THE AFRICA CHANNEL GALA SCREENING
Wednesday, December 9 @ 8:30PM
Anthology Film Archives

THE SOUL OF ASHANTI - (AN AFRICA CHANNEL ORIGINAL PRODUCTION)
The one-hour documentary “The Soul of Ashanti,” traces the history of the Ashanti Kingdom's Golden Stool -- one of the most important sacraments of the kingdom -- from the time it is believed to have arrived in 1695 to present day Ghana. The program provides an in depth and insightful look into the life and culture of the Ashanti and their view of the importance and relevance of the Golden Stool. By Kevin Merz, USA/Ghana, 2009, 60min in English. Followed by

ARUGBA
US PREMIERE
In “Arugba,” the latest film from leading Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani, the king of a small town in south-western Nigeria makes much publicized statements against corruption while instituting economic reforms and embracing foreign investors. But the reforms don’t appear to be trickling down to the people and the king trusts no one and has a weakness for women, which compromises his leadership. Meanwhile, preparations are being made for a traditional ritual in which a young virgin – the arugba – carries a sacrificial calabash. With superb performances from Awoyemi and some of Nigeria’s leading actor, “Arugba” is a beautifully executed film which functions as an allegory for contemporary Nigeria. Set against the backdrop of a corrupt society seeking cleansing, rebirth and nationhood, with all its attendant intrigues, the film intimately presents a world in which modernity and tradition exist alongside each other but seldom in equilibrium. By Tunde Kelani, Nigeria, 2008, Yoruba with English subtitles, Video, 97min.

Screening followed by a Q&A with director Tunde Kelani and an Nigerian Dance Party at the Bowery Bar.