In Search of Freedom

Belgian-Congolese filmmaker, Nganji Laeh, along with musician and composer Badi and filmmaker Monique Mbeka Phoba, explore present day DRC via film.

Photo: Nganji Laeh.

I’ve been filming a monthly video journal in the Democratic Republic of Congo, offering a glimpse of my quest in the motherland. The series is called “”in SEARCH of FREEDOM.”  I am working with other afro-european artists such as the musician and composer Badi and filmmaker Monique Mbeka Phoba.  (Monique’s output includes the 2007 documentary film, “Entre la coupe et l’élection” (Between the cup and the election), co-directed with Guy Kabeya Muya, on the Zaire national football team, the Leopards, in the 1974 World Cup. Zaire was the first sub-Saharan African team to play in the World Cup. Previously Egypt, in 1934, and Morocco had qualified for the World Cup.–Ed). Here are the  videos.

EDITION 01 : arriving in the capital Kinshasa and stunting on the road.

EDITION 02 : greeting the (he)art of a city to paint a better picture.

EDITION 03 : in the name of the mother, the daughters and holy grandma.

EDITION 04 : shooting a period film challenging colonial myths in Congo is not easy … but Monique did it.

NEXT EDITION: Coming up end of May 2014.

Further Reading

Not exactly at arm’s length

Despite South Africa’s ban on arms exports to Israel and its condemnation of Israel’s actions in Palestine, local arms companies continue to send weapons to Israel’s allies and its major arms suppliers.

Ruto’s Kenya

Since June’s anti-finance bill protests, dozens of people remain unaccounted for—a stark reminder of the Kenyan state’s long history of abductions and assassinations.

Between Harlem and home

African postcolonial cinema serves as a mirror, revealing the limits of escape—whether through migration or personal defiance—and exposing the tensions between dreams and reality.

The real Rwanda

The world is slowly opening its eyes to how Paul Kagame’s regime abuses human rights, suppresses dissent, and exploits neighboring countries.

In the shadow of Mondlane

After a historic election and on the eve of celebrating fifty years of independence, Mozambicans need to ask whether the values, symbols, and institutions created to give shape to “national unity” are still legitimate today.

À sombra de Mondlane

Depois de uma eleição histórica e em vésperas de celebrar os 50 anos de independência, os moçambicanos precisam de perguntar se os valores, símbolos e instituições criados para dar forma à “unidade nacional” ainda são legítimos hoje.