So, what is African cinema? That is the question we ask ourselves when looking at African filmmakers and the cinematic universes they create. There is no direct answer to this question, and it only gets more complex as one dives deeper into the filmography of Africa and its different subcultures and regions.

From what I have gathered, African cinema is an act of rebellion; to look back at the camera and be seen through a political, cultural, and social lens. In mainstream terms, to consume a film is to sit down and open one’s mind to hear and see new thoughts, ideas, and situations. To consume African cinema is to reject what viewers know and expect and replace it with a more authentic and accurate experience. 

Important questions that might come with “what is African cinema” might include: What happens when Africans are placed in a European environment where the notion of “culture shock” is reversed? How does one move beyond the fixation of the “other,” and move forward with telling an important story such as kinship and familial love?

Several African films answer these questions. Throughout this blog, you can find reviews and analysis of such films.