African-American Studies Collections

Filmography: Y

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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YEAH, YOU RITE!.
1990. 60 minutes. (V3182).
Documentary -- Language -- New Orleans Dialects -- Non-standard dialects. Directed and Produced by Louis Alvarez and Andrew Kolker for the Louisiana Center for New American Media.

An excellent study of the nature of dialect and language in New Orleans. The film explains how language identifies the citizens of this city by race, class, neighborhood, and history.
Notes: Interviewees include Martha Ward (anthropologist), George Reinecke (Professor of English), Elizabeth Gochnoin (Speech Therapist), and Viola King (Professor of Education). Music by Mack Rubinek. Narrated by Billy Dell.


YEELEN.
1987. 105 minutes (V3093). In Bambara with English subtitles.
Mali. Myths -- Magic -- Folk Fables. Directed by Souleymane Cisse.

Nianankoro is the bastard son of a corrupt, vicious father. Father and son were born into a secret cult (called Komo) with mystical and magical powers. The father, who had disavowed the boy's mother and his birthright, has pursued them for years. Ninankoro's mother convinces the youth to go on a journey away from the vindictive older man to seek help in stopping his terrorizing and humiliating them. This film and its story are a telling of the primal folk legend -- the story of the creation of cultures and men. It is an amazing photographed film, rich with cinematic images and touches -- the magic of film. Cisse is an excellent film stylist. Though many of us may lose our way in the specifics of the cultures through the hero passes we can understand and identify with the basic myths. More importantly, we can see the traditions of Mali and other West African cultures as vivid filmed images. With: Solomon Sise as Nianankoro and also with: Ishayaka Kore, Awa Songore, Nyanmanto Sonogo, and Sumba Tarawete.
Notes: The acting in the film is fairly amateurish, but it does not detract from the elegance of the story or the film making.


YOU, AFRICA!.
1993. 43 minutes. In Wolof and French with English subtitles.
Documentary. African Music. Youssou N'Dour. Concert Tour. World Fusion Pop. Directed by Ndiouga Moctar Ba.

This film "commemorates the path-breaking 1994 tour of nine West African nations by legendary Senegalese performing artist, Youssou N'dour. Born in the poor Medina district of Dakar in 1959, he was singing professionally in local clubs by the age of twelve. his band and back-up dancers, Super Etoile, founded in 1979, is one of the most popular in all Africa. Youssou is today the leading exponent of 'world fusion pop,' blending traditional music with reggae, jazz and rock. This reunification of 20th century pop with the African music at its roots has influenced musicians as diverse as Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, Branford Marsalis and Paul Simon. In brief, private moments, between exhilarating concert performances, Youssou discusses the serious political and spiritual purposes behind his music. It is one thing to hear this music on a CD or in a concert hall, another to see it happening before the young African audience whose unique hybrid sensibility gave it birth."
Notes: Picture Editors, Papa Gora Seck, Pedro Rodriguez and Jean-Philippe Martin. Editing by Claude Santiago and Seck. Produced by Ndiouga Moctar Ba and Francois Belorgey.