1. THOU SHALL CLICK ▶ TO WATCH THE TRAILER (IF THERE IS ONE).
THOU SHALL WATCH AFRICAN FILMS.
2. THOU SHALL CLICK ON LINKS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FILMS/FILMMAKERS. (THE SYLLABUS IS INTERACTIVE.)
3. THOU SHALL FOLLOW @ABBMONA//LINKEDIN WHO CREATED THE SYLLABUS .
4. THOU SHALL FOLLOW AFRICAN FILMMAKERS AND FILM INITIATIVES SUCH AS: @KOSINIMA, @AKOROKOFILM, @AFRICANFILMFEST,
5. THOU SHALL SHARE THIS SYLLABUS.
6. THOU SHALL LOVE AFRICAN CINEMA. 7. ENJOY!
PUK NINI
BURKINA FASO _ 1995 _ 34 MINS
DIRECTED BY FANTA RÉGINA NACRO
A BEAUTIFUL SENEGALESE WOMAN STIRS DESIRE AND DISRUPTION IN OUAGADOUGOU. NACRO IS A PIONEER IN AFRICAN CINEMA THOUGHTFULLY USING HUMOR TO EXPLORE HER SOCIETY’S COMPLEXITIES.
WATCH
❤ Criterion Collection Includes Puk Nini and other shorts by Nacro.
❤ NYAFF In Conversation: Ekwa Msangi and Fanta Régina Nacro.
READ
❤ Akoroko PERSPECTIVES: Stream the Short Films of Fanta Régina Nacro
LOVE
❤ Nacro is the first Burkinabe woman to direct a dramatic film.
❤ Puk Nini translated title is “Open Your Eyes.”
❤ First discovered Nacro and her films through the New York African Film Festival, founded by Mahen Bonetti.
MOTHER OF GEORGE NIGERIA/USA_2013_107 MINS
DIRECTED BY @ANDREW DOSUNMU
ADENIKE AND AYODELE, A NIGERIAN COUPLE IN BROOKLYN, FACE INFERTILITY ISSUES POST-WEDDING. THE CULTURAL PRESSURE TO HAVE A CHILD LEADS ADENIKE TO A DRASTIC CHOICE WITH THE POTENTIAL TO SAVE OR RUIN THEIR FAMILY.
WATCH
❤ Available on multiple streaming platforms including TUBI (FREE).
❤ The New York Times Anatomy of Scene: ‘Mother of George.’
READ
❤ Andrew Dosunmu: Monograph Edited by Beatrice Dupire. Conversation with Arthur Jafa.
LOVE
❤ Costume design. Check out Mobolaji Dawodu.
❤ Cinematography Check out Bradford Young
SARAFINA! SOUTH
AFRICA _ 1992 _ 98 MINS
DIRECTED BY DARRELL ROODT
SARAFINA (LELETI KHUMALO), A YOUNG BLACK SOUTH AFRICAN PROTESTS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AFTER HER TEACHER (WHOOPI GOLDBERG), IS ARRESTED DURING A MOVEMENT AGAINST MAKING AFRIKAANS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN THEIR SCHOOL.
WATCH
❤ Widely available on streaming platforms.
❤ 30+ Years Later: Where Are They Now?
LOVE
❤ Adapted from the Broadway musical, the music is wonderful. Big favorite is the song Safa Saphel' Isizwe.
❤ Cannes Official Selection in 1992 and Cannes Classic in 2023.
OSUOFIA IN LONDON
NIGERIA _ 2003 _ 85 MINS
DIRECTED KINGSLEY OGORO
THE HILARIOUS OSUOFIA (NKEM OWOH) MAKES HIS WAY TO LONDON DIRECTLY FROM HIS VILLAGE AFTER INHERITING HIS LATE BROTHER'S ESTATE.
WATCH
❤ Full Movie Available on Youtube: Osuofia In London Part 1 and Part 2 (FREE).
READ
❤ Nollywood History: A Look at the Rise of New Nigerian Cinema.
❤ The Best Nigerian Movies of All Time by acclaimed Nigerian film critic, Wilfred Okichie
LOVE
❤ Beloved Nigerian actor and comedian, Nkem Owoh, as the titular character of Osuofia
BIGGER THAN AFRICA NIGERIA
_ 2022 _ 90 MINS
DIRECTED BY @TOYIN IBRAHIM ADEKEYE
THE DOCUMENTARY FOLLOWS THE TRANS-ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE ROUTE FROM WEST AFRICA TO THE US, BRAZIL AND THE CARIBBEAN IN AN EXPLORATION OF YORUBA CULTURE.
WATCH
❤ Full film available worldwide on Netflix.
❤ Bigger Than Africa TalkBack with Director Toyin Ibrahim Adekeye
READ
❤ Founded in 1970 in USA, Oyotunji African Village (OAV) is the first intentional community based on the culture of the Yoruba and Dahomey.
LOVE
❤ A documentary on the trans-Atlantic slave trade from the lens of an African.
❤ Yoruba history and culture!
BLACK GIRL
BURKINA FASO _ 1966 _ 59 MINS
DIRECTED BY OUSMANE SEMBÈNE
A BEAUTIFUL SENEGALESE WOMAN STIRS DESIRE AND DISRUPTION IN OUAGADOUGOU. NACRO IS A PIONEER IN AFRICAN CINEMA THOUGHTFULLY USING HUMOR TO EXPLORE HER SOCIETY’S COMPLEXITIES. POIGNANT AND HARROWING.
WATCH
❤ Full film widely available to stream.
❤ “Europe is Not My Center” Ousmane Sembène Interview Excerpt is FIRE!
READ
❤ XALA by Ousmane Sembene. (Preview available.)
❤ Bomb Magazine: Ousmane Sembene by John Singleton and Reginald Woolery
LOVE
❤ Ousmane Sembène is regarded as the Father of African Cinema.
WÙLU
MALI _ 2016 _ 95 MINS
DIRECTED BY DAOUDA COULIBALY
AFTER LOSING HIS JOB ON THE CROSS-BORDER TAXIS, LADJI, (IBRAHIM KOMA) TAKES UP SMUGGLING COCAINE WITH LUCRATIVE YET DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES.
WATCH
❤ Full film available to rent/stream on Vimeo.
LOVE
❤ The sublime performance and beauty of lead actor, Ibrahim Koma.
ATLANTICS SENEGAL _
2019 _ 104 MINS
DIRECTED BY @MATI DIOP
SENEGALESE LOVE GHOST STORY? IN DAKAR, ADA FACES HEARTBREAK AS HER TRUE LOVE DISAPPEARS AT SEA, BUT A MIRACULOUS EVENT BRINGS THEM BACK TOGETHER.
WATCH
❤ Available to watch on Netflix.
LOVE
❤ Diop has a new documentary film, Dahomey, exploring how the stolen artifacts were returned from France to Benin, and the reactions of Beninese people.
❤ Mati Diop is related to acclaimed Senegalese filmmaker Djibril Diop Mambéty (Touki Bouki, Hyènes).
AKASHA SUDAN
_ 2018 _ 78 MINS
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY hajooj kuka
A QUIRKY COMEDY, FOLLOWING TWO SUDANESE REBELS WHO BECOME TRUANT SOLIDERS ON A WILD GOOSE CHASE FROM THE ARMY TO AVOID WAR.
WATCH
❤ On Demand via Vimeo.
❤ NYAFF In Conversation: Ekwa Msangi and Fanta Régina Nacro
READ
❤ Download the presskit which includes an interview with hajooj kuka
Akoroko PERSPECTIVES: Stream the Short Films of Fanta Régina Nacro
LOVE
❤ The film’s music soundtrack is superb.
❤ The unexpected humor intertwined with intrigue
NAFI’S FATHER SENEGAL
_ 2019 _ 108 MINS
DIRECTED BY MAMADOU DIA
TWO FATHERS WHO ARE BROTHERS DISPUTE OVER THEIR CHILDREN'S MARRIAGE, USING TRADITION, PROGRESS, AND ISLAM AS THEMES. THE SIBLINGS' DISPUTE EVOLVES BEYOND THEIR CHILDREN'S HAPPINESS, DELVING INTO IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES.
WATCH
❤ Available to watch on Netflix.
❤ NYAFF In Conversation: Ekwa Msangi and Fanta Régina Nacro
LOVE
❤ Heartfelt. Simply good storytelling that isn’t overly complicated.
❤ The ending--bittersweet but satisfying.
❤ Awaiting Dia’s next film, Demba, which premiered at Berlinale 2024.
GIDI UP (SZN 2)
NIGERIA _ 2014 _ 12 EPISODES
DIRECTED BY JADESOLA OSIBERU
FOUR YOUNG PEOPLE FACE OBSTACLES AND TRIUMP AS THEY STRIVE FOR SUCCESS IN THE BUSTLING CITY OF LAGOS. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS SHOW ENDED AT SEASON 2 WITH NO HOPES FOR SEASON 3. ALL THE MORE REASON TO SAVOR SEASON 2. OSIBERU IS KNOWN FOR ISOKEN (2017), GANGS OF LAGOS (2023)
WATCH
❤ Full Episodes Available on Youtube: Season 2 (FREE)
❤ Just For Fun: Teaser for GIDI UP Season 3 that never was.
READ
❤ The Nigerian filmmaker reshaping Nollywood in her own image: Jade Osiberu speaks about risks, artistic excellence and a new Nollywood.
LOVE
❤ The music soundtrack. Hit jams include Lengoma by Dj Sbu/Zahara of South Africa
❤ Features some of Nollywood’s most beloved actors including @Daniel Effiong.
AFRICAN FILM SYLLABUS
CREATED WITH ❤ BY @ABBMONA SUPPORT HER FILMMAKING HERE
