Jeffrey Page. | Source: LaSean Knox-Brown
Award-winning Broadway director and choreographer Jeffrey Page is taking his talents to Africa!
Page has described the short film Blues People as a documentary showcasing Malian artists’ vibrant cultural expressions. Thanks to recent news, the project will now be shown at the 13th Africa International Film Festival (ARIFF) in Lagos, Nigeria.
According to a press release shared with MadameNoire, ARIFF, which first began in 2010, is a place where cultural enthusiasts, filmmakers, and industry leaders from across the globe gather to celebrate and highlight the rich cultural narratives that make up the African and Black diasporic experience.
For the last 13 years, the festival has also helped to bridge the gap between filmmakers across the diaspora, helping them to showcase their talents to a larger audience.
“I am thrilled that Blues People has been selected for screening at the prestigious Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF). This documentary short is a celebration of the deep cultural ties between Malians and African-Americans, who have historically used music and dance not only as forms of artistic expression but also as powerful tools for resistance and healing,” Page told MadameNoire. “Inspired by Amiri Baraka’s influential work, the film draws parallels between Mali’s musical roots and the blues in America, highlighting how these art forms encapsulate the resilience and rich narratives of these communities amidst adversity.”
He added, “The excitement of having my work recognized by AFRIFF is immense, as it was initially crafted to share the stories of my travels and work in West Africa with supporters and grant-makers. This selection underscores the universal resonance of our shared human experiences and the indomitable strength of the human spirit.”
No stranger to making the voyage to the Motherland to tell authentic stories, Blues People is not the only project that will have Page return to Africa. Moreover, he partnered with the iONE digital team to share another documentary endeavor, the GRIOT Project.
“As I continue my partnership with iONE Digital through Movin’ Legacy, I am eager to delve deeper into how the dancing bodies of Black people across the diaspora carry stories and knowledge. Our bodies hold a form of intelligence just as potent as the spoken or written word, offering a unique lens through which to view our collective histories and futures,” Page continued. “My aim is to connect the African Diaspora through the power of dance, showing that despite our differences, our similarities and shared experiences weave a rich tapestry of life that deserves to be celebrated and understood on a global scale.”
Source: LaSean Knox-Brown
The documentary will follow Page through Francophone and Lusophone West Africa as he takes a tour to document and preserve endangered cultural traditions while also capturing the buoyancy of Black and African cultural narratives. Set to live on NewsOne, Page will also use this time to engage with local artists as he works to create a feature-length documentary film “designed to elevate and amplify the voices of these communities on an international stage.”
As Page prepares to return to Africa, he aims to relish Blues People’s latest milestone of making its way to ARIFF, taking place this year on Nov. 3 through Nov. 9. Click here for more on how to support Page as he continues to fulfill his passion for storytelling.
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