Haile Gerima’s “Black Lions, Roman Wolves: The Children of Adwa” is a long-awaited, work-in-progress documentary film series by the acclaimed Ethiopian filmmaker. The project is an epic five-part work (totaling roughly 10 hours) that chronicles Ethiopia’s struggle against fascist Italy during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1941).
Gerima has been developing “Black Lions, Roman Wolves” for decades, to present an African perspective on this historic anti-colonial victory. The film remains in post-production, with Gerima actively sharing previews and gathering support for its completion and release.
First, Some Background…
The project—which I first learned about in 2021 when I interviewed Gerima for IndieWire—traces back to the early 1990s, when he visited Ethiopia and was deeply moved by the remnants of the 1930s Italian invasion. Inspired by the enduring memories of the war, he went on a decades-long journey to document the stories of Ethiopian patriots who fought against Mussolini’s forces.
“Black Lions, Roman Wolves” is conceived as a sequel to Gerima’s 1999 documentary “Adwa: An African Victory,” which explored Ethiopia’s 1896 triumph over Italy. This new project follows the generation that defended Ethiopia four decades later, with focus on the continuity of resistance.
Over the years, Gerima meticulously gathered historical footage from archives in Italy, France, Britain, Germany, Russia, and beyond. He also conducted interviews with Ethiopian veterans and witnesses, capturing firsthand accounts of the war and its aftermath.
However, accessing colonial archives proved a major hurdle, with Italian institutions often refusing to release historical footage. Gerima described this struggle as part of the broader battle over the right to historical memory, reinforcing the documentary’s themes of resistance and self-determination.
Themes and Gerima’s Approach to Telling This Story
It ought not be a surprise that Gerima’s “Black Lions, Roman Wolves” insists on an African-centered perspective of the War, recounting how Ethiopian men and women resisted fascist occupation. The film dives into Italy’s use of chemical weapons, war crimes rarely examined in Western narratives of World War II, and how Ethiopia’s past victories influenced the resistance movement of the 1930s.
Gerima’s approach blends historical analysis with intimate storytelling, incorporating oral histories and firsthand testimonies. He rejects the detached, authoritative style of conventional documentaries, instead crafting a narrative that prioritizes the voices of those who lived through the conflict. This method ensures the documentary is not just a chronicle of events but a very personal retelling of Ethiopia’s fight for independence.
Where Is the Project Now?
Financing this ambitious project has, of course, been a challenge. Gerima has largely avoided commercial studio funding throughout his long career, to maintain creative control, relying instead on grassroots fundraising and non-profit support.
By the early 2020s, “Black Lions, Roman Wolves” entered its final editing phase. In 2022, Gerima presented a 60-minute rough cut at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Further previews followed, including a screening at the 2024 KITFO Ethiopian-Eritrean Film Festival in Los Angeles. These work-in-progress screenings continue to engage audiences and help maintain momentum for the film’s completion.
Through his organization, Positive Productions Inc., tax-deductible donations continue to be collected to fund the documentary’s completion. Events at Washington, D.C.’s Sankofa Video, Books & Café, a cultural hub founded by Gerima’s family, have provided additional financial support.
As of today, February 28, 2025, the documentary series remains in post-production. A new fundraising campaign is currently live, to raise $80,000 to finalize this stage of the process. Supporters can contribute financially, spread awareness, or volunteer their skills to assist with outreach and promotion.
Currently, $760 of the goal has been contributed.
Let Me Say This…
It’s astonishing to me that Haile Gerima, a filmmaker with a 50-year legacy, is struggling to raise a mere $80,000 to complete what could be his final work.
With the influx of Africa-focused film funds and outside investments in African screen markets, it seems inconceivable that no institution, fund, or individual investor has stepped up to support a project of this scale and significance—one that he’s been developing for a very long time, piece by piece.
However, Gerima’s independence has always been both his strength and his challenge—his refusal to compromise for commercial or institutional interests means he doesn’t fit neatly into the categories that most funding bodies prioritize.
The fact that multimillion-dollar initiatives claim to champion African cinema while a master filmmaker has to crowdfund to finish a documentary series preserving Ethiopia’s anti-colonial history unmasks the contradictions in the current landscape.
It’s not just about money; it’s about what is valued, who is supported, and why an artist of Gerima’s stature has to fight for something that should be a given.
But that’s just me… If the money were in my hands, it would be a simple decision—no bureaucracy, no gatekeeping, just giving a pioneering African filmmaker what he needs to finish his work.
Anticipation and Impact
At 78 years old, Gerima continues refining what may be a defining project. I understand that discussions with distributors and streaming platforms are ongoing, though no official acquisition or possible festival premiere has been announced.
Even before its completion, “Black Lions, Roman Wolves” has generated much anticipation—at least in my universe, however small it might be. Scholars, critics, cinema enthusiasts, and those drawn to untold histories see it as more than just a documentary series; it’s a potential landmark, both in its subject matter and as the culmination of Gerima’s decades-long insistence on telling African stories on his own terms.
Early footage previews have received enthusiastic responses, particularly from Ethiopian and diaspora audiences who recognize the film’s historical and cultural significance.
More than just a documentary, “Black Lions, Roman Wolves” represents a broader struggle over who controls historical narratives—a battle that could easily be the subject of its own documentary series.
By reclaiming Ethiopia’s resistance history and presenting it from a strictly African perspective, Gerima challenges colonial-era historiography and asserts the importance of self-representation in cinema.
How to Support
Once again, to help complete “Black Lions, Roman Wolves,” donations can be made through a new fundraising campaign that is currently live, to raise $80,000. Every contribution, whether financial or through advocacy, brings this long-anticipated epic work closer to completion.
You can also check out a 4-minute compilation for the upcoming project.