Forget Africa

I neva mentioned this
but during the festival in Rotterdam
there was a section dedicated to African Films
and it was called...drum roll please
Forget Africa / Where is Africa
here
this title was off putting to say the least
so i ended up not followin this programe
yes i got to see two or three movies and linked up with some nice peeps
so
below is the letter that i sent to the Programmer
i am yet to get a response
in ya dis ya time y'all.


Dear sir,
I hope that this finds you well and in good spirits.
kindly allow me to express my reaction/feelings/perception
of the Forget Africa / Where is Africa program
I do understand and appreciate that it is a rhetorical and paradoxal question/statement
as it has been repeatedly explained.
But something did not go down well with me.

On the opening night, we were treated to an introduction of this concept
and Africa was shown as a black dot on the map...
I found that to be disturbing to say the least.
we have come a long long way and its quite unbelievable that in 2010
we are still treated to these kind of images/perception
we have been working very hard to eradicate and disprove these sentiments about Africa
yet they still persist.
it seems to me that Europe does not want to see Africa in any other way except that of a Black Dot on the map.


Hence: FORGET EUROPE


It is also quite interesting to note that you think there is no decent film industry in Africa
well, I would like to pose this question.
What is FESPACO all about then?
Established in 1969 and has been running bi-annually ever since. Yes,
maybe it’s not as prestigious as the European festivals but it exists! For and By AFRICANS! forget Africa?
And what about Nollywood. Yes
maybe its not palatable to euro audiences and does not meet the western standards, but it exist. For Africans by Africans. Forget Africa?


What about
Durban International Film Festival
Zimbabwe international Film Festival
Zanzibar International Film Festival
And more….


There are many a festival scattered around the globe that are dedicated to African Cinema, with a full program and lineup of African Films, from documentaries right up to animation.


To name but a few:
Festival Cinema Africano – Milano
Africa in the Picture – Amsterdam
Cinema Africano – Verona
Pan African film and Arts Festival – Los Angeles
Pan Africa international – Montreal
African Film Festival – New York
Images of Black Women Film Festival - London
And more…..


I also find it to be an offense to the existing established African film makers.
by saying where is Africa, you are basically ignoring them, you are saying they don't exist, or they are just not worth it. yet they do and have the same trials and tribulations that any a film maker experience. but you have just overlooked them and asked the question: where is Africa?

Here :
Haile Gerima – Ethiopia
Newton Aduaka – Nigeria
Khalo Matabane – South Africa
Mahamat Saleh Haroun - Chad
Cheik Fantamady Camara – Guinea
Lupita Nyong'o – Kenya
Khaled el Hagar – Egypt
Mustafa Alison – Niger
Isaac Julien – UK
John Akomfrah – UK
Idrissou Mora Kpai – Benin
Abderrahmane Sissako – Mauritania
Issa Traore – Burkina Faso
Moussa Sene Absa – Senegal


And these are just a few, in no particular order just to illustrate.


Then there are Caribbean’s, Latina America etc etc
and then you have brought in foreign film makers to shoot Africa.
AGAIN?
do you know how weary we are of foreigners telling our story?
for obvious reasons of course.
hence many an African has took to filmmaking
so that we can tell our own stories in our own way.
All this money used to send foreign film makers on a safari trip, sorry, i meant Africa
could have been well spent. [in my opinion]
maybe. for example it could have gone
to funding one, just one, feature film by an African which could then go on and compete
in the prestigious festivals of Europe; not only as an African film but as A FILM in competition,
just like the rest of other films compete.
my point is, if a film maker gets enough funding
[which i think would equal the total amount spent on all those foreign film makers sent to Africa]
to shoot a decent film that could enter any competition for its merit, not only for being African, wouldn't that be something.
I am very interested and curious to find out what next year's theme on Africa would be all about.

Now that you have found Africa.

Allow me to also express my gratitude for your efforts . There is a lot of work that went into the organization and preparation I know. Thank you also for putting this section in the lime light and highlight of the festival. Thank you and your team for your efforts and intentions.


Respect.