We recently connected with Jollof Films Inc and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jollof, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Jollof Films Inc is the meaningful project that we have started since August of 2022. The reason we have started this project is to lift the veil on the misconception that African stories were not told/documented during the post-colonial era or prior. In lifting this veil, we hold space to screen an African film every last Sunday of the month – for free. Because the question of accessibility in relation to African cinema must be addressed proactively and consistently. In passing, we would love to give thanks for spaces that aligned with us on our mission, Joloff Restaurant. Brooklyn Tea, The Africa Center, Cinewax, The People’s Forum, Cloud Haus BK, Savant Studios, Make Manifest, & Ko Café.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Co-founders of Jollof Films Inc. consist of Assane & Ahmad.
Assane is a well-renowned Brooklyn-based Senegalese photographer who has been a part of a myriad of collective exhibitions and has had solo ones as well. The most recent solo exhibit took place at The Africa Center, in collaboration with WESHHH collective-member and stylist Mo. His latest collective exhibit is currently held at the Brooklyn Museum for its 200th anniversary.
Ahmad is a Senegalese Brooklyn-based multi-disciplinary artist who partakes in mediums such as film-making, design & poetry among other mediums. Ahmad is also a fashion model who has done campaigns with the likes of Daily Paper, Moncler, Nike, Converse, Tommy Hilfiger, etc.
Our mutual love for artistry and activism is what galvanized Jollof Films. It is a love letter to our community. A cause to contribute to the greater unit of narrative change. Our mission statement is as follows:
“Jollof Films Inc. is a non-profit organization aiming to hold space to commemorate Africa’s pioneers of filmmaking. The goal is to incite inspiration in the youth in hopes that they are strongly rooted in the distinctive reality throughout Africa. Hence, in equal measure, we also hold space for healing through open-ended conversations in relation to subject matters conveyed through African stories.”
A unique quality in our screenings is the post-screening peer-to-peer discussion to stimulate perceptiveness in spite of our differences as children of the diaspora.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Resources we wish we knew about earlier was funding by way of grants and sponsorships. We simply started doing this out of mere passion. Our love and passion for the integrity of African cinema is what got us here. To share a story briefly, we never planned to have Jollof Films as a non-profit. Rather, it was supposed to be a single night where we gathered our people to see an African film that spoke of an important subject matter. Demand immediately ensued and we had to come up with a scheduled program and a name for what is now Jollof Films Inc. Until the time of writing this, Jollof Films has always been independently funded by its founders and the consistent voluntary support of its community. We express deep gratitude for our community and their support.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Our mission is to restore the pillar of authenticity within our stories in Sénégal and throughout the continent. A pillar too imperative to neglect. Our first-ever screening transpired by way of a discourse where we both expressed our dissatisfaction on how Sénégal lost its light in the world of cinema – a world we once spearheaded. Our commitment to restoring balance in this has been maintaining consistency w/ this program. We have had 33 film screenings along with a 3-day festival where we’ve screened 11 films through the 3 days. During the festival, we also highlighted young, aspiring filmmakers from the diaspora.
Beyond film screenings, we have also held space for a clothing drive where all offerings made their way to Sénégal. So moving forward, we would love to do more similar initiatives.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jollof_films/
Image Credits
Assane
Sha Osbourne