Ousmane Sembène - Moolaadé

[Ayinde]

www.socialistworker.co.uk

In London to promote his new film, Moolaadé, Senegalese film maker and novelist Ousmane Sembène spoke to Ken Olende and Charlie Kimber

"My first intent is to reach the African public. Europe and America are not my references - they are not the centre of the world," says Ousmane Sembène. "I know they exist and I am very happy when Europeans watch my films - though I know they will only understand half of what happens."

Though he speaks of "Africa", he is suspicious of seeing this diverse continent as a single culture. "We don’t have one African culture - we have a myriad of cultures. What we have is many cultures in a melting pot that will generate a new culture.

"African culture is very, very rich, but there is a kind of shock we are going through. This is something that is at the same time internal and external to Africa."

Full Article...

[helena]

Went to the opening night of Moolaade, hosted by Forward, and thought that the film was sensetively done with the message not loosing any of it's potency regarding the need to end the practice of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation). Ousmane Sembene is an amazing director and am going to check out his other films dealing with social issues in Africa. Very worth watching this, informative and i am told that the film is mirroring what several villages have now done, giving up the knives and stopping the practice.

Give thanks,

Helena