The African cinema lion roars!
FESPACO (Festival panafricain du cinéma et de la télévision de Ouagadougou) is an annual source of tremendous local pride in Burkina Faso, reports Pambazuka News. The largest cultural event on the continent, and the premier pan-African film festival worldwide, it is held in the Burkinabè capital of Ouagadougou at the end of February every year. Ouaga, a bustling, moped-saturated, smouldering capital city is a paradise for lovers of African cinema. The city is awash with moviegoers for the ten days of the festival, soaking up African images and stories that will rarely be seen beyond the continent in five air-conditioned, technically well-equipped cinemas.
The 2007 Grand Prize Winners were: Ezra, directed by Newton Aduaka, the heartbreaking story of a child soldier on trial who suffers memory loss and the realization that he may have murdered his parents; and Les Saignantes, directed by Jean-Pierre Bekolo, a visually stunning story of corruption, sexuality and supernatural power all taking place in Yaoundé in 2025. Not coming to a cinema near you!
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Voices from the margins:
Multimedia: video, podcasts, and more.
- Poetry Slam in Zimbabwe
- The House of Hunger poetry slam held in Zimbabwe in 2006, and organised by the Pamberi Trust, showcased young artists performing inspirational work on issues from corporate power to child soldiers. The video features four of the poets.
Published by Pambazuka News.
- Iranian women speak out
- 3 March 2007, London. Women's rights activists marched through the English capital last week to celebrate International Women's Day with a protest against the misogyny of the Islamic regime in Iran and the threat of invasion by the US. Hear the voices of Iranian feminists Azar and Leila Parnian and the sounds of the demonstration as it passed through the heart of the city. Click here to learn more about the campaign.
Produced by Heidi Bachram.
- Raised Voices audio:
- Benny from West Papua on Corporate Power
- Vinayan from India on agriculture
