3rd Annual African Film and Arts Fest by PVD World Music

3rd Annual African Film and Arts Fest September 14 -18, 2022. Join us!



Back for its third year, PVD World Music’s Annual African Film and Arts Festival returns to Providence for five days from September 14 to 18, 2022, shining a spotlight on contemporary films and filmmakers from Africa and the African Diaspora.

As with every year, the festival will showcase rarely-seen films and highlight important indigenous music histories and traditions in locations around Providence in partnership with local champion organizations. It will also include traditional African music and dance performances and offer opportunities to learn more about the vibrant arts of the African continent. In addition, the festival will premiere their first annual cultural Celebration Markets on September 17 and 18.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.pvdworldmusic.com/

DAY 1

On Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the Temple to Music in Roger Williams Park, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. They will open with the feature film Le Tambours Sacres by Burundian trailblazer filmmaker Batimba Joseph. Steven Sogo, a Burundian traditional music singer and songwriter, will perform traditional Inanga music from Burundi and the Great Lakes of Africa.

They will offer this beginning as a tribute honoring the refugee families from the Great Lakes who immigrated to Rhode Island beginning in the early 2000s. Many people in this community, especially youth born here or in refugee camps, have been denied the opportunity to listen to, learn from, and share their precolonial music traditions, owing to ongoing conflicts and colonial harm. It will be a first for many to enjoy live performances of important ancestral instruments such as the Inanga, Umuduri, and Ikembe. Additionally, the opening day will be a great opportunity for African refugee youth to watch a film made by a filmmaker from their shared homelands. Tickets are free, and donations are highly encouraged.

DAY 2

On Thursday, September 15, 2022, the African film festival will continue at the Providence Innovation District Park at 120 Peck St, Providence, RI 02903, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. They will host a special premiere of the short film Revelation: Revealing the truth' by South African Filmmaker Kurt Orderson, bringing it to a US audience for the first time! This will be followed by another special screening of The Story of Lover’s Rock by UK-based filmmaker Menelik Shabazz. As both films explore the complex and long history of reggae, we will have live performances by Boston-based group Classic Vibe Reggae Band. We will also have local Jamaican food at this event, thanks to our new partnership with JaPatty. Tickets are free, and donations are highly encouraged.

DAY 3

On Friday, September 16, 2022, they will celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of PVD World Music’s African Film and Arts Festival at the Columbus Theater from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM and continue at the Courtland Club for an afterparty celebration. The event will open with a live Jazz performance by local saxophone maestro Leland Baker and Trio. Next, we will screen Not In My Neighborhood, a film by South African Filmmaker Kurt Orderson, who will then join us for a Panel Discussion about his path-breaking work in Africa and in the African diaspora. The After Party at the Courland Club will include a cutting-edge DJ set with records from Africa and the diaspora! Tickets are sliding scale $15 - $25.

DAY 4:

On Saturday, Septemberer 17, 2022, the African Film and Arts Festival will take place at the Southside Cultural Center of Rhode Island, 393 Broad Street, Providence, RI 02907. They will transform the Southside Cultural Center with a block party, including film workshops and community readings for youth and free movies, music, dance, and art for sale!

Their first annual cultural Celebration Market will feature local BIPOC vendors from Rhode Island and run from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Drinks will be provided by our long-time collaborator and loving neighbor, Long Live Beerworks.

They will also premiere our Summer Youth Education Workshop Series, through which youth from local African Refugees and immigrant communities will have the opportunity to learn about multimedia and filmmaking in the 21st century. The workshop will be conducted by South African filmmaker Kurt Orderson and will run from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

They will also have live music during the day featuring distinct musical traditions from Africa and African Diaspora. Beginning at 1:00 PM and going to 6:45 PM, they will have performances by local musician Leland Baker Trio and the Kwaku Kwaakye Obeng Band.

From 3 pm to 8: 30 pm, they will screen three films: Wahenga by Tanzanian filmmakers Amil Shivaj and Rebecca Corey, Shungu by Mwalimu Saki Mafundikwa from Zimbabwe, and Minga and the Broken Spoon by Cameroonian filmmaker Clay Edou. Tickets are free. Donations are highly encouraged!

DAY 5

The closing ceremonies for the 3rd Annual Festival will take place on Sunday, September 18, 2022 at Farm Fresh Providence Market, 10 Sims Avenue, Providence, RI 02909 from 5 to 10 pm.

They will host a celebratory night market featuring local BIPOC artists and vendors from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. We will also have live indigenous music from around the world featuring Yacouba Diabate on Kora ( Burkina Faso, West Africa); Mikahely on Valiha (Madagascar, East Africa); Nirmal Selvamony on Guitar (Tamil, South India). Excitingly, we will also have Swahili fusion foods bringing a taste of East Africa to Providence for the first time!

They will close our exclusive line-up with two exciting films from 7 pm to 10:30 pm. Vuta N’Kuvute by Amil Shivaj from Tanzania and Aza Kivy Morning Star by Madagascar filmmakers Nantenaina Lova and Eva Lova-Bely.