NOFS + AfricaNOLA present YEELEN at Healing Center
Thursday March 8 (07:00 PM - 09:00 PM)
AfricaNola, in collaboration with the New Orleans Film Society, will host a screening of the critically-acclaimed African film, Yeelen (Brightness), a Malian (African) film directed by Souleymane Cissé. The film tells the story of a young African man who possesses magical powers and is on a heroic quest, set against the Mali Empire of the 13th century. A winner of the Jury Prize at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, Yeelen is considered one of the greatest experiences of world cinema.
The screening will be preceded by an African Drum Circle hosted by AfricaNola at 5:00 p.m in Cafe Istanbul at the New Orleans Healing Center. All musicians/spoken word artists are welcome to bring their instruments and sit in during the drum circle. Then, at 6 p.m., with the drum circle vibe still in the air, the powerful ensemble Africa Brass, a musical blending of African rhythms, American jazz, and New Orleans Brass takes the stage. Africa Brass is led by master percussionist Thierno Dioubate of Guinea, West Africa, joined by the ensemble of Tim Green (sax), Matt Perrine (sousaphone), Byron Asher (clarinet), Charles Joseph (trombone), Jeff “Papa Frog” Klein (African drums), and featuring Michaela Harrison (vocals).
The event will serve as the kick-off party for the upcoming Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival and New Orleans Sacred Music Festival, which both take place March 24-25, with Congo Square during the day, and Sacred Music in the evening.
Price
Free and open to the public