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Deutschlandpremiere: "Kemtiyu: Séex Anta - Cheikh Anta" in Anwesenheit Ousmane William Mbaye und Laurence Attali
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Event information
| Rosenthaler Straße 40/41 10178 Berlin |
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"Der universelle Mensch", "Der Gigant des Wissens", "Der letzte Pharaoh", das waren die Schlagzeilen am Tag nach seinem Tod am 7. Februar 1986. 30 Jahre später zeichnet KEMTIYU ein portrait Cheikh Anta Diops, bahnbrechender Wissenschaftler mit unersättlichem Wissensdurst und aufrichtige und hellsichtige politische Führungspersönlichkeit, von einigen verehrt, von anderen verschrien, und den meisten unbekannt.
Dieser Film erzählt die Geschichte eines Mannes, der sich sein ganzes Leben für Wahrheit und Gerechtigkeit eingesetzt hat, um das historische Bewusstsein und die Würde Afrikas wieder herzustellen.
Im Anschluss an die Filmvorführung finden eine Diskussion mit dem Regisseur Ousmane William Mbaye und der Produzentin Laurence Attali sowie ein kleiner Empfang im Kino-Foyer statt.
Eine Veranstaltung von AfricAvenir in Kooperation mit dem Hackesche Höfe Kino und dem Centre Francais de Berlin (City Kino Wedding).
Die Filmreihe "African Reflections" wird gefördert von der Aktion Afrika vom Auswärtigen Amt, von Brot für die Welt und vom Katholischen Fonds.
Medienpartner: Africiné, Club der Freunde von RFI, Art Labour Archives, Zentrum Moderner Orient, Humboldt Universität, AfroHeat
Background
Born in 1923 in a village in deepest Senegal, he developed a passion for science and Africa history at a very early age. He arrived in Paris in 1947 to study philosophy, then physics, chemistry, history, linguistics, and anthropology. His professors were Gaston Bachelard, Marcel Griaule and Frédéric Joliot-Curie.
In 1954, he published "Nations Nègres et Culture", a cult book which revolutionized the view of the origin of civilizations by declaring that Africa is the cradle of humanity, the Egypt of the Pharaohs was Black, and that history has been altered. To dare to contradict the Egyptologists and reject their symbols cost him dearly his whole life...
After completing his doctorate, he returned to Senegal in 1960 at the time of independence, and clashed with Léopold Sédar Senghor who banned him from teaching at the university. Then, with the support of Théodore Monod, Cheikh Anta built his own carbon dating laboratory in Dakar.
He was convinced that Africa’s development would come about through scientific learning, the protection of its national languages, and the federation of the United States of Africa.
Despite a path strewn with pitfalls and opponents, Cheikh Anta Diop, the rebel, left behind a colossal body of work and several heirs around the world who have perpetuated his legacy.
“One may wonder if he is not one of those who settled comfortably into eternity in their own lifetime” a journalist wrote as early as 1960.
Ousmane William Mbaye about the film:
"I noticed that quite a number of young Africans were quoting Cheikh Anta Diop, but did not really know him. So I thought it was worthwhile to revisit the legacy of this man, who has developed so many forms of knowldge during his life, and this at a moment in time in which he seemed to fade from our memories. I felt that to portray him was necessary in view of inciting African youth to better get to know him and his works." Ousmane William Mbaye
Reviews
"It was just awesome! I experienced every single sequence of this multidimensional film with great emotion. And in my head, Randy Weston's flamboyant music still continues to invoke the African ancestors, but also those of the cotton fields… I knew him, I read him, I loved him, I quoted him and advocated his teachings, but now I feel like an orphan... Because this film has brought me the missing human affection to this magnificent pharao, who came right from the limbo of our brains to materialise in our hearts, an affection only proximity can bring…" Hulo Guillabert, Director of Diasporas Noires Editions and Panafricanist Activist
"It is only thirty years after his death that a film has been made about the much admired panafricanist and senegalese egyptologist. The documentary entitled "Kemtiyu - Séex Anta" by director Ousmane William Mbaye, screened as a world preview at Sorano, brings us much closer to the scientist and his battle on Africa's contribution to global civilisation." Fatou K. Sène, Walf Quotidien
"Thank you Willy for this affectionate proximity, than you for indelible commitment which I from now on am feeling for my father, my ancestor..." Hulo Guillabert, Director of Diasporas Noires Editions and Panafricanist Activist
"Youth and family phographies, conversations with his loved ones in Senegal, in France and in the USA, inspiring film music by US Jazz musician Randy Weston... Director Ousmane William Mbaye has embarked on a journey into our collective memory." Sabine Cessou, Hebdo
"This film is about the courage of a man, his consistency, his refusal to compromise on intellectual grounds (a refusal to tolerate the falsification of history) and on the political field (more equity and social justice). It is also the chronicle of missed opportunities between a people and one of his most dignified sons. It is the portrait of a man, who remained largely ununderstood, even in intellectual and politically or socially committed circles (...) The film makes us realise at least one thing: Cheikh Anta Diop is a history lesson of burning topicality." Racine Assane Demba, livracine
"When his work speaks for an artist, there is no need to transform into media product. Everything is said and the genius of his author has been revealed. Ousmane William Mbaye deserves praise, just as much as ilustrous predecessors Paulin Soumanou Vieyra, Sembene Ousmane, Djibril Diop Mambety..." Alassane Aliou MBAYE, Le Soleil
"He gives to the scientific discourse of Cheikh Anta Diop a human face (...)" Alassane Aliou MBAYE, Le Soleil
Production Details
Title : KEMTIYU, CHEIKH ANTA
Category: Documentary – Running time: 94' - Year: 2016 - French version/English version
Format: Appleprores 4:2:2 HD 1920x1080 Stéréo – DCP – Blu Ray – DVD
Script direction & production : Ousmane William MBAYE
Editing & production : Laurence ATTALI
Music : Randy WESTON
Scientific Advisor : Cheikh Mbacké DIOP
Cinematography : O. William MBAYE - Jean DIOUF - Amadou THIOR - Guillaume
BOUTINDI
Sound & Mixing : Myriam RENE - Michel TSIGALI
Color grading: Rémi BERGE
Subtitles: John & Isabelle MILLER
Archives Ina + Senegalese archives + Private archives
With Cheikh Anta DIOP , and in order of appearence : Louise Marie DIOP MAES, Moustapha DIOP, Mame Sow DIOUF, Annette Mbaye d'ERNEVILLE, Christiane Yandé DIOP, Boubacar Boris DIOP, Dr Yoro SY, Joe OUAKAM, Randy WESTON, Assane SECK, Maurice CAVEING, Edouard EDELMANN, Dialo DIOP, Cheikh Mbacké DIOP, Massamba S. DIOP, Ndakhté A. MBAYE, Abdou DIOUF, Amadou Mahtar MBOW, Théophile OBENGA, Alain FROMENT, Michel REINETTE, Charles S. FINCH, Andrew YOUNG, Lawrence E. CARTER, Boubacar Buuba DIOP.
With the participation and support of : FOPICA - TV5MONDE - CNC - Fonds Images de la Diversité – PROCIREP-ANGOA - Fonds Image de la Francophonie.
PRODUCTION ET DISTRIBUTION :
AUTOPRODUCTION - LAURENCE ATTALI
8 rue de Jouy 75004 Paris
Paris +336 81 14 99 78 - +331 43 29 57 37
Dakar - +221 77 507 77 68
autoprod(at)club-internet.fr
LES FILMS MAME YANDE - WILLIAM MBAYE
Villa 2744 Dieuppeul 3 Dakar
Dakar +221 76 680 05 60 - +221 33 825 21 51
Paris +336 58 50 90 78
o.williammbaye(at)gmail.com
© LES FILMS MAME YANDÉ – AUTOPRODUCTION - 2016