#femmesofcolour — Public Fediverse posts

The #FringeOfColour Festival started screening yesterday. This year's theme is the lifecycle of a plant. Films are divided into strands. Today @toni and I watched the Nourish strand. It contains 6 different short films. Each one is visually stunning, deeply evocative and powerful.

First is Back on Home Soil. It's piece celebrating and remembering the artist's Ofem Ubi's grandmother who passed away. It's a deeply moving, poetic and photographic exploration of grief, family and home filmed in #Nigeria. As well as deeply moving this piece made me chuckle few times.

Next one is a very short film 'Dear Omolere'. A poetic letter to Mojereoma Ajayi-Egunjobi's grandmother filmed in British countryside. This piece explores ancestry from the point of view of a member of diaspora. The author explores her feeling towards her ancestors and a sense of responsibility to follow in their footsteps.

Third film 'Maud' is s a conversation between four Black artists currently making art in #Scotland - Adebusola Ramsay, Sekai Machache, Zoë Zo, Zoë Tumika & Zoë Guthrie and Camara Taylor. They talk about Maud Sulter and her legacy and how knowing a Black Scottish artist affects them. I never heard of Maud Sulter before watching this film and I certainly want to find out more about her.

Next is very short film 'Pagpapa(-)alam: To Wish You Well, So You Know' by Cecilia Lim. This audiovisual poem is accompanied by a zine exploring the people in the film and their stories. It's filmed in the borough of Queens, New York and shows Women and Femmes of Colour taking care of each other and their communities. #womenOfColour #femmesOfColour

In The Spring, Madeline Shann explores the presence of Black people and People of Colour in the British Countryside. Many shots were filmed in wonderful Whistman's Wood in Devon. I particulalry liked when dancer Rudzani Moleya is shrunk to look a bit like a pixie dancing in the moss. #peopleOfColor

Last but not least 'Violeta & Sofia' by Noah Berhitu and Alejandra Rogghé Pérez, explores relationship to heritage and culture in migrant communities through a communaly prepared meal. It was filmed in #Belgium.

Themes of #ancestry, #food, #language, #grief, #resilience and community are weaving in and out of each piece complementing each other. I found them very relatable. For me food also plays a central role in feeling connected to my culture.

Another strong theme is that of grandmothers. My grandmothers were definitely influential and in many ways I find it easier to celebrate their memory. As women they were both more accessible on emotional level and also more present in everyday life. My memories of them are full of scents, flavors, plants, garments. They feel close and tangible. It's inspiring to see how others express similar experience of their loved ones.

I certainly feel nourished by each film and I am looking forward to watching the other strands.

https://www.fringeofcolour.co.uk/nourish