Sembene Across Africa 2022

Sembene Across Africa, Fifth Edition: October 28–30

This groundbreaking program brings African cinema to communities throughout Africa and the Diaspora, free of charge, for one weekend a year. In its first four editions, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, Sembene Across Africa included more than 375 screenings in 44 African nations, in public parks, cafes, museums, schools, cultural centers and libraries, from tiny villages to Africa’s largest cities. The content was also streamed and broadcast throughout the continent, and the wide publicity brought African cinema to the attention of millions.

The 2022 program includes two of Sembene’s films and a documentary about him.

• Sembene’s classic tragicomedy MANDABI (1968), which documents the plight of a Senegalese man who tries to cash a money order from a relative in France.

• XALA (1975), a biting satire about corruption in the independence era.

• SEMBENE! (2015), an award-winning documentary celebrating the life of this great man.

1. Attend a screening, being held in venues across the continent.

2. On the continent? Stream a film in French or English for free online during the weekend.

   In English:

   MANDABI (1968): Sembene’s classic tragicomedy documents the plight of a Senegalese man who tries to cash a money order from a relative in France. French/Wolof with English Subtitles: https://youtu.be/c-n5AYFdFvE

   XALA (1975), Sembene’s biting satire about corruption in the independence era—as powerful now as it was nearly 50 years ago. English Subtitles: https://youtu.be/amalxqo6xBg

   SEMBENE! (2015), an award-winning documentary celebrating the life of Africa’s inspiring revolutionary artist, who made films and wrote books to galvaninze a continent. English Subtitles: https://youtu.be/SF0ZKmt0Pp8 

   In French:

   LE MANDAT (MANDABI, 1968) raconte l’histoire tragi-comique d’un Sénégalais, homme du peuple qui essaie, en vain, de percevoir un mandat providentiel venu de France. Sous-titres Français: https://youtu.be/FhswfHbcN90 

   XALA (1975), Sembene’s satire mordante sur les premieres décennies des indépendances africaines. Sous-titres Français: https://youtu.be/--k_9PGIsDg 

   SEMBENE! (2015) un documentaire primé plusieurs fois dans le monde et qui célèbre la vie du grand homme que fut Ousmane Sembene. Sous-titres Français: https://youtu.be/Mequ1Xrg5n4 

3. Watch MANDABI (in French) followed by a discussion and Q&A, on October 29, or XALA (in English) on October 30, followed by a discussion and Q&A, anywhere in the world!

   
   Participez à nos projections + séminaires les samedi 29 et dimanche 30 octobre

   Saturday, October 29: LE MANDAT/MANDABI (1968): Séance en  français + séminaire / French language screening + seminar

   2:30p GMT Introduction par le Dr Samba Gadjigo  et  projection de LE MANDAT/MANDABI, français et wolof avec sous-titres français

   4p GMT Discussion en français avec Boubacar Boris Diop (romancier et essayiste)

   Regarder sur YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epjPmtR6QWY

   Sunday October 30: XALA (1975): English language screening + seminar

   2p GMT Introduction by Dr. Samba Gadjigo and screening of XALA, French and Wolof with English subtitles

   4p GMT Discussion featuring  Dr. Sada Niang (University of Victoria) and Dr. Cheikh Thiam (co-founder, The Dakar Institute of African Studies, professor / Amherst College); Samba Gadjigo, moderator

   Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgPeSwR6-bc