The Best African Films of All Time

introduction:

 Do you enjoy African cinema? Are you looking for the most recent and best films from the continent? There is no need to look any further!

This blog will highlight some of the most recent and critically acclaimed African films that are worth seeing. This blog is for you if you are a seasoned film buff or if you are just discovering the richness of African film. So come along for the ride and find out what Africa has to offer in the world of film.

African movies are becoming more popular, and it’s not hard to understand why. The continent is incredibly talented, and its filmmakers are now starting to see their work appreciated on a global scale. The best African movies ever made are listed below, whether you’re looking for something serious, humorous, or just plain weird:

Yeelen

Yeelen is a must-see for African film enthusiasts and historians because it depicts the life of a woman in Africa. Tolda, a young girl, witnesses her mother’s murder by her father in the film. She is raised by her grandmother, but when she becomes pregnant at a young age, she leaves home to pursue higher education. She later becomes a professor at the University of Bamako and has two children: one son who lives with his mother and another daughter who lives in the countryside with his father’s family.
Souleymane Cissé directed the film, which won Best Director at both the Cannes Film Festival (1986) and FESPACO (1987). Yeelen was also named Best Feature Film at FESPACO in 1987.

The Gods Must Be Crazy

The Gods Must Be Crazy tells the story of a man who discovers a Coca-Cola bottle in the Kalahari Desert. He decides to keep it as a gift for his wife, but she steals it when she sees how much he likes it. This causes conflict between the two tribes from which they are descended, and they must work together to reclaim it.
It was a huge success not only in South Africa, but also in other African countries; it was even shown at the Cannes Film Festival!

La Noire de…

This film, directed by Ousmane Sembène, tells the story of a Senegalese woman who leaves her husband and relocates to Dakar. It won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1966 and is widely regarded as one of the best African films ever made.
The themes of social justice and the struggle for independence from France are prominent in the film. It is also one of the first films to have a black female lead character.

Moolaadé

Moolaadé is a 2004 film directed by Ousmane Sembène, based on a novel by Aminatta Forna, and starring Seynabou Cissé as the title character. Tiamint Diawara (pictured) is a 13-year-old girl who is married off to an older man who treats her poorly and refuses to allow her to attend school. When she becomes pregnant with her third child, he rapes her one night and then beats her in an attempt to force the miscarriage of their child. Following this incident, Moolaadé forms an all-female vigilante group to combat FGM (female genital mutilation) by protecting young girls from having their clitorises cut off or sewn up when they reach adolescence or puberty.

Lumière

Lumière is a French-language film about a father and his son’s relationship in Burundi. Augustin Nizigiyimana directed the film, which was released in 1994.
The film explores the effects of war on family life, a recurring theme in African cinema. The father, who lives near Lake Tanganyika with his wife and son, suffers from anxiety after being displaced from their home during a civil conflict. He was injured during the war and fears for his safety if he returns home, so he lives in an orphanage and works as a handyman. His son is unaware of the difficulties because he has been kept away from them due to school and work commitments; when he does learn about what has happened to their family, he finds it difficult to understand why they cannot return home together as usual this summer season (which would normally involve staying near Lake Tanganyika).

We Are All Hooligans

The life of a young hooligan is examined in this Ousmane Sembene-directed film. He manages both his own issues and those of those around him. Starring in the film are Thierno Thiam, Isaach De Bankole, and Fatoumata Diawara.
For Best Foreign Language Film, the film received an Academy Award nomination. It was chosen to screen at the Venice Film Festival as the first Senegalese movie in 2018.

Daratt is set in Somalia, but the themes are universal. It is a comedy-drama about two young boys who are separated from their mother during the Somali Civil War. The film stars Somali actors and was shot on location in Mogadishu, giving it a sense of authenticity that most films about African conflicts lack. It’s also notable for being written by one of its stars, Abdikarin Yusuf Ismail, who plays one of the main characters, and directed by Deeyah Khan.
It features some incredible acting performances by young actors. Two standouts are Abdi Siad Omar as Ali and Adan Jahiigadi as Liban, both assassins working for opposing forces during Somalia’s civil war; despite having never acted before, these two actors give excellent performances throughout the film!

This movie, which is based in Timbuktu, Mali, tells the tale of Kidane (Ibrahim Ahmed), a man who struggles to protect his family from jihadists who have occupied his home. At the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, the film directed by Abderrahmane Sissako took home the Palme d’Or.

This 1966 film, directed by Ousmane Sembene, is about the struggles of a Senegalese woman living in France. It won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival.
The story follows a young African woman who moves to France after marrying a Frenchman. She struggles with the culture and language barriers, as well as racism from her husband’s family.

You Should Watch African Movies.

African films are worth your time. They aren’t just about poverty and war; they’re also about dictatorships and slavery. African films are also about friendship and romance, as well as hope for a better future. African filmmakers enjoy telling stories about how our struggles as Africans have been overcome by the strength of our hearts.
Watch these films to learn more about Africa!

Conclusion

We hope this list has piqued your interest in African cinema and that you will watch some of these films for yourself. The stories told through African cinema are as diverse as any other type of film, but they all have one goal in common: to inspire us all by demonstrating how we can overcome our differences and come together as a community.

 Africa has something for everyone, from historical dramas to comedies. We hope our blog has introduced you to some new and exciting films from the continent. African cinema is a window into the continent’s diverse cultures and perspectives, and we encourage you to keep exploring and supporting it. Thank you for reading, and we hope to share more recommendations for new African films with you in the future. Don’t forget to watch the films we’ve recommended and share your thoughts in the comments section. Continue to support the African film industry!