A new film festival arriving in Manchester this November is drawing inspiration from African philosophies, specifically focusing on how historical lessons can shape contemporary narratives and future outlooks. Scheduled for 21 November at the Contact theatre, the event, titled See My World, aims to provide a dedicated space for independent creators hailing from across the African diaspora in the north of England. “The whole idea is that it’s like a playground in search of strategies of liberation, using the festival as a way to explore different philosophies.
The festival serves as a core component of See My World’s ongoing year-round initiative to showcase pan-African arts and culture. The event gains momentum from local activist efforts to honor the legacy of the 1945 Pan-African Congress held in Manchester, which served as a pivotal meeting point for postwar liberation movement leaders. It reflects the determination among creatives and activists in Manchester to build on the legacy of the 1945 Pan-African Congress in Manchester – which connected luminaries of postwar independence movements with a shared vision of liberation – after last year’s 80th anniversary commemorations. That reflects how we constantly go back to pan-African histories to inform how we progress.”.
Tunde Adekoya, the CEO and artistic director of See My World, explained that this year’s programming is deeply rooted in pan-African intellectual traditions. The festival draws heavily from the writings of Kenyan theologian John Mbiti and the late author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. Both thinkers challenged colonial assumptions regarding the inferiority of African knowledge, instead advocating for community-centric approaches and the reclaiming of indigenous perspectives as a means of cultural self-understanding. Stressed the importance of community and saw reclaiming African ways of knowing as essential to a people’s self-understanding, both writers rejected the colonial conceit that African thought was inferior.
Mbiti, who passed away in 2019, explored spiritual perceptions of time, specifically the concept of Sasa na Zamani, where the past acts as a guide for future progression. Meanwhile, Ngũgĩ, known for his seminal 1986 text Decolonising the Mind, argued that colonial powers utilized language and culture as tools of domination, famously choosing to write in his native Gikuyu over English to resist this influence. And that European powers used language as their sharpest instrument, he argued colonialism was motivated by cultural and economic conquest. A Bantu language mainly spoken in Kenya and criticised the role missionary Christianity played in colonial rule, ngũgĩ famously abandoned English to write in Gikuyu.
Adekoya characterized the festival as a space for exploration, stating that organizers aim to move away from conventional film festival structures that often alienate communities. By making the event accessible and inclusive, the team hopes to foster a platform where vital stories are platformed through various mediums, including poetry and dance.
Submissions for the festival were open to filmmakers across all genres for films up to 30 minutes in length, with the organizers waiving all screening fees. With no screening fees charged, film-makers have been invited to submit films lasting up to 30 minutes from across genres.
The curated lineup includes documentaries produced by the festival itself, such as Homage, described as a cinematic love letter to dance. The film weaves together archival footage from Manchester with contemporary portraits to explore themes of rhythm, migration, resistance, and joy. Another featured project, Poetic Justice, examines the historical dialogue between pan-African philosophy and Manchester’s local poetry scene. While Mbiti sought common ground between African religions and Christianity, Ngũgĩ was a Marxist.
The event is scheduled to run from 2pm until 11pm at the Contact theatre on Oxford Road. Throughout the day, attendees will have access to a variety of programming beyond film screenings, including exhibitions, Q&A sessions, performance explorations, and workshops aimed at providing insight into the creative processes of the directors involved.
