Each year in October, the Silicon Valley African Film Festival provides a unique lens for seeing the real Africa. This is the only film festival in California that focuses exclusively on films made by Africans. The festival also presents a selection of different genres, including shorts, feature-length films, documentaries, animation, and music videos. For their 10th show, the SVAFF showcased African vitality and shone a light on society’s most stigmatized issues. Indeed, SVAFF’s tenth anniversary sponsored by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Silicon Valley chapter was exceptional this year. The outstanding celebration during one weekend from Oct 4-6, 2019, was at its apex. Eighty-five films representing 35 African countries filled the historic Hoover Theater in San Jose. It was a great achievement!
The cultural spectacle opened ceremoniously with a parade of African flags. Saxophonist OluJazz and singer Victoria McDowell performed the Black National Anthem and “The Greatest Love of All.” Festival founder and director, Chike C. Nwoffia and his team presented recognized the different senators and members of Congress from the State of California. Nwoffiah presented the festival’s cultural icon award to The Honorable Rev. Dr. Cynthia Mother Pratt, the former Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas. The entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author shared her story of rising from poverty and racism in the Bahamas to becoming a member of parliament, the first female minister of national security, deputy prime minister, and acting prime minister of the Bahamas.
“I was given an opportunity to go to college when I was a wife with children,” said Pratt. “My husband was very supportive, so I took the opportunity.” As a result, Pratt says she entered the college employed as a volleyball recruiter and as a student among people half her age. I traveled to and from the Bahamas recruiting the disadvantaged because I knew all they needed was an opportunity to change the course of their lives,” she said. “Today, there are hundreds of doctors, lawyers, and professionals because I sacrificed, and I opened doors for others. Use your life to help others. The only way the minorities in power dominate you is by keeping you ignorant, so get your education.” She is a real inspiration and role model for everyone. She truly touched the audience with her persuasive and inspirational speech. Upon completion of her address, she received a standing ovation from the audience.
For Nwoffiah, the SVAFF festival Director, creating this was his calling to share Africa through the lens of Africans. “I wanted to confront the sad reality that after over 50 years of post-colonial rule in Africa, most of Africa’s narrative, is still presented to the world through a foreign lens with narratives that have created blurred interpretations and perceptions of Africa and Africans. The affordability of filmmaking in the last few decades has catapulted the growth of the African film industry, with African filmmakers eager to share the true stories, hopes, and dreams of Africa with the global community. It is wonderful to celebrate ten years and have so much support locally and globally for African filmmakers showcasing their art,” Nwoffiah said.
.
