True Ease in Writing comes from Art, not Chance, As those move easiest who have learned to dance. - Alexander Pope

Films

Travelogue

By Amran Gaye in Culture, Dubai, Africa, Senegal, Person Relation, Album, cellular telephone, Dubai, electronics, Film, Film noir, Films, food, forward, iPhone, Kanye West, Major, Serign Touba, Suddenly, Technology, trader

 

Recently I had the chance to do a transit in both Dubai and Senegal on my way home, and spend time in places of waiting in both countries. In Dubai I couldn't leave the airport, a place built for just such an eventuality, a sealed-off World filled with everything a transit passenger might need: numerous bathrooms, prayer rooms, food courts, a smoking room, lots of chairs everywhere (though, sadly, no beds), movement maps and info displays, stores selling everything from perfume to electronics. In Senegal I did not spend much time at the airport; yet getting off the plane, something subtly changed my mood - was it the weather? the people? the language I could now fully understand? perhaps a combination of the above, making me feel once more like an African in Africa...

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Aug 28, 2012

For Better or Worse (Part 2)

Posted by Omonse Esangbedo | Tags: Yours Chimerically, Fiction, farmer, Film, Film noir, Films, Human Interest, Modou, Suddenly | 0 Comments

 

 

 

That night in bed, "I think we should keep the house, John" she said softly.

"I know, I agree, it doesn't make sense to ever sell property, but it's Pa's decision Isa" He moved close to her and laid an arm along her body.

 "So you didn't say anything then?"

"I told them what I thought and then I left it alone." He hoped she would get the hint without his having to tell her to mind her business. She was silent, he exhaled. "Since when did it matter so much to you what we did with Old Derelict anyway?" He moved a little closer.

She laughed. "I don't know, I guess it just doesn't make sense, his decision. So I don't get why we're sticking with it."

He reached for her shoulder, and watched the top of it glisten in the dimly lit room.

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May 25, 2009

Review of "Borom Sarret" [Cart Driver] by Ousmane Sembene

Posted by amrangaye | Tags: Live From the Gambia, Dakar, Africa, Senegal, Africa, Borom Sarret, Cart, Champ Car, Culture, driver, Entertainment, Films, Griot, Ousmane, Ousmane Sembène | 0 Comments
Borom Sarret Review

I saw Borom Sarret by Ousmane Sembene last night. According to wikipedia it is considered "the first film ever made in Africa by a black African". It takes place in Dakar, Senegal, and is about a horse-and-cart driver trying to eke out a living. It is a short film, barely 20 minutes long, yet in that time it manages to pack in quite a lot of themes.

A black and white film, it opens with a stark view of a shining white mosque building, its profile cutting into the skyline (a beautiful, beautiful shot - and this is Ousmane pre-color).

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Nov 21, 2008

Mandabi by Ousman Sembene Review

Posted by amrangaye | Tags: Live From the Gambia, Western Union, France, Gambia, Senegal, Person Career, author , in the Gambia, Dan Brown, director, Entertainment, film director, Films, Mandabi, Mass media, Ousman Sembene, Technology | 0 Comments
Ousman Sembene, the Senegalese film director, has quite the International reputation - his death in 2007 received a lot of media coverage both offline and on-. The wikipedia article on him tells us he was considered the "Father of African Cinema". In addition he also wrote novels which won him great critical acclaim.

His movies are not very readily available back home (as with all other works of art created by African artists - it is unfortunate how much easier it is to lay my hands on Dan Brown's latest than a novel written by a Gambian author, in the Gambia.) After much searching, I was finally able to get myself a copy of Moolade, his last movie, using the Internets. It was hands down the best African movie I had seen until then.

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