Engaging students in global learning can sometimes be a challenge. Students may struggle to understand the value and/or importance of learning about the life, history, and culture of another country or continent. Students ask: “What does this have to do with me?” Even some educators may find themselves questioning the value of teaching their students about other countries and often the African continent can get overlooked or misunderstood or relegated to the history of Ancient Egypt and very little more.
The African continent has much to offer students; teaching them about the diversity of the continent or diving into the specific history of an African country can expand student understanding of the planet and its interconnectedness.
Africa is one of the most culturally diverse continents on the planet but is often seen in a very monolithic way in Western educational settings. Home to 54 countries, it is estimated that about 2,000 languages are spoken there, and there is extensive cultural and religious diversity and a wealth of historical experiences.
Well-made films African films offer students deep insight into the countries they are learning about, immersing them in the culture, language, sights, sounds of a nation when a field trip is not feasible.
This list highlights films about Africa and accompanying resources, like ideas for lesson plans. Many films on the list are appropriate for high school students. Some are appropriate for middle school classrooms.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
This film is a wonderful choice for students from middle school and older because it shares the true story of a likable young teen who has a can-do attitude about solving problems and achieving goals. Based on the autobiographical book by William Kamkwambe, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s screenplay and direction expertly bring William’s story to life as William struggles to successfully construct a windmill for his community in Malawi.
Students experience and connect with the culturally diverse community in the film and come to understand their aspirations, frustrations, joys, and more.
By setting the stage for students to view this film and engaging them with its rich continent, educators have an opportunity to build a connection for students between their lives in the West and William’s childhood in Malawi. For more about this film, check out our previous piece about the power of teaching with film and the comprehensive curriculum and discussion guides available for the film for free from Journeys In Film.
I Am Not A Witch (2017)
Rungano Nyoni’s debut film, which she wrote and directed, is set in a remote Zambian community where a girl is denounced as a witch. This experience sets her on a trajectory of exploitation that includes a witch hunt and a tourist exhibit.
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017 and won the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer.
Into Film created a Film Guide for this film, which can be utilized to explore multiple topics, including Citizenship, Politics, Human Rights, and more.
Read our review of I Am Not A Witch.
Get your copy of the I Am Not A Witch Blu-ray by clicking here.
Liyana (2017)
This documentary film set in Swaziland (now Eswatini) is a unique blend of live storytelling workshops for children and exquisitely rendered drawings by Shofela Coker.
Writer Gcina Mhlope encouraged children living at a home for orphans to create a cooperative adventure story, one that she hopes would give these trauma-affected children a vision of hope and a path to healing. While the story they create is fictional, it reflects subliminally the reality of their past and present lives.
The fictional character the children write about is Liyana, whose parents have died from AIDS, like the parents of many of the children in the orphanage. Eswatini has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS infections in the world; there are an estimated 200,000 orphans.
This film can encourage students to understand the tragedy in these children’s lives, but also to see images of courage and resourcefulness, both in Liyana and her story-creators, that will inspire them. CFI Education offers an educational guide for this documentary.
Get your copy of the Liyana Blu-ray by clicking here.
Queen of Katwe (2016)
Like The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, this film is also based on a true story, that of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan girl who became a chess whiz. We see another side of life in Africa, not the struggles of farm life in a harsh land, but acute poverty in the slum of Katwe, not far from Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
There seems to be no hope for Phiona and her family—no education, little money or food, no way out or up. Then, Phiona becomes intrigued by the game of chess, and she becomes very good at it, thus becoming the “queen of Katwe” and discovering hope after all.
Queen of Katwe is an uplifting viewing experience for both teens and adults, not only for its story of Phiona’s achievements but also for the empathy and understanding aroused by its portrait of life in an impoverished urban area in Uganda. By the end, viewers feel not pity, but hope for the future. Journeys In Film features free resources for this film as well to encourage your effective use of the film in the classroom or for homeschooling or group study.
Read our review of Queen of Katwe.
Get your copy of the Queen of Katwe Blu-ray by clicking here.
The Square (2013)
This powerful documentary focuses on the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 and the powerful acts of resistance and uprising in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt.
The film premiered at Sundance in 2013 where it won the Audience Award for World Cinema and was nominated for Best Documentary at the 2014 Academy Awards.
This film takes students inside this important historical event, provides them with opportunities to reflect on other political uprisings and social movements, and offers insight into the modern history of Egypt which many students know very little about given the focus on Ancient Egypt in school curricula.
The Influence Film Club’s Discussion Guide for The Square might offer assistance to educators seeking to use this film in the classroom.
Read our review of The Square.
Get your copy of The Square Blu-ray by clicking here.
Nelson Mandela: The Myth and Me (2013)
This documentary film from South African filmmaker Khalo Matabane approaches Mandela’s story from the filmmaker’s point of view as he is coming of age just when Mandela is being released from prison.
The filmmaker interviews many high-profile individuals for the documentary as he seeks to understand Mandela’s legacy and its impact on his nation and the world.
Invictus (2009)
Directed by Clint Eastwood, Invictus tells the story of Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) and his efforts to unite post-apartheid South Africa by engaging the nation’s beloved multiracial rugby team.
This inspirational film offers insight into South Africa’s history and highlights the power of persistence and non-violent action in the story of Mandela, the nation’s first Black president. The powerful performances by actors that American students will recognize, Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, and the inclusion of sport as a bridge-builder in the nation make this film particularly accessible for students.
A variety of educational resources are available for Invictus online.
It would be interesting to pair these two films about Mandela and have students compose a writing assignment to reflect on documentary film versus narrative filmmaking and the impact that the perspective and background of the filmmaker has on their approach to the same subject.
Read our review of Invictus.
Get your copy of the Invictus Blu-ray by clicking here.
Beat the Drum (2003)
Directed by David Hickson, this South African film won numerous awards and led to the establishment of Beat the Drum Village in Kenya. The village provides sanctuary for children affected by the HIV/AIDS virus, a huge problem on the African continent, where medical care is often not readily available.
Musa, an orphan, lives in a village where people are becoming seriously ill with a disease they do not understand. He travels to Johannesburg, one of the world’s largest cities, to search for his uncle. HIV/AIDS education and consequences are key in the film. Middle school students will easily identify with Musa, but educators should view it first and know that some scenes may be beyond their typical maturity level, although none are graphic. (The film is unrated; please consult the Internet Movie Data Base parent guide.)
This film also offers opportunities to explore and discuss myths, rumors, and conspiracy theories around pandemics and epidemics. Journeys In Film’s free resources for this film include a lesson specifically on pandemics/epidemics which may feel particularly relevant for young people right now.
Read our review of Beat the Drum.
Get your copy of the Beat the Drum DVD by clicking here.
Kirikou and The Sorceress (1998)
This French animated film draws on West African folk tales and would be an excellent film for students exploring myths, legends, fables, folklore, parables, etc. In fact, Film Education put together a guide for the film that includes extensive activities designed to integrate this film with explorations on those key topics.
Though it is animated, this film is deemed (by most) as most appropriate for students ages 10 and up. The film led to additional story creations based on this base story including a stage production.
Get your copy of the Kirikou and The Sorceress DVD by clicking here.
Overall, student knowledge about the geography of specific African countries can lead to informed discussion and research about a variety of topics relevant to their own lives: climate change; immigration; cultural differences; human rights; violence; intergenerational issues; medical treatments; trauma-informed education; the local and national impact of politics; and the work of non-profit organizations. Viewing films is an impactful way to explore these important topics.
This is a partnered post with Journeys in Film
