Kumba is a dynamic African short film cinema program that serves as a bridge to home, transcending borders to connect African and Diaspora communities. It celebrates identity, culture, and heritage through the powerful medium of film, offering a rich tapestry of stories told from an authentic African perspective. Showcasing a diverse range of narratives, Kumba highlights the vibrancy of African traditions and lived experiences, fostering a sense of belonging across continents. Thoughtfully curated by Tatenda Jamera of Maona Art, this program brings audiences closer to home through the lens of African filmmakers, creating a space for cultural expression and shared storytelling.

Beutset

When a parasite contaminates all the drinking water in Dakar, pills are developed to neutralize it. Alioune, a young man, can no longer afford the pills and begins to experience the parasite’s symptoms: madness and insanity. As the days go by, he realizes he has never been more clear-minded. He embarks on a journey of political and spiritual awakening..

2024 DIR BY ALICIA MENDY 29 MIN SENEGAL

The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí

In the whimsical Pan-African society of Alkebulan, the brilliant yet overlooked scholar, Dr. Constance Moumie, discovers that her fiancé, Sèyí Àjàyí, is engaged to Princess Ada, throwing the town into a frenzy. With her bestie Bibi, Constance devises a daring plan to expose her unfaithful lover at his engagement ceremony, seeking both revenge and the recognition she has long deserved.

2024 DIR BY ABBESI AKHAMIE 16 MIN NIGERIA

Alazar

A farming community in Ethiopia grapples with existential questions when a family patriarch's body mysteriously vanishes from his grave. Beza Hailu Lemma's profoundly affecting drama explores the aftermath.

2024 DIR BY BEZA HAILU LEMMA 35 MIN ETHIOPIA

Bahr

While grieving the loss of his wife, a father struggles with faith in a chance to reconnect with her; the journey is portrayed as death being a beginning rather than an end, a simple line separating two worlds.

2024 DIR BY BELAL ABOSAMRA 8 MIN EGYPT