Kumba is curated by Maona art, an organization founded by Tatenda Jamera, a filmmaker and curator, in response to the lack of authentic African stories being exhibited on the big screen. The name ""Maona,"" meaning ""you have seen"" in the Shona language from Zimbabwe, reflects the organization's passion for allowing others to see and experience African stories through film and art.

Kumba is a dynamic African short film cinema program that serves as a bridge to home, transcending borders to connect African and Diaspora communities. It celebrates identity, culture, and heritage through the powerful medium of film, offering a rich tapestry of stories told from an authentic African perspective. Showcasing a diverse range of narratives, Kumba highlights the vibrancy of African traditions and lived experiences, fostering a sense of belonging across continents.

This screening will open with a recorded introduction by Tatenda Jamera, founder of Maona Art. Maona brings audiences closer to home through the lens of African filmmakers, creating a space for cultural expression and shared storytelling. The screening will be followed by a recorded Q&A with Chim’Di Ugada, Communities Coordinator for Showroom Cinema.

Featured Films:

Beutset | Dir. Alicia Mendy | Senegal

When a parasite contaminates all the drinking water of Dakar, pills are created to neutralize it. Alioune, a young man can no longer afford them and is exposed to the symptoms of the parasite: Madness and dementia. As the days go by, he realizes that he has never been so lucid, and he begins a journey of political and spiritual awakening.

The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Seyi Ajayi | Dir. Abbesi Akhamie | Nigeria

In the whimsical Pan-African society of Alkebulan, the brilliant yet overlooked scholar, Dr. Constance Moumie, discovers that her fiancé, Sèyí Àjàyí, is engaged to Princess Ada, throwing the town into a frenzy. With her bestie Bibi, Constance devises a daring plan to expose her unfaithful lover at his engagement ceremony, seeking both revenge and the recognition she has long deserved.

Alazar | Dir. Beza Hailu Lemma | Ethiopia

In contemporary Ethiopia, a farming community’s exodus is disrupted when the patriarch of a prominent family disappears from his grave. Tessema, his son, begins to question the church’s divine explanation, forcing him to launch his own investigation.

Bahr | Dir. Belal Abosamra | Egypt

While grieving the loss of his wife, a father struggles with faith in a chance to reconnect with her; the journey is portrayed as death being a beginning rather than an end, a simple line separating two worlds."

Director "Beutset" - Alicia Mendy, "The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Seyi Ajayi" - Abbesi Akhamie, "Alazar" - Beza Hailu Lemma "Bahr" - Belal Abosamra
Year 2024
Duration 1h 16m
Language Multiple
Cast Baye Diagne, Ellie Foumbi, and Surafel Teka