DAY OF AFRICAN CHILD

The Day of the African Child is celebrated annually on 16 June since 1991 when it was first initiated by the Organisation of African Unity. It was on this day in 1976 that hundreds of black school children marched the streets of Soweto, South Africa, in a peaceful protest against the poor quality of their education and to demand being taught in their own language, not in Afrikaans. Hundreds of young boys and girls were shot down on that day; and in the two weeks of protest that followed, more than a hundred people were killed and more than a thousand were injured.

Day of African Child is celebrated to honour those who died in those events, but also to raise awarness about the lives of African children today, including their culture.

Humanitas Afrika, in colaboration with the French Institute, cordially invites you to a screening of African films for and about children, which will take place on Tuesday 16 June in Cinema 35 in French Institute, Stepanska 35, Prague 1.

PROGRAMME:

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Morning screenings for schools (free of charge, prior reservations necessary):

9 a.m. - Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005, Michel Ocelot and Bénédicte Galup; music Youssou N´dour) - popular African story about an exceptional boy named Kirikou (in Czech).

11a.m. - Masai: The Rain Warriors (2004, Pascal Plisson) - film about an adventure of a group of Masai boys who must fetch the mane of a legendary lion and thus bring back the rain. (original version with Czech subtitles)

Evening screenings for the public:

19 p.m. - four short African films:

Princess Yenega (Claude Le Gallou, France, 1986, 16 min) - about a legendary princess from Burkina Faso and her saviour, brave elephant hunter;

Deweneti (Dyana Gaye, Senegal, 2006, 15 min) - story about a 7-year old boy who has decided to write a letter to Santa Claus;

Le grand bazar (Licinio Azevedo, Mozambique, 2005, 55 min) - about two boys who despite different life experiences and goals became friends;

Muana Mboka (Jean-Michel Kibushi Ndjate Wooto, Democratic republic of Kongo, 1999, 15 min) - about a boy whose life suddenly changes completely when he accidentally saves a minister from a car crash.

Admission charge (evening screening only) 70 CZK, reduced charge is 40 CZK.

Evening films are in original language with Czech subtitles.

For more information, please contact:

Humanitas Afrika

Ječná 2

120 00 Praha 2

Tel: +420-251-560-375

e-mail: info@humanitasafrika.cz