The Barbican Centre is ablaze with creativity as it hosts 'Project a Black Planet: Film', a cinematic odyssey that delves into the very heart of pan-Africanism's rich tapestry. This season of screenings, running in tandem with the 'Project a Black Planet' exhibition, promises to ignite the imagination and challenge perceptions as it explores the pivotal movement's legacy on African and African-descended lives worldwide.
The electrifying documentary 'The Pan-African Festival of Algiers', courtesy of William Klein, kicked off proceedings in style. Captured in 1969, this momentous event saw Algiers transformed into a vibrant hub of artistic expression, as performers from across the continent came together to forge a new era of unity and solidarity. The Barbican describes Klein's footage as 'a glimpse into a profound dissolving of barriers between performers and audience', echoing Sékou Touré's impassioned call to arms: "We must make this revolution with the people… and the songs will come."
Under the expert curation of Matthew Barrington, film becomes the perfect medium to illustrate pan-Africanism in all its beauty. The selected works are designed to spark conversations across generations and backgrounds, with films like Roy Guerra's 1979 feature 'Mueda, Memória e Massacre' confronting the painful legacies of colonial atrocities. Meanwhile, satirical and psychoanalytic reflections on the postcolonial condition abound in classics such as Timité Bassori’s 'The Woman with the Knife' (1969) and Djibril Diop Mambéty's 'Hyenas' (1992).
A key focus of the festival lies in redefining classical African cinema, broadening the canon to include pioneering female directors like Sarah Maldoror. Her film 'Fogo, l’île de feu', a poignant exploration of land and labour in post-independence Cape Verde, is set to captivate audiences. The Barbican's programme also shines a light on Annouchka de Andrade's tireless efforts to restore and distribute her mother's films – often against the odds – in the face of industry resistance and sexism.
But it's not just about the films themselves; the festival is accompanied by an array of complementary events designed to foster fresh perspectives and connections. The Barbican Centre becomes a melting pot of ideas, inviting everyone to join the conversation and be inspired by this groundbreaking celebration of pan-Africanism through cinema.