With: Papa Womb a popular singing star in central Africa plays Bibikuwa, a provincial folk singer who finds that he can't compete with the jazzed up city beat in his city. He decides that he must go to the city to spread his music. When he gets to Kishasha he finds it rough going and first can only get a job as a house boy for the owner of a big night club and his bossy wife. He also falls in love with the lovely daughter of a friend's landlord's. The film's story is how Bibikuwa gets the girl, wards off his boss' designs on the her, and brings happiness and happy music to the capital. This is a slight film, a fairy tale really about making it in the big city. It has a soft, friendly kind of humor. With: Zaiko Langa Langa, Tshala Muana, Klody.
Notes: Photographed by Michel Baudoun. Music by Wemba. Screenplay by Ngangura Mweze, Maryse Leon, and Benoit Louie.


VOICES AND VISIONS: LANGSTON HUGHES THE DREAM KEEPER.
198-. 60 minutes.
Biographical Studies. African-American Authors. Harlem Renaissance. Langston Hughes. A segment of the PBS series on American Literary figures entitled Voices and Visions. This program is a thorough critical and biographical survey of Langston Hughes life. Hughes himself talks of his arrival on the literary scene at the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance. From the writing of his credo of the role of the "new" young Negro artist. Hughes use of the black vernacular and humor are highlighted, as are the influences of blues and everyday language. Rare film footage of the author is used as are newsreel footage, family photographs and extensive interviews with family, friends, colleagues, critics and associates. Among those interviewed: Raoul Abdul [Assistant to Hughes], James Baldwin, Amiri Baraka [Writer, Activist], Arnold Rampersad [author The Life of Langston Hughes], Gwendolyn Brooks [Pulitzer Prize winning poet], Louise Thompson Patterson [Colleague, Political Activist], Rowena Woodham Jelliffe [Co-founder, Karamu House], Leopold Senghor [former President of Senegal].
Notes: Directed by St. Clair Bourne. Produced by Robert Chapman. Edited by Sam Pollard. Written by Leslie Lee. Cinematography by Arthur Albert, and Don Lenzer. Archival Research by Minda Novek. Original Music by Stanley Cowell.


VOICES OF THE GODS.
1990. 60 minutes.
Documentary. Multiculturalism. Feminist Poetry. Feminism. International Feminism. Lesbianism. Women of Color.

"In October 5-8, 1990. Boston over 1,000 women from 22 countries came to celebrate and honor Audre Lorde. The conference was named I Am Your Sister : Forging Global Connections Across Differences. Friday night began with opening remarks, poetry, and music." The feminist readings in this program ranges from poetry with sexual themes through political and philosophical panegyrics. Some viewers should be forewarned that some of the works are explicit and that the political views expressed are quite radical. Among those poets reading their works are: Rosario Morales [Puerto Rican-American, Cambridge], Akua Leslie Hope [African-American, New York], Lupita [Nicaragua], Yasmin Tambiah [Sri Lanka], Malkia Cyrille, Sharon Page Ritchie, a performance of Lorde's Litany For Survival, Fahamisha Patricia Brown, Donna Finn [Dorchester Women's Committee], Julie Blackwomon, Blackberri [folk singer], Donna Weir."
Notes: Welcome by Jacqui Alexander. Video crew includes Producer Jennifer Abod, director Catherine Russo, camerawork by Judy Kelemen and Carlotta Chartier Nandi, and editing by Anne D'Urso-Rose, and Catherine Russo.


THE VOICES OF SARAFINA!
1988. 85 minutes. (V2982).
Musical -- South Africa -- Children of South Africa. Directed by Nigel Nobel (based on the stage direction of Mbongeni Negema).

This film is filled with the joyful sounds of young South African performers, the young cast of the stage production of The Voices Of Sarafina! Nobel's documentary is really a presentation of how the young cast feel about their homeland, about their life abroad representing the dreams and hopes of the youth of South Africa for a free state and society. Through their singing of traditional songs and new songs by Ngema and Hugh Masekela, the film's subtitle -- Songs of Hope and Freedom -- ring true. The most stirring moment in the film is the finale -- after a New York performance the great diva of South African freedom Miriam Makeba meets the youthful cast -- they are obviously and genuinely in awe of this great woman, exiled 27 years from her country. It's an overwhelmingly emotional moment for many of the cast and may prove so for many of the viewers of this program as well.
Notes: Photographed by John Hazard. Written by Mbongeni Ngema. The film was partially funded by grants from Camille O. Cosby (Mrs. Bill Cosby) as well as the Helena Rubinstein, Ford and Rockefeller Foundations.