Some religious affiliations and orders, even in this age of endless information, remain elusive and misunderstood. With the documentary Bongó Itá, director Mayckell Pedrero Mariol pulls back the curtain on a nearly two centuries-old Afro–Cuban brotherhood called the Abakuá, founded in the 1830s. Through a series of interviews, stock footage, photography, newspaper headlines, and music—a strong component of the order)—Pedrero Mariol weaves a tale of a fraternity that’s very storied and, up until now, rather secret.
This film brings the reserved society out into the open, detailing everything from initiations to what happens when a member gets sick or dies. The film also discusses the Abakuá as it relates to Catholicism and Ekpe, a fellow secret West African society. It also details the various ways in which enslaved people were taken to Europe or America, shedding informative light on how the atrocity was accomplished. The members that are interviewed know their history, and have a lot to tell, as man after man speaks to Abakuá lodges, rituals, and key figures and events.
The narrative is not exactly linear; it jumps back and forth somewhat and viewers have to keep up to understand the whole picture. It covers the group’s beginnings and numerous related events including the grey years period of the 1970s to its status today. The film does not significantly touch upon the absence of women and non-heterosexual people in the group, with the exception of one interviewee who was sworn into the Ekpe. The subtitles were also unfortunately not always complete. That said, it’s a very thorough history and thoughtfully and creatively presented. Would recommend in historical teaching contexts but not necessarily in a public library setting due to scenes of violence. Those with sensitivities to animal death should note that there are brief scenes where goats and fowl are killed. 3 stars.
Which university courses would benefit from screening this Afro-Latin history documentary?
Academic librarians could offer a valuable resource in acquiring Bongó Itá for professors teaching with film. The Abakuá are a facet of Cuban and African history, and as the film demonstrates, the group intersects with other areas of study such as anthropology, religion, politics, culture, and sociology. The roots of the Abakuá can be explored in the context of the transatlantic slave trade, with particular focus paid to the symbolism of the Íreme dancer and its numerous associations (ceremonies, funerals, celebrations, etc.). The film could even be suited to a gender studies course discussion on gender studies about the definitions of manhood and masculinity, both in Cuban society and generally.
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