Africanismo Show Surprise from the Bronx Museum

Africanismo! was the show on Friday evening of August 1st from the Bx. Museum. The program took place at the Andrew Freeman Home at 1125 Grand Concourse at McClellan Street. Afrokinetic DJ Chris Annibel spun everyone into never never land, still the band Magbana took the stage.

Two films were shown as well, both from Senegal in West Africa, in the Wolof language, with English subtitles. The first film is entitled, “The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun.” and is about a handicapped girl who sells the national newspaper of Senegal, Le Soleil on street corners. It is an interesting study of the lives of children who live on the streets in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, and their struggle to improve themselves and survive. The film is directed by Djibril Diop Mabety, and lasts 45 minutes. The second film was a bit shorter and gives some of the background of Djibril Diop Mabety, the director of “The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun.” The director of this film, Papa Madieye Mbye, gives the viewers a look at one of the most important African filmmakers of the last century.

It was a pleasure to be on the grounds of the Andrew Freeman home, a large classical building, and once a luxurious home for elderly people. Now it is a historical attraction and also a place for events and parties, and community services both for the elderly and children in the Headstart Program.