Film Africa 2024: Opening and Closing Film Announcement
Posted on 14th April, 2024 in News
Opening Film: Dahomey
The kingdom of DAHOMEY (Danxomé in Fon language) is a former African kingdom located in the south of today’s Republic of Benin. It was founded in the 17th century by King Houegbadja. Under his reign and that of his descendants – a three- centuries dynasty – the kingdom was a considerable regional power, with a highly structured local economy, prosperous transatlantic trade, a centralized administration, a system of taxes and a powerful army including the famous Amazon women (Agodjié). In 1892, under the reign of King Behanzin, Colonel Dodds took Abomey, the kingdom’s capital,andin1895,DahomeybecamepartoftheFrenchcolonialempire.Whenitgained independence on August 1st, 1960, the country became the Republic of Dahomey.
ABOMEY, was the «capital» or, more precisely, the seat of the kingdom of Dahomey. The Houegbadja dynasty that reigned from the 17th to the 19th century turned it into a real city-state. Impressive palaces, lively court arts and crafts and Vodun religion practicing could be found on every street corner. Through Abomey city each king made his mark, aligned with their motto: «Dahomey always greater!». With agricultural development and the slave trade, Abomey was a crossroads city. Its palaces with exceptional universal value are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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Black Tea
The festival will close with “Black Tea,” a poignant romantic drama directed by the award-winning Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako. Sissako, a finalist at the Berlinale, brings his exceptional vision and storytelling prowess to this compelling film.
“Black Tea” stars Nina Mélo and Chang Han, following the journey of a young Ivorian woman who embarks on a transformative odyssey to China. Through her travels, she finds unexpected love and confronts the complexities of cultural assimilation. The film masterfully reveals a narrative of aspirational migration across the rarely addressed axis of Asia and Africa, offering viewers a fresh and insightful perspective on global interconnectedness.
Sissako’s direction in “Black Tea” captures the emotional depth and intricate dynamics of cross-cultural relationships. The film’s powerful performances, coupled with its beautiful cinematography, make it a standout piece in contemporary African cinema.
