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The Power Stone: A history of the Kwanyama people

The Power Stone: A history of the Kwanyama people

AfricAvenir in partnership with the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre will screen the documentary, The Power Stone, next week Wednesday, 11 November 2015, in preparation of the 10th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO) taking place in Namibia.
africavenir-kwanyama“The Power Stone – A history of the Kwanyama Kingdom” is directed by Andrew Botelle and Kelly Kowalski, produced in Namibia in 1999.
The screening of the movie will be followed by a panel discussion with Jacques Nashilongweshipwe Mushaandja, College of the Arts, The Chanting Warrior; Trixie Munyama, Da-mai Dance Ensemble, College of the Arts; and Papa Hishishi Shikongeni.
The discussion will focus on how films such as The Power Stone and stories of the Kwanyama at the time of King Mandume have inspired these artists in their creative work they do today.
This true story follows the journey of a sacred stone belonging to the Kwanyama tribe. Passed down from generation to generation, this sacred power stone has remained at the centre of the Kwanyama kingdom, until the last Kwanyama king, Mandume, was killed by British-South African soldiers in 1917. After the king’s death, the stone disappeared. This documentary takes the viewer on a quest to find the power stone.
Part One: When We Were Kings, traces the stone’s migration through pre-colonial Africa and witnesses the rise and fall of the Kwanyama kingdom.
Part Two: Africa Gets Light and Security, examines the effects of colonialism on the kingdom and follows the stone’s secret journey to Europe during the war against apartheid until its remarkable return home after Namibia’s independence in 1990.
The documentary combines written archival histories with oral histories as told by Kwanyama storytellers, musicians, poets and artists. Contemporary footage (interviews and re-enactments) is intermixed with archival photographs and 1937 footage of Kwanyama traditions and lifestyles.
AfricAvenir distributes the film in all jurisdictions. DVDs can be purchased via AfricAvenir in Windhoek and Berlin.
African Perspectives, a monthly African Cinema series in Windhoek, organised by AfricAvenir, is supported by AfriCine, JacMat, the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre, Goethe-Centre/Nads, Turipamwe Designs and the FNB Foundation.

Directors: Andy Botelle & Kelly Kowalski
Director of Photography: Andrew Botelle
Editor: Kelly Kowalski, Sound: JJ Van Rensburg
Writers: Kelly Kowalski, Andy Botelle, Nathaniel Shinana, Abednego Nghfikwa
Music: Jackson Kaujeua, Shawana Metiti, Nashima Nanghili
Language: English, Oshikwanyama with English subtitles
Date: Wednesday, 11 November 2015
Time: 18:30
Where: Franco Namibian Cultural Centre in Windhoek
Duration: 53 minutes
Entry: N$30

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