Excerpts from the 1994 documentary “Sembène: The Making of African Cinema,” directed by Manthia Diawara and Ngugi Wa Thiong’o. It captures a 1993 conversation between Senegalese African cinema pioneer Ousmane Sembène and African American filmmaker John Singleton—on the heels of his critically acclaimed feature film debut “Boyz n the Hood” (1991).
The meeting of minds took place at FESPACO, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Despite a 45-year age gap and at vastly different career stages at the time, the exchange shows how recurring themes like creative independence, the challenge of representation, and systemic barriers, connect generations and cross borders in African and diasporic filmmaking.
Three decades later, their pan-Africanist discussion continues to be relevant—better for the insights; worse for the frustrating persistence of the same challenges.
Ultimately, the exchange between Sembène and Singleton can be appreciated as both a historical marker—an archaeological dig of sorts—and a blueprint for the future… as in today!
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