I suppose relatively few film documentaries are made focusing on black African writers. I have over the years enjoyed such rare documentaries made on African writers like Es'kia Mphahlele, Wole Soyinka, and Ola Rotimi. But such films are still thin on the ground, and it is a tragedy, for example, that top writers (now deceased) like Dambudzo Marechera, Chris Okigbo, Ingrid Jonker are not recorded on visual tape. Thus, this documentary is one to applaud and relish. It focuses on the versatile writer,
Omoseye Bolaji (pictured above), and the impact he has made on literature including at grassroots level. Respected African writers like Pule Lechesa, Flaxman Qoopane, Hector Kunene pay tribute to Bolaji in this documentary. We see images of Bolaji, his published books, some of his major awards, here. Also, Bolaji himself talks about life as a writer, his influences, inspiration, motivation, etc. This is an illuminating, well produced documentary. The director, editor, and producer is
Winnie Mokhomo (below)
The Executive producer of the documentary is Dr Melanie Chait.
- Paul Lothane
Well done again! I have managed to watch the documentary and I like the way it focuses on key literary figures. Mr Lechesa is excellent with his comments, and Kunene weighs in well too. Mr Qoopane is sublime, with a sense of gratitude for the impact Bolaji has made on his life; remarkable the literary items in his Library....
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see writers being honoured in diverse ways; be it through books (Bolaji has many books written about his literary work)or on celluloid - if such a phrase is still used. How interesting it would be if we could see Bessie Head immortalised on film too; or other prominent writers. Future generations (especially in Africa) must have an idea of their fine writers
ReplyDeleteI think more and more documentaries should be made, focusing on positive things in the black world. For far too long, Africa was portrayed in a very bad light. A debt of gratitude forever to writers like Achebe and Elechi Amadi who depicted the dignity of even old Africa for the world to read
ReplyDelete