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Documentaries
Thomas Sankara: The Upright Man is a 2006 documentary film about Thomas Sankara, former president of Burkina Faso. Sankara was known as "the African Che", and became famous in Africa due to his innovative ideas, his devastating humor, his spirit and his altruism. The film recovers for the present a detailed history of Sankara’s brief four-year rule and his revolutionary program for African self-reliance as a defiant alternative to the neo-liberal development strategies imposed on Africa by the West, both then and today.
Video Link:
Robin Shuffield: (2006). Thomas Sankara: The Upright Man [video]. Films for Action. https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/thomas-sankara-the-upright-man-2006/
Shot in Lagos at the peak of his career in 1982, this documentary contains interviews with Fela detailing his thoughts on politics, Pan-Africanism, music and religion, alongside unpublished versions of songs like ITT, Army Arrangement and Power Show. For all who wish to know more about an artist at the heart of African musical history, Fela Kuti: Music is the Weapon is an essential film.
Video Link:
Kino Lorber: (2022, August 31). Fela Kuti: Music Is The Weapon [video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XtkbruUslw
Concerning Violence Documentary is a bold and fresh visual narrative from Africa based on archive material from Swedish documentaries 1966-1987 covering the most daring moments in the struggle for liberation from colonial rule. This powerful footage is combined with text from Frantz Fanon’s landmark book The Wretched of the Earth – written in 1960 and still a major tool for understanding and illuminating the neocolonialism happening today, as well as the unrest and the reactions against it.
Video Link:
Cantiere Milano: (2020, October 15). Concerning Violence [video]. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/concerning-violence-documentary
Books & Music
Featured Content
AFRICAN BARBER SIGNS
African barbershop signs are a vibrant part of visual culture, especially in West Africa. These hand-painted signs, featuring bold colors and creative hairstyle depictions, serve as both advertisements and artistic expressions. African barbershops have long been community hubs for grooming, socializing, storytelling, and political discussions. The signs reflect this dual role, showcasing contemporary fashion while carrying cultural and political significance. Their enduring presence highlights the intersection of art, commerce, and community, where even a barbershop becomes a site of cultural expression.
FEATURED ACTIVIST, QUOTES, LYRICS & PROVERBS
FEATURED NEWSPAPERS
"He who feeds you
controls you."
-THOMAS SANKARA
The quote "He who feeds you controls you"
is attributed to Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso. This statement reflects his strong stance on
economic independence and self-reliance. Sankara believed that true freedom and sovereignty for African nations could only
be achieved if they broke free from the
economic dependencies imposed by foreign powers and institutions. By emphasizing
self-sufficiency in agriculture and rejecting foreign aid, Sankara sought to empower
his people to control their own destinies
without external influence. His leadership
and ideas continue to inspire movements
for economic and political autonomy
across Africa.
"I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original"
-FELA KUTI
This line is a powerful expression of
African pride and authenticity from
Gentleman,the iconic 1973 song by
Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.
Through these lyrics, Fela rejects
Western norms, embracing his African
identity unapologetically while critiquing
the lingering effects of colonialism on
African identity. Mocking Africans who
imitate European customs as "gentlemen,"
he highlights the absurdity of adopting
Western ideals, especially the discomfort
of wearing suits in the African heat. With
its driving Afrobeat rhythm and sharp
social commentary, Gentleman reflects
Kuti's commitment to cultural pride and
political resistance.
"If the full moon loves you,
why worry about the stars?"
-AFRICAN PROVERB
The African proverb “If the full moon loves
you, why worry about the stars?” has multiple meanings, but it generally conveys the idea of going to places where you are celebrated and loved, rather than where you are ignored.
AFRICAN BARBER SIGNS
African barbershop signs are a vibrant part of visual culture, especially in West Africa. These hand-painted signs, featuring bold colors and creative hairstyle depictions, serve as both advertisements and artistic expressions. African barbershops have long been community hubs for grooming, socializing, storytelling, and political discussions. The signs reflect this
dual role, showcasing contemporary fashion while carrying cultural and political significance. Their enduring presence highlights the intersection of art, commerce, and community, where even a barbershop becomes a site of cultural expression.
FEATURED ACTIVIST, QUOTES, LYRICS & PROVERBS
FEATURED NEWSPAPERS
"He who feeds you
controls you."
-THOMAS SANKARA
The quote "He who feeds you controls you"
is attributed to Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso. This statement reflects his strong stance on
economic independence and self-reliance. Sankara believed that true freedom and sovereignty for African nations could only
be achieved if they broke free from the
economic dependencies imposed by foreign powers and institutions. By emphasizing
self-sufficiency in agriculture and rejecting foreign aid, Sankara sought to empower his people to control their own destinies without external influence. His leadership and ideas continue to inspire movements for economic
and political autonomy across Africa.
"I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original"
-FELA KUTI
This line is a powerful expression of African
pride and authenticity from Gentleman,
the iconic 1973 song by Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Through these lyrics,
Fela rejects Western norms, embracing
his African identity unapologetically while critiquing the lingering effects of colonialism
on African identity. Mocking Africans who
imitate European customs as "gentlemen," he highlights the absurdity of adopting Western ideals, especially the discomfort of wearing
suits in the African heat. With its driving
Afrobeat rhythm and sharp social commentary, Gentleman reflects Kuti's commitment to
cultural pride and political resistance.
"If the full moon loves you,
why worry about the stars?"
-AFRICAN PROVERB
The African proverb “If the full moon loves you, why worry about the stars?” has multiple mean-ings, but it generally conveys the idea of going
to places where you are celebrated and loved, rather than where you are ignored.
AFRICAN BARBER SIGNS
African barbershop signs are a vibrant part of visual culture, especially in West Africa. These hand-painted signs, featuring bold colors and creative hairstyle depictions, serve as both advertisements and artistic expressions. African barbershops have long been community hubs for grooming, socializing, storytelling, and political discussions. The signs reflect this dual role, showcasing contemporary fashion while carrying cultural and political significance. Their enduring presence highlights the intersection of art, commerce, and community, where even a barbershop becomes
a site of cultural expression.
FEATURED ACTIVIST, QUOTES, LYRICS & PROVERBS
"He who feeds you
controls you."
-THOMAS SANKARA
The quote "He who feeds you controls you"
is attributed to Thomas Sankara, the revo-
lutionary leader of Burkina Faso. This statement reflects his strong stance on economic independence and self-reliance. Sankara believed that true freedom and sovereignty for African nations could only
be achieved if they broke free from the economic dependencies imposed by foreign powers and institutions. By emphasizing
self-sufficiency in agriculture and rejecting foreign aid, Sankara sought to empower his people to control their own destinies without external influence. His leadership and ideas continue to inspire movements for economic and political autonomy across Africa.
"I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original"
-FELA KUTI
This line is a powerful expression of African pride and authenticity from Gentleman,
the iconic 1973 song by Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Through these lyrics,
Fela rejects Western norms, embracing
his African identity unapologetically
while critiquing the lingering effects of colonialism on African identity. Mocking Africans who imitate European customs as
"gentlemen," he highlights the absurdity
of adopting Western ideals, especially the discomfort of wearing suits in the African
heat. With its driving Afrobeat rhythm
and sharp social commentary, Gentleman reflects Kuti's commitment to cultural
pride and political resistance.
"If the full moon loves you,
why worry about the stars?"
-AFRICAN PROVERB
The African proverb “If the full moon
loves you, why worry about the stars?”
has multiple meanings, but it generally conveys the idea of going to places
where you are celebrated and loved,
rather than where you are ignored.