The Sudanese architect

The film "Limbo" covers the frustated life and dreams of Sudanese immigrant and trained architect, Issam.

London (Photo: UK Telegraph).

I spotted this short film, Limbo, on the Afro-Europe Blog and thought it would be good to re-post here. The film, made in 2005, was directed by Lewie Kerr. It follows the life of fictional Issam, a Sudanese immigrant and trained architect, who is employed as a street sweeper and security guard in and around the same types buildings that he one day dreams of building. Anyone who has experienced immigrant life in the big city, or the frustrations of being an artist (or both) will be able to relate to this simple but impacting movie.

The main actor, Issam Elkhawad, passed away in 2007. The film is dedicated to him.

Further Reading

Fuel’s errand

When Africa’s richest man announced the construction of the continent’s largest crude oil refinery, many were hopeful. But Aliko Dangote has not saved Nigeria. The Nigerian Scam returns to the Africa Is a Country Podcast to explain why.

Fragile state

Without an immediate change in approach, Somalia will remain a fragmented country populated by self-serving elites seeking foreign patrons.

Coming home

In 1991, acclaimed South African artist Helen Sebidi’s artworks were presumed stolen in Sweden. Three decades later, a caretaker at the residential college where they disappeared found them in a ceiling cupboard, still in their original packaging.

Imaginary homelands

A new biography of former apartheid homeland leader Lucas Mangope struggles to do more than arrange the actions of its subject into a neat chronology.

Business as usual?

This month, Algeria quietly held its second election since Abdelaziz Bouteflika was ousted in 2019. On the podcast, we ask what Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s second term means for the country.