Mati Diop’s Award-Winning Documentary “Dahomey” at to open Film Africa 2024 at BFI Southbank

Film Africa is excited to announce its open gala on Friday, 25th October, at the iconic British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank. This year’s festival promises to be an unforgettable celebration of African cinema, culture, and heritage, featuring an array of compelling films, discussions, and events.

We are honoured to open the festival with the award-winning documentary “Dahomey,” directed by the acclaimed Senegalese filmmaker Mati Diop. Diop, who recently won the prestigious Golden Bear at the 2024 Berlinale, brings her exceptional storytelling prowess to this captivating film.

“Dahomey” offers a dramatised account set against the rich historical backdrop of the Kingdom of Dahomey, known today as the Republic of Benin. The film meticulously documents the return of 26 royal treasures, long held in a museum in France, to their rightful home in Benin. This extraordinary narrative delves deep into the complexities and emotional weight of cultural repatriation, capturing the profound reactions of the Beninese people as they reconnect with their ancestral heritage.

Diop’s “fantasy documentary” transcends traditional storytelling, employing a ghostly, evocative style that interrogates the enduring legacies of colonialism. The film’s powerful imagery and meticulous attention to detail offer a poignant exploration of history, memory, and identity.

Tickets for “Dahomey” will be available soon.