In a highly-regarded TED-Talk Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie issues the warning that Africa is been told as the same old »Single Story«. Images of Africa are often been perceived in a reduced version and in accordance with a widespread cliché. In »More Aphrike #2« Andrew Dosumnu and Andy Amadi Okoroafor want to open people’s eyes for a complex image of their life and creative work between Lagos, Paris and New York. Both multi-talented artists are celebrating the connections between Nigerian and international influences in their cine films, artist videos, magazines and photography.

Part 2 of the event series »More Aphrike« brings filmmakers Andrew Dosunmu and Andy Okoroafor from New York and Paris to Hamburg. They have shown their motion pictures »Restless City« and »Relentless« at the Metropolis, followed by an open discussion. The day after both directors opened their exhibition at M.Bassy’s public salon. They will be presenting photography and videos documenting their creative work and will also discuss their films as well as West African-international cinema in general.

Motion Picture: Restless City

Release date: 2011 (premiered at the Sundance Film Festival)
Country: USA
Directed by: Andrew Dosunmu
Written by: Eugene M. Gussenhoven
Starring: Sy Allassane, Sky Nicole Grey, Tony Okungbowa, Babs Olusanmonkun

Restless City tells the story of Djibril, who comes from Senegal to New York, in the hope of finally succeeding at his music career. He survives by selling CDs on the street and taking on small-time jobs, until he meets Trini, with whom he falls in love. Restless City is a stunning optical homage to contemporary New York City, in all its vibrant glory and elegant melancholy. His visual and acoustic language creates an atmospheric tension that lets the audience delve into Dosunmu’s creative mind.

About Andrew Dosunmu:

Andrew Dosunmu is a Nigerian photographer and filmmaker, currently based in New York and Lagos. Starting as a fashion design assistant he soon moved towards photography, directing, and filming and has been widely acknowledged for his creative talent and unique visual language. After working with acclaimed artists such as Isaac Hayes, Tracy Chapman, and Wyclef Jean, his first motion picture »Restless City« premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. In 2014, the Africa International Film Festival honored his work as Best Director for his second film »Mother of George« Andrew’s latest film »Where is Kyra« starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kiefer Sutherland will once more premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Motion Picture: Relentless

Release date: 2010
Country: Nigeria, France, Spain, Germany
Written and directed by: Andy Amadi Okoroafor
Starring: Nneka Egbuna, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Gideon Okele, Tope Oshin, Adam Sanders

Relentless is both a tour de force through the abysmal depths of the city of Lagos and a declaration of love to African cinema. No other African city is as populous as Nigeria’s former capital and no other place exhibits the beauty, the madness and the essence of West-African life more vividly than Lagos, megacity and currently home to almost 20 million people. In this setting, disillusioned war veteran Obi, his best friends Ola and Honey, a prostitute, meet in the search of redemption. Their shared pilgrimage is marked by hope, deception and uncertainty, which Relentless depicts ruthlessly yet poetically. By retracing the complexity of Nigerian history and present, Relentless nourishes new ways and visions of contemporary African cinema.

About Andy Amadi Okoroafor:

Nigerian-born director Andy Amadi Okoroafor left his homeland to study film in France, before pursuing a career as an Art Director in the fashion industry during the 1990s. He later turned towards music video production, working with artists such as Xuly-Bët, Jean Paul Gaultier, Nneka, while simultaneously founding the fashion magazine CLAM. With his film debut Relentless, Andy returns to his origins in Nigeria and pursuing his visions of reimagining contemporary African cinema.

The event series »More Aphrike« is funded by the TURN Fund of the German Federal Cultural Foundation, designed to encourage artistic cooperation between Germany and the African continent.