Opening Night Celebration: Congo in Harlem

Co-presented by the New York Film/Video Council

Palavers of Mboloko

Roger Jamar, DR Congo, 1952-1953, 28 min
(French w/ English subtitles)
The Palavers of Mboloko is a series of seven short 16mm color “animated cartoons for Africans” produced in the Belgian Congo by the priest Father Roger Jamar during the 1950s. They have been called the first ‘African’ films, despite being made by Europeans, because they incorporated elements of African folklore and music. Recently restored from the original 16mm prints, 2 films from this series – Ekolo and Bokasi – will be screened.

Roger Jamar and the Palavers of Mboloko
Jean-Michel Kibushi, DR Congo, 2015, 21 min
(French w/ English subtitles)
A short film about Roger Jamar, the pioneer of African animated film, made by renowned Congolese animator Jean-Michel Kibushi who also oversaw the restoration of Jamar’s original 16mm prints.

Followed by Q&A with filmmaker Jean-Michel Kibushi + Opening Night Celebration with Congolese food and live music from Isaac Katalay.

Isaac Katalay, born in Kinshasa, the capital of DR Congo, and now living in New York City, represents the blending of two worlds. For the past two decades, Isaac has worked as an ensemble musician, choreographer, dancer, and speaker. His style is a distinctive blend of contemporary and traditional Congolese dance moves and aesthetics, which he calls "contempt". Isaac is also founder of the Life Long Project and co-founder of the Karibu movement, both of which promote Congolese music and culture in the U.S.

This presentation is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts’ Electronic Media and Film Presentation Funds grant program, administered by The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.

Maysles Documentary Center, 343 Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10027