cinema

There should be little doubt that a large part of London’s cosmopolitan culture comes from its Afro-Carribbean population. The definitive post-punk scene of the late 70s, populated by the likes of The Slits and Public Image Ltd, owe much to dub and reggae. Today, mainstream pop in England is informed by and suffused with grime, garage and dubstep. All things considered, it is astonishing just how little understanding there is of the African diasporic experience in Britain by what might be loosely termed the white majority. That’s why festivals like Film Africa are so important. A ten-day event featuring over 50 films from and about the continent, as well as a swathe of live performances and public discussions, the festival serves to generate a much-needed discourse on Africa and the Western world’s perception of it.

Two film nights of particular interest this year were the superbly curated short documentaries on the turbulent history of Ethiopia at Hackney Picturehouse, as well as the acclaimed experimental documentary film, Handsworth Songs (can be fully streamed here), at Brixton’s The Ritzy. Both film nights – each followed by Q&A sessions with some of London’s leading intellectuals and public figures –concern past historical events, which still resonate with and offer fresh perspective on current affairs and contemporary issues. Continue reading Film Africa 2011 reviewed