The Lion's Song Nearly a decade ago, Afropop legend Thomas Mapfumo fled Zimbabwe for Eugene, fearing retribution for his songs blasting government repression. Now the iconic singer is reemerging with an ambitious album recorded in the heart of the Willamette Valley.
By Eric Hansen
http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/arts-and-entertainment/articles/thomas-mapfumo-lions-song-february-2012/#
Welcome to the 22nd Cascade Festival of African Films February 3 – March 3, 2012
http://www.africanfilmfestival.org/
Free and open to the public on a first-come, first-seated basis
We are very pleased to present a variety of feature and documentary films from the African continent. The majority of films were made by African directors. The films celebrate Africa’s achievements, expose Africa’s failures, and reveal the possibilities for change and a more hopeful future. They show us pictures of Africa through the eyes of Africans, rather than a vision of Africa that is packaged primarily for western viewers. The films represent African concerns that are political, historical, and social. This year’s films cover a wide range of themes and topics, including political oppression and the desire for freedom; the new African diaspora and issues of immigration, assimilation and identity; violence, revenge, peace and reconciliation; onion farming in Niger; the ancient history and manuscripts of Timbuktu; art, culture and music; love and marriage; and the struggle for women’s and children’s rights.
We view film as a medium for artistic expression and illumination. These films were chosen on the basis of their quality as film and their ability to captivate and move audiences. We also chose them because they represent different countries and cultures and a range of lifestyles from pre-colonial to modern times, including both rural and urban settings. Although it is impossible to represent a whole continent with only a few films, it is our hope that through this annual film series we will encourage American viewers to become interested in African cultures and to study them further.
