Africa: Within & Without

Africa: Within & Without 

Join us for this shorts program that starts off by exploring what it means to leave one’s home to start anew (without) and then shifts to two narratives that represent the vibrant, queer stories being made by filmmakers in Nigeria (within). Filmmaker Ayo Tsalithaba (they/them/theirs) in attendance.

Atmospheric Arrivals- dir. Ayo Tsalithaba/Canada/ Ghana/ Lesotho/6:37/2023 “Atmospheric Arrivals” is about home and the (im)possibility of return. The “atmospheric arrival” captures a means of coming into being through memory and imagination; by reaching across spacetimes to “fetch” parts of the self that may exist elsewhere.

As Leaves in the Wind- dir. Sofia Luz/Spain/Equatorial Guinea/10:56/2023  “As leaves in the wind” is the story of two transgender women who migrate from their home countries seeking asylum and opportunities in a new continent. Their lives go through structural changes when they meet and take part in a new support network. Made by them for them.

This is Not You- dir. Amara Ogara/Nigeria/33:00/2023 A lesbian couple, Lolo and Ade prepare to host their friends for their weekly bonfire night, but tension begins to simmer in their home as Lolo handles all the cooking while Ade offers minimal assistance, creating a growing imbalance. Despite the mounting tension, the couple strives to maintain a jovial atmosphere, engaging in heartfelt conversations about the challenges they face as queer individuals in Nigeria. Amidst the backdrop of laughter and clinking wine glasses.

14 Years & a Day – dir. Ayo Lawson, Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim/Nigeria/ 20:49/2023 In a riveting tale of love and self-discovery, a restless young woman finds herself embroiled in a passionate conflict with her partner of 14 years. Fuelled by frustration, she seeks solace in a solitary dinner, unaware that fate has something extraordinary in store. As the stars align, she encounters a captivating stranger whose mere presence ignites a storm of doubt within her heart. In a single encounter, the foundations of her relationship tremble, compelling her to question the very path she once thought secure.

Ayo Tsalithaba is a visual artist, writer and researcher from Ghana and Lesotho and based in Toronto. Their primary mediums include film, photography and illustration. Their work explores questions of home, (in)visibility, liminality and (un)belonging as they relate to Black queer and trans* African diasporic subjectivity.  Ayo has been featured in Huffington Post Canada, The Fader, Flare Magazine, TFO, The Kit; and they have worked with Converse, Luminato, The Queer Songbook Orchestra, TIFF, Ugg, the ROM, the Canadian Academy, to name a few. Most notably, they co-directed a Heritage Minute honouring the pioneering transgender soul singer Jackie Shane.

Community Sponsors: Black Studies at Queen’s University &  Black Luck Collective