Poetic License: Where are the African Gods?
Lyricist Abbey Lincoln’s words are brought to life in this meditative portrait of black masculinity
||Where Are The African Gods|| Film by: Rodney Passé from Rodney Passé on Vimeo.
A moving recording of the late writer and renowned jazz singer Abbey Lincoln is captured in this new film from Brooklyn-born director Rodney Passé, who has previously worked with powerhouse music video director Kahlil Joseph. Reading from her own works, Lincoln’s voice sets the tone for a film that explores the African American experience through fathers and their sons.
“Abbey Lincoln’s poem is a chilling reminder of black society’s struggle with self-image,” explains Passé. Speaking of the film’s experiment with spoken-word and music, the filmmaker continues: “The arrangement is heart-felt, capturing moments from the perspective of African American men and their sons, while celebrating the essence of black culture and honouring its significance in today’s society.”
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