The Molefi Kete Asante Institute for Afrocentric Studies
5535 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Message from the Director
Greetings:
Welcome to the 9th 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 ninth season, we shall be presenting 35 films submitted by filmmakers from Australia, Argentina, Brazil,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central Africa Republic, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Italy, Jordan,
Liberia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom,
Uganda, and USA.
We celebrate and congratulate the extraordinary group of talented filmmakers who have employed their craft and skills in the exploration the
experiences of people of African origin all around the world. Some of the major subjects covered in this year’s selection are Art, Business,
Crime & Violence, Culture, Education, Gender, History, Human trafficking, Immigration, Identity, Music & Dance, Traditional Religion,
Personal biographies, Politics, Poverty, Race, Society, Sport, as well as Women issues.
Once again we are grateful to continue our important collaboration with our local, national and international partners, the Missouri History
Museum in Saint Louis; St. Louis University’s Sam and Marilyn Fox Atlas Week Program; the Molefi Kete Asante Institute for Afrocentric
Studies in Philadelphia, PA; the Institute of African Studies, at the University of Ghana, Legon; the iRepresent International Documentary
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 the “I Will Tell” International Film Festival in London, England. This year we are thrilled to
announce our new partnership with the Caribbean Travelling Film School in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and Sam Houston State
University in Huntsville, Texas. We welcome both our new partners in Trinidad and Tobago and Texas to the growing family of AWDFF.
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.
I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the following individuals: Mr. Barney Bradshaw and the staff at Missouri History
Museum, St. Louis, MO; Drs.’ Francis Dodoo, Ọbádélé Kambon, Jehifo Nanbigne and Edwin Adjei of the Institute of African Studies at the
University of Ghana in Legon, Ghana; Dr. Jane Bryce of the University of West Indies in Cave Hill, Barbados; Mr. Femi Odugbemi, Mr.
Jahman Anikulapo, Mr. Makin Soyinka, Mr. Lanre Olupona, Ms. Toyin Fajj at iREP International Documentary Film Festival, Lagos,
Nigeria; Drs.’ Vince Casaregola, Joya Uraizee and Michelle Lorenzini of St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO; Drs’ Molefi Asante and Ama
Mazama of The Molefi Kete Asante Institute for Afrocentric Studies in Philadelphia, PA; Drs’. Leolyn Jackson and Roger Field of the
University of the Western Cape in Bellville, South Africa; Ms. Jenny Lee of “I Will Tell” International Film Festival in London, UK; Drs.’
Tunde Bewaji, Rachel Moseley-Wood and Franklyn St. Juste of the University of West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, and our new partners,
Mr. Wayne Cezair of the Caribbean Travelling Film School in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and Drs.’ Tom Garrett, Jean Bodon and
Kelly Arena of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX .
I wish you an enjoyable Festival
‘Niyi Coker, Jr.
E. Desmond Lee Professor
Festival Director
Friday, February 19, 2016
6:00 PM – 8:45 PM
The Caged Bird: The Life and Music of Florence B. Price
James Greeson (57m, USA)
A documentary film about the life and music of Florence B. Price. Price (1887-1953) was the first African-American
woman whose music was performed by major symphonic orchestras back in 1933 when one of her compositions was
performed by the Chicago Symphony. She also collaborated with poet Langston Hughes and wrote over 50 songs that
were sung by the great Marian Anderson. The documentary tells her life story with many recently discovered photos and
also presents many fine performances of her music to underscore her accomplishments. The poet Paul Laurence Dunbar
used the metaphor of a “caged bird” for the oppression of black Americans. This is the story of a woman who refused to
accept the limited aspirations that were expected of her race and gender, who would not be a “caged bird.”
Ferguson Documented: In 36 Hours
Carla Usher (15m, USA)
On August 5, 2014, Michael Brown an 18 year-old black teenager was killed by a white police officer in the town of
Ferguson, Missouri. What appeared to be yet another police involved shooting of an unarmed black man proved to be
something more. The outrage over the killing of Michael Brown served to mobilize not only residents of Ferguson’s black
community, but the incident sparked massive protests and public demonstrations in both large and small communities
across the country. The events of Ferguson forced white, middle class America to confront issue of racism and policing in
communities of color. The documentary explores these issues through a diverse collection of voices sharing their
experiences
Tress: Artists and Angels, Masters of Natural Hair
Michele Ervin (66m, USA)
A journey of discovering uniqueness. The film makers follow men and women in the hair care industry that blend modern
and ancient techniques of hair styling, which restores and empowers to reclaim one’s own self-esteem. Walk away
encouraged by the stories from people whose lives have been changed through their hair. Tress affirms our walk with
natural beauty with pageantry and music inspiring a new dialog about cultural influences and embracing one's own inner
and outer beauty.
Kissed by the Sun: A Study of Nile Valley Cultural Continuity
Steffan Spencer (15m, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan)
The documentary celebrates the cultural continuity and the historical importance of the nations of the Nile Valley known
today as Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan - once known to the world as Khemet, Axum/Punt and Nubia. Till this day, these
lands feature monuments and traditions viscerally know by the world, which still retain their power to invoke wonder. From
the days of antiquity, to classical civilizations, ‘Kissed By The Sun’ studies how the people have creatively endeavored to
understand themselves, and the world, while honoring the vibrant traditions & cultural achievements that bind the great
Nile Valley Civilizations.
8:45 PM – 9:00 PM
Discussion
Saturday, February 20, 2016
2:00 PM – 4:15 PM
The Province 101
Doaa Al Ashqar (56m, Comoros, Jordan)
An island that is located in the Archipelago of Comoros in the Indian Ocean, whose population rejected independence
from France, and so remained a French colony until today. Two years ago, this island became officially one of the
overseas provinces of France, making it the destination of the Comorian and African illegal immigrants. Ancient Arab
sailors called it the island of death where many of their ships and sailors were constantly devoured. And today it again
eats up thousands of the secret illegal immigrants every year.
Return To Cuba
David Fabrega (78m, Canada, Cuba)
A documentary about the return of a Cuban migrant to her homeland. After 18 years living in Italy, Barbara Ramos returns
to live in Cuba. In the town of Santa Clara, she discovers through family and friends what has changed in Cuba but also
what has not and will likely never change. Shot over a period of three years - the time it took to build her dream house –
the film chronicles her life in the wake of Raul Castro's liberal reforms and reconciliation with the United States of America.
A new Cuban reality reveals itself with energy, philosophy and humor.
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Discussion with the two directors, Doaa Al Ashqar and David Fabrega
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Nascent
Jonathan Kasbe, Lindsay Branham (6m, Central African Republic, USA)
A short documentary about two children on the opposing sides of Central African Republic’s sectarian civil war. Bintou, a
Muslim girl, and Gaus, a Christian boy, are on opposing sides of the sectarian civil war in Central African Republic. With
escalating personal, tit-for-tat revenge violence, both Bintou and Gaus must discover who they are. The film is about how
social identities are constructed and deconstructed through the circle of interactions with others and the self and how
social identity influences why war is waged. Nascent explores the dichotomies of otherness and distills the conversation
through the clarifying stories of two children and their individual yet unifying desire to move forward.
If Only I Were That Warrior
Valerio Ciriaci (70m, Ethiopia, Italy, USA)
A film about the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in 1935 and its unresolved legacy today. Driving this investigation is the
story of a recently constructed monument to Rodolfo Graziani, a Fascist general remembered for war crimes committed
during the invasion and occupation of Ethiopia, which sparked international protests and brought this this chapter of
history back to the forefront of public discourse. The film addresses the unpunished war crimes Graziani and others
committed in the name of Mussolini’s imperial ambitions. The stories of three characters, filmed in present day Ethiopia,
Italy and the United States, take the audience on a journey through the living memories and the tangible remains of the
Italian occupation of Ethiopia — a journey that crosses generations and continents to today, where this often overlooked
legacy still ties the fates of two nations and their people.
6:15 PM – 6:30 PM
Discussion
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Sunday, February 21, 2016
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
The Trials of Constance Baker Motley
Rick Rodgers, Joel Motley (27m, USA)
At the height of the civil rights movement, Constance Baker Motley joined the NAACP's legal team. The only woman in the
group, she left her husband and infant son in New York for weeks at a time to represent the NAACP in Southern courts.
The first female Black lawyer Southern judges and juries had seen, she stunned them by winning case after case gaining the right for Black students to enter Ole Miss, The University of Georgia, and Clemson College. After the
assassination of one of her closest friends, she returned to New York and went on to become the first Black woman New
York State Senator, the first Black woman Manhattan Borough President, and with the backing of Lyndon Johnson, the
first Black woman named to a federal judgeship. With archival footage and narration in Motley's own voice, The Trials of
Constance Baker Motley tells the story of a civil rights leader who met prejudice and danger with elegance and humor.
Pan! Our Music Odyssey
Jerome Guiot, Thierry Teston (80m, Trinidad and Tobago)
Pan, an instrument, an ensemble and music, created in Trinidad during the 1940's by urban street gangs turned into
orchestras, shaping oil drums into tonal instruments. Today Pan has adherents from all over the world. Still Trinidad
remain the Mecca, where each year man and woman who stake all on their art and passion come to compete for the
world championship of Pan, the Panorama, with philharmonic orchestras of over 100 musicians. The fictional part, the
violent story of the ones who through their struggle carried the destiny of this new instrument, brings the keys to the
understanding of the modern characters and of this global human adventure.
The Fire Festival of Cuba (La Fiesta del Fuego)
Susanne Moss (49m, Cuba, USA)
The festival celebrates Caribbean culture, history and religious traditions including Santeria, Rastafari and Indigenous
Indians. Visually stunning footage combined with animated and informative interviews guide you on an adventure
discovering Cuba’s many cultures. The Fiesta concludes with a spectacular burning of an effigy of the devil. The “fire”
symbolizes ridding the world of all its bad influences and evils.
6:15 PM – 6:45 PM
Discussion