CinemAfrica

Black President

Documentary by Mpumelelo Mcata | Zimbabwe and Sydafrika | 2015 | 86 min

Film Synopsis: Black Presidents follows the story of Zimbabwean artist Kudzunai Chiurai as he develops his newest art exhibit, called ‘State of the Nation.’ In Mpumi’s words: In this film we question the responsibility of African artists in an ever more globalized universe, where we maybe find ourselves “playing catch up” to the West as opposed to following our own paths. Are we victims of our past – forever beholden to our so called arrested development or is our superpower our burden? Will we ever be truly free to express without having to necessarily represent all our people in our every breath or is the need to be that kind of free simply irresponsible?”

Mpumelelo Mcata is one of South Africa’s leading artists and cultural activists. Mpumelelo is perhaps best known as one part of internationally acclaimed South African SAMA award winning band the BLK JKS – although he plays the guitar, self-taught at that, he is quick to remind anyone who will listen that he is not a guitarist.Mpumelelo, considers himself a conduit and artist who is as passionate about film or art in general as he is about music. His work, whatever the medium, is always about honesty and the stretching and testing of boundaries. ‘Black President’ – his debut feature – a creative documentary World premiered as part of Forum Expanded at the 2015 Berlinale.

Anna Teeman. In 2006 former BBC political journalist, filmmaker and union activist Anna Teeman met a little known Zimbabwean artist Kudzanai Chiurai in London. She fell in obsessional love with the unlucky guy and followed him back to Johannesburg and formed End Street Productions with him. Kudzanai soon couldn’t stand her near him and after months of ignoring her asked her to pose as The White Queen in one of his now world famous works. She had never felt more invisible than in that photograph.She knew she was living a story precisely of its time and place and when she met director Mpumelelo Mcata in a Johannesburg lift she realised he was living in the same film as her – BLACK PRESIDENT – partly the tale of Black President Kudzanai Chiurai and The White Queen Anna Teeman which is also the story of Europa finally seeing Africa and Africa’s patience running out.

Lamin Daniel Jadama is a documentary filmmaker who started out as a producer and radio host for various programs at the Swedish National Radio (SR). Since then he has moved more towards documentary and story telling within the African continent and its’ diaspora. Today he is working closely with the Swedish award winning production company Story and has his own radio show on P.3 where he focuses on contemporary African music.

Curator: Catrin Lundqvist