Presented by Maysles Documentary Center, Friends of the Congo, and True Walker Productions Series Artwork Courtesy of Gallery Article 15
With Generous Support from Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and V-Day
2024 marks the 50th anniversary of Zaire ‘74, a three-day live music festival in Kinshasa that kicked off the legendary heavyweight boxing championship between Muhammed Ali and George Foreman, known as “The Rumble in the Jungle”. To celebrate this historic event, which strove to promote solidarity between African American and African people, Congo in Harlem 16 will launch with two iconic films that immerse viewers in the moment, SOUL POWER (2008) and WHEN WE WERE KINGS (1995). Albert Maysles was a member of the film crew that documented Zaire ‘74, and we will also feature a program of rare outtakes from his personal archive that were not included in either of these films.
The glossy American productions that memorialize Zaire ‘74 stand in rich juxtaposition with four recent works by contemporary Congolese filmmakers, covering a wide range of topics and styles, from Alain Kassanda’s revelatory portrait of his family (COLETTE AND JUSTIN), to a biting portrayal of cultural tradition by rapper-turned filmmaker Baloji (OMEN), the dark and surreal cinema verité of Nelson Makengo (TONGO SAA - RISING UP AT NIGHT), and two unique works by veteran filmmaker Petna Ndaliko Katondolo that explore indigenous knowledge and resistance (KATASUMBIKA and MAHERE). Petna Ndaliko Katondolo will be in attendance to discuss his work after the screening
The series will close with a special advance screening of the award-winning documentary SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D’ETAT, which takes a riveting, multi-layered approach to explore the collision of music and geopolitics through Congo’s independence and Lumumba’s assassination. Johan Grimonprez, the director, will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A with special guests to be announced.
In addition to films, there will be an offsite Cultural Celebration featuring Congolese music, comedy, food, and dance, curated by Lubangi Muniania, as well as a closing reception with live music by Congo in Harlem’s resident musician, Nkumu Katalay.
We are proud to announce a collaboration with Washington DC-based Gallery Article 15, a unique gallery specializing in Congolese contemporary art. In commemoration of Zaire 74 and the Rumble in the Jungle, Gallery Article 15 has commissioned several Congolese artists to create works celebrating the historic event. This year’s series poster features an extraordinary painting by Claude Bosana. Details about the other artists and work will be coming soon.
And finally, in collaboration with The Moynihan Center at City College NY, Congo in Harlem will co-present “Conflict Art in the Congo: Rebellion, Occupation, and Return,” a photo exhibition of graffiti and inscriptions left by soldiers at Gbadolite Airport, after it was looted and overrun during the First and Second Congo Wars. The photos will be on display at Maysles Documentary Center starting in October, with a discussion at City College.
