Evento

Congo In Harlem 6: Che Guevara in Congo

Congo In Harlem 6
(October 19th - 26th)

Congo in Harlem at New York's Maysles Cinema is an annual series of films, panel discussions, performances, parties and special events focused on the history, politics, and culture of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The aim of the series is to deepen our community's understanding of Congo through art and dialogue. Each year, we strive to offer a diverse program that provides more than the traditional movie-going experience -- at Congo in Harlem, our audiences find opportunities to discover Congolese food, music, and artwork, learn about Congo's challenges, and get involved.

Friday, October 24th, 7:30pm

Double feature of films about Che Guevara's time in Congo
Tatu: Che In Congo
Jorges Fuentes,1997, 56 min.

In 1965, Cuba sent an expeditionary force to eastern Congo to train Marxist rebels in the fight against Congo's American-backed central government. The Cuban Expedition was led by none other than Che Gueverra who, under the code-name "Tatu" ("Three" in Swahili) cemented himself a place in Congo's history. Fuentes' rarely screened film is an account of Che's travels and political influence, as told by the Cubans and Congolese who knew and fought alongside him.

Freddy Ilanga: Che's Swahili Translator
Katrin Hansing, 2013, 24 min.

Freddy Ilanga, a fifteen-year-old Congolese youth, became Che Guevara's personal Swahili teacher and translator during the Cuban Expedition to Congo. After seven intense months by Che's side, the Cuban authorities sent Freddy to Cuba, displacing him from his family and abruptly changing his life. Hansing's film captures Ilanga's recollections of his time with Che, and his reconnecting with his family after 40 years of separation.

Followed by post-screening discussion with guests TBA.