500 Years Later

‘Until Lions tell their tale, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter’ - African Proverb

Winner of numerous film festival awards this is a poignant piece of work that takes the viewer on a journey through history to the present day realities of the African diaspora. Director Owen ‘Alik Shahadah and writer M.K. Asante Jr have created a film that speaks with an African voice.

500 Years Later helps you to understand why things are the way they are. It features comment and reflections by people such as Paul Robeson Jr, Dr Francis Cress Wesling, Hakim Adi, Nelson George and many more who seek to challenge the received wisdom of the condition of people of African heritage across the globe. Filmed across 5 continents, the film tackles subjects from Racism, Identity, Education, Reparations, whilst also presenting ideas for change and self determination.

The value in this work is that it provides many perspectives from many different types of Africans. The voices and people you see in this film are representatives from Africa, America, the Carribean and Europe. In each case it is clear that all have similar experiences and the global nature of the problems of people of the African diaspora are very clearly articulated.

This review first appeared on Bambooo.co.uk October 2006