West African Cinema
Grappling with the end of colonialism and the immense changes brought by modernization, West African filmmakers have sought to tell their own stories, through filmmaking that is post-imperial and Afrocentric in subject and form, a revolutionary cinema by African filmmakers for African audiences.
Night of the Kings
(La nuit des rois)
African fairy tale meets stark realism in this powerful prison drama.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire • 2021
- Director Philippe Lacôte
- Cast Koné Bakary, Steve Tientcheu, Digbeu Jean Cyrille, Rasmané Ouédraogo, Issaka Sawadogo, Denis Lavant
- Genre Drama
- Available on Hulu, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, AMC on Demand, Tubi TV, Kanopy, Neonrated
Chez Jolie Coiffure
A hairdresser in the African quarter of Brussels tells her stories, as do the lively clientele of the salon.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Belgium, Cameroon • 2019
- Director Rosine Mbakam
- Cast Sabine
- Genre Documentary
- Available on OVID, Amazon Video, Kanopy, Hoopla, myfilmfriend
October 1
A detective investigates a string of murders of women, trying to track down a serial killer before more are murdered.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Nigeria • 2014
- Director Kunle Afolayan
- Cast Sadiq Daba, Kehinde Bankole, Demola Adedoyin, Kayode Aderupoko, David Bailie
- Genre Thriller
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Bamako
A trial in Mali’s capital city debates whether to take action against the IMF and World Bank as life goes on around the courtyard.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Mali, United States, France • 2006
- Director Abderrahmane Sissako
- Cast Aïssa Maïga, Tiécoura Traoré, Maimouna Hélène Diarra, Balla Habib Dembélé, Djénéba Koné
- Genre Drama
- Available on OVID, Apple TV, Amazon Video, Kanopy, Hoopla
Dry Season
(Daratt)
In postwar Chad, the government declares amnesty for war criminals and Atim is tasked by his grandfather with tracking down his father’s killer.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Chad, France, Belgium • 2006
- Director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
- Cast Ali Barkai, Youssouf Djaoro, Aziza Hisseine, Aziza Hisseine, Khayar Oumar Defallah
- Genre Action, Drama, Thriller
- Available on Amazon Video, Kanopy
Bintou
In order to pay for her daughter's education, a mother starts her own business, against the wishes of her husband.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Burkina Faso, France • 2001
- Director Fanta Régina Nacro
- Cast Alima Salouka, Hyppolite Ouangrawa
- Genre Comedy
- Available on Criterion Channel
Hyenas
(Hyènes)
Linguere returns after being exiled for pregnancy out of wedlock, offering aid to the village if they execute her child's absentee father.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Senegal, France, Switzerland • 1992
- Director Djibril Diop Mambéty
- Cast Djibril Diop Mambéty, Mansour Diouf, Ami Diakhate, Makhouredia Gueye, Calgou Fall, Faly Gueye
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Metrograph, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
The Law
(Tilaï)
When his father takes his promised bride for himself, a man risks everything to continue an affair with his beloved.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Switzerland, United Kingdom, France • 1990
- Director Idrissa Ouedraogo
- Cast Rasmané Ouédraogo, Ina Cissé, Roukietou Barry, Assane Ouedraogo, Sibidou Sidibe, Moumouni Ouedraogo
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Kanopy
Yeelen
A young man with magical powers journeys to his uncle to request help in fighting his sorcerer father.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Mali, Burkina Faso, France • 1987
- Director Souleymane Cissé
- Cast Issiaka Kane, Balla Moussa Keita, Aoua Sangare, Ismaila Sarr, Niamanto Sanogo
- Genre Adventure, Drama, History
- Available on Kanopy
Oh, Sun
(Soleil O)
A Black immigrant searches Paris for his ancestors, desperate for work and shelter.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Mauritania • 1973
- Director Med Hondo
- Cast Robert Liensol, Théo Légitimus, Ambroise Mbia, Gabriel Glissant, Akonio Dolo, Greg Germain
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel
Mandabi
An unemployed family man receives a money order from his nephew that he cannot cash due to endless bureaucratic obstacles.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Senegal • 1968
- Director Ousmane Sembène
- Cast Makhouredia Gueye, Ynousse N'Diaye, Isseu Niang, Mustapha Ture, Mouss Diouf, Christoph Colomb
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max
Black Girl
(La Noire de...)
Senegalese woman goes to work for a family in France, only to be blindsided by her new employers' racism and brutality.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Senegal, France • 1966
- Director Ousmane Sembène
- Cast Mbissine Thérèse Diop, Anne-Marie Jelinek, Robert Fontaine, Momar Nar Sene, Toto Bissainthe, Sophie Leclerc
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Plex, Plex Channel
A Nation is Born
(Une nation est née)
A depiction of Senegal's history from the precolonial era through colonization to the sovereign post-colonial era of independence.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Senegal • 1961
- Director Paulin Soumanou Vieyra
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Criterion Channel