The anthology series, AFROPOP: THE ULTIMATE CULTURAL EXCHANGE, returns with a new slate of documentary and short films on contemporary life, art and culture in the African Diaspora. Award-winning actress Danielle Brooks, star of Netflix’s ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, hosts Season 11. AFROPOP’S dynamic, compelling, and at times, challenging programs this season highlight issues related to social justice, politics, LGBTQ identity, fashion and violence against women.
EPISODE GUIDE:
Episode 1: ”Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba!" - Using archival performance footage and interviews with those who knew her best, and with Makeba herself, the documentary examines the life of the iconic South African singer and activist.
Episode 2 "Mama Colonel" - Set in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the program follows Honorine Munyole, known as Mama Colonel, as she leads a special police force charged with addressing violence against children and women in a country struggling to heal the wounds of war. Watch the full episode
Episode 3 "The Faces We Lost" - This moving documentary introduces nine Rwandans and chronicles their efforts to use photographs to help keep alive memories of loved ones lost during the 1994 genocide. Watch the full episode
Episode 4 "While I Breathe, I Hope" - The film follows the against-all-odds 2014 campaign of Bakari Sellers, a young, black Democrat running for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina.
Episode 5 "Short Films" - This episode features an eclectic selection of three short programs:
- The animated documentary “black enuf*,” the story of a “queer oddball” on a quest for acceptance and self-love while exploring expanding ideas of black identity
- “Swimmin’ Lesson,” a poetic and moving tale of one young father’s recollection of his son’s fate during Hurricane Katrina
- “Dressed Like Kings,” an insightful look at the South African pageant where men compete in formal wear for the title of the "Best and Freshest" dresser
Watch On Your Schedule:
"Mama Colonel" and "The Faces We Lost" episodes are now available to stream on demand.
With the PBS Video App, you can stream your favorite and local station shows. Download it for free on your favorite device. The app allows you to catch up on recent episodes and discover award-winning shows.
Join The Conversation:
Credits:
Angela Tucker is co-executive producer of AFROPOP: THE ULTIMATE CULTURAL EXCHANGE, and Duana Butler serves as series producer and director. Produced with the generous support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Endowment for the Arts. For more information on AFROPOP and other programming from BPM, visit www.blackpublicmedia.org.
