Bongoland II in Chicago

BONGOLAND II compared to Ousmane Sembene's films

See promo GENE SISKEL FILM CENTER

BONGOLAND II: THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME 2008,
Josiah Kibira, Tanzania, 100 min. With Peter Omari, Thecla Mjatta

Friday, August 15, 6:15 PM AND Wednesday, August 20, 6:15 PM

In his first film BONGOLAND (2003), Josiah Kibira related the misadventures of Juma, a Tanzanian immigrant in Minnesota. In this self-sufficient sequel, Juma returns to Tanzania (aka Bongoland) to manage a company. His American-style ideas about efficiency and motivation meet with a less than enthusiastic response, and, when Mom’s visit produces some jaw-dropping revelations, he discovers that his relationship to his homeland has become even more tenuous. The film’s sharp, angry satire recalls such Ousmane Sembene classics as XALA and GUELWAAR. In Swahili with English subtitles. DV-CAM video. (MR)Who is Ousmane Sembene

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Bongoland - Viewer Comments

Bongoland II - Mini Review

The new Film, Bongoland II, premiered in Minneapoli, Minnesota, this past Saturday Arpil 5, 2008. Here is a review from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

BONGOLAND II - The movie review - StarTribune - April 4th, 2008

The following is a movie review written by MEGAN KADRMAS from The StarTribune - Friday April 4th - After she reviewed the movie. (Page F11)Plymouth based filmmaker Josiah Kibira releases his third attempt Saturday in a quest to create high quality films in Swahili.

"BONGOLAND II" completes an adventure that brought Kibira back to his native country of Tanzania for 36 days of filming.As a continuation of Kibira's first Swahili-based movie "Bongoland", this sequel follows as main character Juma as he readjusts to life in Tanzania after failing in the United States.The beauty of "Bongoland II" arises in its misleading simplicity.

Although it could be said that the film tracks Juma's adaptation, it uses larger issues to highlight the ways in which Juma is not - and may never be - fully readjusted. From family secrets to workplace drama, reconnecting with friends to waiting for his girlfriend, it becomes clear that Juma might not fully reclaim who he once was.

Tanzania serves as a complementary backdrop, with its own mixture of basic starkness and complex beauty. Inside cinder block shanties and pristine swaths of beach, Juma learns that leaving home is sometimes easier than returning home.

Megan Kadrmas

TRAILER FOR BONGOLAND II

A new film by Josiah Kibira, called Bongoland II will be coming out soon.

Please visit Kibira Films website for more information:

http://www.kibirafilms.com/index.html