Lauryn Hill re-narrates Frantz Fanon in ‘Concerning Violence’

AS part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of ‘African Perspectives’, AfricAvenir premieres the highly acclaimed documentary ‘Concerning Violence’, narrated by Lauryn Hill.

From the makers of ‘The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975’, ‘Concerning Violence’ (2014) is a bold and fresh visual narrative on Africa, based on newly discovered archive material covering the struggle for liberation from colonial rule in the late 60s and 70s.

‘Concerning Violence’, by Göran Olsson, is both an archive-driven documentary covering the most daring moments in the struggle for liberation in the then so-called third world, as well as an exploration into the mechanisms of decolonization through text from Frantz Fanon’s ‘The Wretched of the Earth’.

The 89-minute long documentary seeks to understand the roots of violence in all complexities. This is necessary as is evident in the illusion created from the events of 1947 in India, where decolonisation is still not complete in the present day. Fanon reminds us of the process of decolonisation and how to decolonise by all means available.

The film presents the most daring moments in the struggle for liberation from colonial rule.

Fanon’s landmark book, written over 50 years ago, is still a major tool for understanding and illuminating the neo-colonialism happening today, as well as the violence and reactions against it.

“I do not think it is premature to call ‘Concerning Violence’ the documentary of the year,” a review in Grolsch Film Works states.

“Olsson’s utilisation of Fanon’s text is sharp and perceptive,” another review in CineVue states while Time Out calls the documentary a “a passionate call to arms”.

The film features archival pictures, videos and interviews culled from Swedish public television reels that feature appearances by

Thomas Sankara, Amílcar Cabral, Robert Mugabe, members of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) and the People’s Movement For The Liberation of Angola (MPLA).

Screening of the documentary will take place at the FNCC on Wednesday, 10 February from 18h30. Entrance is N$30. – AfricAvenir

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