Series of screenings features African film directors

January 29, 2016

Series of screenings features African film directors

CARBONDALE, Ill. – A film series featuring contemporary African film directors will begin next month at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. 

The “Africana Film Series” features works from African directors and is sponsored by the Global Media Research Center and University Museum, in partnership with Africana Studies, Anthropology, Black Resource Center, and Radio, Television, and Digital Media departments. The film series is part of the university’s Black History Month observance. 

The series begins Feb. 11 with a screening at 7 p.m. of “The Mirror Boy” by Obi Emelonye in the University Museum. A public reception prior to the film is from 5:30 to 7 p.m.  Film series curators John McCall, chair, Department of Anthropology; Novotny Lawrence, chair, Department of Radio, Television and Digital Media; and Leonard Gadzekpo, interim chair, Africana Studies, will introduce the series. 

All of the films are free, and open to the public. Each of the screenings, which also will feature free soda and popcorn, will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursdays in the University Museum Auditorium.

The film schedule is:

Feb. 18 – “Keita: Heritage of the Griot,” by Dani Kouyate.

March 10 – “The Figurine (Araromire),” by Kunle Afolayan.

April 14 – “Karmen Gei,” by Joesph Gai Ramaka.

May 12 – “”Yeelen,” by Souleymane Cissé.

For further information, contact Jay Needham, professor and interim director of the Global Media Research Center in the Department of Radio, Television and Digital Media at jayn@siu.edu.