen
Fri. 11 April/8 p.m./56 min Human Rights/Women/Nigeria
The film tells a different story about the Niger Delta than the usual media reports about oil outputs, conflict, and kidnapping. The film gives a taste of everyday life in the region through the eyes of three ordinary women: Hannah, Naomi, and Rebecca. Their personal stories shed light on human rights violations in the Niger Delta that we rarely hear about in the news.
Saturday 12 April
SONS OF AFRICA Directed by James Becket Sat. 12 April/2 p.m./57 min History/Uganda/Tanzania
Uganda’s Idi Amin and Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere were bitter enemies who went to war in 1978. Today, Amin is reviled as the ‘Butcher of Uganda’, while Nyerere is revered as the ‘Founding Father of Tanzania.’ Nyerere’s army forced Amin and his family into exile in 1979, ending Idi Amin’s blood soaked regime. In “Sons of Africa,” two of the leaders’ sons, Jaffar Amin and Madaraka Nyerere, attempt to climb Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, on a symbolic journey of peace and reconciliation.
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Africa World Documentary Film Festival 2014
Saturday 12 April
BROTHERS OF THE BLACKLIST Directed by Sean Gallagher Sat. 12 April/3:15 p.m./71 min Civil Rights/USA
This film tells the story behind the longest litigated civil rights case in American history. It all began in September 1992, when an elderly white woman in Oneonta, New York reported that she had been attacked in an attempted rape by a young black male who cut his hand during the altercation. This led to a college administrator at nearby Suny Oneonta giving the police a list of the names and residences of the 125 black men who attended the school. Police used this list to track down every black male in town, questioning them and demanding to see their hands. The judicial system became involved following an outcry from the students and the attention from the national media. The case would be shuffled around state and federal courts through 14 years of litigation.
FREEDOM
Directed by Cheryl Halpern, Mitchell Stuart Sat. 12 April/4:45 p.m./25 min Leadership/Women/Ethiopia
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Natsanat� (Freedom) documents the heroic stories of young female freedom fighters in Ethiopia during the 20th century. These women left their families and homes to join the struggle to bring freedom, peace and democracy to their country. They serve as role models for leadership and courage for women.
Africa World Documentary Film Festival 2014
SAYA: DANCE AND SURVIVAL IN AN AFRO-BOLIVIAN VILLAGE Directed by Beret E. Strong Sat. 12 April/5:15 p.m./21 min Dance/Human Rights/Bolivia
BLACK AFRICA,Directed WHITE MARBLE by Clemente Bicocchi Sat. 12 April/6 p.m./77 min History/Colonialism/USA
Saturday 12 April
This film reveals how the elders and ancestors of the people of Tocaña worked under a form of slavery that persisted until the 1950′s. Community members still perform dances rooted in their African cultural heritage. The “Saya” dance troupe performs in the plaza of a nearby tourist town before an audience of local indigenous Andeans, rich weekenders from the Bolivian capital of La Paz, and international tourists. The film highlights the dilemmas of cultural survival and emergence for an endangered subculture in an era of globalization.
Black Africa White Marble” is a gripping, real-life David-and-Goliath thriller told through an innovative blend of animation, puppetry, archive materials, graphics, and original documentary footage. In the 1880s, there were two paths for Central Africa: Pietro di Brazza’s and Henry Stanley’s. Italian by birth and French by education, Brazza rejected the racism of his age, using his philosophy of non-violence to explore the rain-forests of the Congo Basin, sowing trust along the way. Meanwhile, his rival Stanley (in the service of the Belgian King Leopold II) advanced with the roar of the cannon. More than a century later, when the current Congo president decides to transfer di Brazza’s remains from his grave in Algiers to a multimillion-dollar mausoleum in Congo’s impoverished capital, writer Idanna Pucci discovers an insidious hidden agenda behind the plan—one that sheds harsh light on both Central Africa’s colonial past and its corrupt present.
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Africa World Documentary Film Festival 2014
Saturday 12 April
EVEN ME
Directed by Megan Ebor Sat. 12 April/7:45 p.m./24 min Health/HIV/AIDS Awareness
This film provides an intimate portrait of ethnic minority older adults living with HIV/AIDS, in an effort to dispel the myths that perceive older adults as asexual and, therefore, not at risk. Despite popular belief, older adults are sexually active and remain sexually active well into their 80s, 90s and beyond. As a result, heterosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among older adults has risen considerably since the mid-1980s. This film explores aging, sexuality and HIV among ethnic minority older adults. Taking a direct approach in exploring this highly stigmatized topic and exposing the consequences faced by a group that has little knowledge of safer sex practices or their risks of contracting HIV/AIDS, this documentary gives a face to the older adult group that has been identified as an “invisible at-risk population.”
FINDING HOME
Directed by Samantha Andre Sat. 12 April/8:30 p.m./13 min History/Somalia
Currently there are over 10 million refugees throughout the world and only 60,000 are allowed to enter into the United States each year. “Finding Home” is a short, cinema verité style documentary that follows the Abdis, a refugee family from Somalia, throughout their first two months in the United States. The Abdi parents gave up everything they had for the chance of peace and a better life for their five children. “Finding Home” provides a first-hand look at the lives of refugees inside the United States and exposes the struggles and hopes refugee families face when trying to adapt to their new lives and cultures.
Special thanks to... Co-sponsors: The Ermal Garinger Academic Resource Center (EGARC), KU Libraries, Center for Global & International Studies, Economics, University Honors Program, Religious Studies, Center for East Asian Studies, Multicultural Affairs, Sociology, African & African American Studies, Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Film and Media Studies, Political Science, Anthropology, History, Black Student Union, African Student Association