African cinema has finally begun to get the international recognition it deserves. From Nigeria to Morocco, South Africa and Rwanda, here are six noteworthy African films to watch this year.
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
Directed by Shaka King, Judas and the Black Messiah boasts a stellar cast that includes Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons and Dominique Fishback. The film, which is biographical in essence, centres on the betrayal of Kaluuya’s character Fred Hampton, who is the charismatic chairman of the Illinois branch of the Black Panther Party in late-1960s Chicago. His betrayer is FBI informant William O’Neal, played by Lakeith Stanfield. What ensues is a battle for the betrayer’s soul: will he align himself with the forces of good? Hailed as “one of the best films of the year”, the film has garnered numerous accolades, including, for Kaluuya, both a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor and a Best Supporting Actor award at the Golden Globes.
Namaste Wahala (2020)
This will be a great date-night movie. If you haven’t watched it, I won’t spoil it by going into details, although the title (translation: ‘Hello trouble’) will give you some idea of what to expect. Suffice it to say that it’s a classic, Rom-com boy-meets-girl tale, albeit a cross-cultural one. the boy is from India and the girl is from Nigeria. Directed by Hamisha Daryani Ahuja, the film stars Ini Dima-Okojie and Ruslaan Mumtaz. Catch it on Netflix.
Kandasamys: The wedding (2019)
Following the success of her 2017 hit South African films, Keeping Up With the Kandasamys, director Jayan Moodley returns with this vibrant sequel full of laughs and plenty of heart. Kandasamys: The Wedding follows two South African Indian families – the Kandasamys and the Naidoos – soon to be united by the wedding of Jodi (Mishqah Parthiepal) and Prishen (Madushan Singh). As the big day approaches, their love is put to the test by their equally domineering mothers, Jennifer (Jailoshini Naidoo) and Shanthi (Maeshni Naicker). With both matriarchs determined to push their own agendas on the big day, old tensions resurface with hilarious results. Colourful, spirited and often poignant, Kandasamys: The Wedding is a romantic comedy packed with vibrant characters, world-class performances and genuine belly-laugh moments.
The Mercy of the Jungle (2019)
Set at the beginning of the Second Congo War, The Mercy of the Jungle follows two Rwandan soldiers separated from their military unit in the impenetrable and hostile Congolese Jungle. They are Private Faustin (Stéphane Bak), an inexperienced new recruit, and Sergeant Xavier (Marc Zinger), a disillusioned veteran wearied by a seemingly endless war. Lost in the heart of enemy territory without food and water, the two men must join forces to survive the harshness of the jungle and the threat of rebel factions. This reluctant partnership develops into a deep bond between the two men, both of whom are scarred by atrocities they have witnessed and committed. The second feature film from Rwandan director Joel Karekezi, The Mercy of the Jungle is an African film that tells a story of survival, humanity and forgiveness amongst the madness of war. Outstanding African film-making.
My Friend Fela (2019)
Directed by Joel Zito Araujo, My Friend Fela is a documentary exploring the extraordinary life of legendary Nigerian musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Best known for his unique ‘Afrobeat’ musical style, Fela was a talented multi-instrumentalist, a political activist and a hero to Africa’s poor. Told through conversations with Fela’s close friend and biographer, Carlos-Moore, the film reveals the key forces and influences that shaped the musician’s life. Compelling and at times disturbing, Araújo’s documentary is a tribute to a remarkable man whose music inspired a generation of Africans.
Clemency (2019)
Inspired by a true story, this delicate death row drama exposes the human cost of America’s controversial execution system. Written and directed by American-Nigerian Chinonye Chukwe, this African film follows conflicted prison warden Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodard), whose years of overseeing death row executions has left her hollowed and internally scarred. We meet Bernadine as she supervises her 12th lethal injection, which goes disturbingly wrong when the medic cannot find a viable vein. Witnessing the inmate’s agonising death, Bernadine is confronted by the gruesomeness of America’s criminal justice system and her role within it. In the wake of this trauma, Bernadine must prepare for the impending execution of 15-year death row inmate Antony Woods (Aldis Hodge), who has always protested his innocence. According to Chukwu, the inspiration for the film came in part from the case of Troy Davies, who was executed for murder in 2011 despite serious doubts about his guilt. Anchored by towering performances from both Woodard and Hodge, Chukka’s devastating and authentic drama explores the harrowing effects of capital punishment on the lives it touches. Another brilliant African film to watch as soon as you get a break!
Sofia (2018)
Written and directed by Meryem Benm’barek, this edgy, uncompromising North African film explores one of the biggest taboos in Moroccan society. Set in Casablanca, Sofia tells the story of a 20-year-old, unmarried woman who secretly gives birth to an illegitimate child. In a country where extra-marital sex is punishable by law, Sofia finds herself threatened with imprisonment if she cannot produce the father’s documents within 24 hours. With the help of her cousin, Lena, Sofia frantically tracks down the baby’s father Omar (Hamza Khafif) in Casablanca’s impoverished Derb Sultan district. Benm’barek’s directorial debut delves into the hypocrisy of Morocco’s repressive, middle-class society – where respectability and status are preserved at any individual cost. Winner of the best screenplay prize in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section, this unique and alternative film is well worth a watch.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
British-Nigerian actor Chiwetel Eijorfor directs and stars in this inspiring true story of a schoolboy who saves his Malawian village from famine. Based on a real-life memoir, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind centres around William Kamkwamba (Maxwell Simba) – a smart teenager with an inventive mind and an aptitude for technology. When drought and famine devastate his village, William sets his mind to designing and building a wind turbine that brings life-saving electricity to his community. Ejiofor himself plays William’s father, Trywell, a proud but loving man who at first meets his son’s ideas with scepticism and anger. Raw and uncompromising, the film does not shy away from the realities suffered by Trywell and his family, as exploitation, political corruption and violence pervade their already fractured community. Buoyed up by intelligent performances from Eijofor and Simba, The Boy Who Harnassed the Wind is a tale of ingenuity, and resourcefulness succeeding against all the odds. This small selection of African films shows the astonishing results of African people telling African stories. It is no wonder that African film/cinema is making its mark on the global film industry.
Love film? Read Guy’s review of the exceptional biopic, The Journey is the destination.
And tell us about your all-time favourite African films – use the comments section below.
