‘Voices/Voces: Colonial Experiences from the Diaspora’ Film Festival at Community Folk Art Center

‘Voices/Voces: Colonial Experiences from the Diaspora’ Film Festival at Community Folk Art CenterOctober 08, 2004Cynthia J. Moritzcjmoritz@syr.edu

The Community Folk Art Center will present the first of what it plans to be an annual film festival, “Voices/Voces: Colonial Experiences from the Diaspora,” Oct. 14-16, at the center, 2223 East Genesee St. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for students with I.D. and free for children under 12. The schedule is as follows:

Oct. 14, 7 p.m.“Every Child is Born a Poet”

This film explores the life and work of Piri Thomas, the Afro-Cuban-Puerto Rican author of the classic autobiographical novel “Down These Mean Streets” (1967). The film traces Thomas’ path from childhood to manhood in New York City’s Spanish Harlem, El Barrio. The film examines Thomas’ use of creative expression as a means of confronting poverty, racism, violence and isolation.

Oct. 15, 7 p.m.“Candombe”

More than 200 years ago, there was an influx into Uruguay of slaves from Africa who, after being freed, continued to make up the poorest and most marginalized stratum of society. Fernando Nunez, a black man, a musician and a maker of drums, sees himself as the heir to “Candombe,” an important social and cultural legacy from his slave forefathers.

“Resistencia: Hip Hop and Columbia”

“Resistencia” chronicles a summer in the lives of some of Colombia’s finest rappers, DJs and break-dancers, offering a glimpse of the country’s long-running civil war through the eyes of youth directly affected by it. The style of the film is youthful and entertaining, but also angry and enlightening.

Oct. 16, 1 p.m.“Palenque: Un Canto”

The villagers of San Basilio de Palenque, descendants of African rebel slaves, preserve and maintain the culture of their African forebears in their music, dance and other aspects of their social lives. This very personal film provides both a historical account of their situation as well as sensitive documentation of theirday-to-day struggles, both in their rural existence and their interaction with the neighboring city.

Oct. 16, 3 p.m.“The Garifuna Journey”

Genocide, exile, diaspora and persecution did not break the spirit of the Garifuna people. Descendants of African and Caribbean Indians, the Garifuna fought to maintain their homeland on St. Vincent in the Caribbean, but were exiled by the British to Central America at the end of the 18th century. This film describes their resistance to slavery.

Guest speaker: Sabas Whittaker

Whittaker is a multimedia artist, musician and author. Born in Honduras, Whittaker relocated from the U.S. Virgin Islands to Connecticut 17 years ago. He is the founder and president of Whittaker Productions, a production company committed to drawing attention to relevant social issues.

Oct. 16, 5 p.m.“Susana Baca: Memoria Viva”

Susana Baca is not only a champion in the performance and preservation of Afro-Peruvian heritage, but also an elegant singer whose shimmering voice sings of love, loss and life. The lando has become her trademark. This slow to mid-tempo, highly evocative mix of Spanish, indigenous and African rhythms has become the sound of Black Peru.

For more information about the film festival, call the Community Folk Art Center at 442-2230. The Community Folk Art Center is a program of the Department of African American Studies in The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University and is sponsored in part by the New York State Council on the Arts and the Cultural Resources Council.