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The God's Must be Crazy
Main composer of this film being John Boshoff, but using a lot to traditional African musical instruments. Popular musical works from this film include Shosholoza a traditional South African song, and music played on a thumb piano. Due to being classified as a slapstick comedy by the director, but by viewers saw as a cultural appropriation of the African culture.https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/28/arts/film-view-is-the-gods-must-be-crazy-only-a-comedy.html -
Out of Africa
Is a story that portrays more of the life of white Americans in living Africa. Music composed by John Barry mixes orchestral music and traditional African tunes to create the ambiance of being in Africa. An example of this is the piece “Karen’s Journey/Siyawe.” This music of this film is praised to be one of the best film scores ever written. This film really brings together western and African culture beautifully. https://moviemusicuk.us/2015/12/24/out-of-africa-john-barry/ -
Coming to America
Music composed by Nile Rodgers, incorporates traditional African-American music and African music style. The most iconic song from this film “Soul Glo” truly shows the African-American culture. Overall the film and music are portrayed as a fight to portray Africa as this “modern” place during the ’80s. Although really various places in Africa were struggling. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/feb/03/marvel-black-panther-chadwick-boseman-michael-b-jordan -
Sarafina
Composers Mbongeni Ngema and Hugh Masekela did a wonderful job of creating one of the first musicals about Africa that truly depicts the history of the Zulu culture of South Africa with songs like “Freedom is Coming Tomorrow” and “Vuma Diozi Lami”. The use of music helps describe the life of the Soweto uprising of 1976 that was occurring. Sarafina is a film that is important in understanding African culture.
https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/26/theater/stage-south-african-sarafina.html -
Lion King
The Lion king composed by Elton John, Tim Rice, and Hans Zimmer includes classic hits like Circle of Life”, and “Hakuna Matata.”Music of this film has inspiration coming from the continent of Africa and specifically East Africa. This music not only plays a part by telling the narrative of the storyline but also informing viewers about the culture of Africa. A soundtrack that people all around the world recognize and love.
https://ohmy.disney.com/insider/2016/09/17/making-the-lion-king/ -
Hotel Rwanda
The introduction of diegetic music of “Mama Ararira” by Afro Celt Sound System sets the scene with diegetic music being used to create a powerful environment of what is happening in the narrative world. Other composers, Rupert Gregson-Williams and Andrea Guerra, do a good job of creating music to go along with the film to leave a powerful long-lasting impression on viewers about the history behind the Rwandan Genocide.
http://sensiblereason.com/black-hawk-down-and-hotel-rwanda-the-use-of-sound/ -
The First Grader
The change in Kenya to allow free education in 2002 brought a lot of media attention to the country. This film with music composed by Alex Heffes shares the importance of education in Kenya. With pieces like “Maruge Buys His Uniform” creates music that helps fit the emotion that is felt by children and families in Kenya when they partake in various part of their educational experience. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/movies/the-first-grader-justin-chadwicks-tale-of-kenyan-culture-review.html -
The Good Lie
Music composed by Martin Léon and Trevor Rabin helps emphasize the emotions felt by the characters in this film. From pieces like “The Lost Boys” the use of African drums and traditional string instruments are used to create the emotions for this film based on a true story. Overall this film does a great job of sharing that story of the trials and tribulations that the refugees of Sudan. https://variety.com/2014/film/festivals/toronto-film-review-reese-witherspoon-in-the-good-lie-1201300004/ -
The Wedding Party
The composers Dt. Bayo Adepetun and Michael Ogunlade made sure to create the music to share culture of Nigeria and the cultural differences between tribes using songs like “Ijo Ayo” and “Ja Fun Mi” It portrays the culture in a way that is clear and coherent for all, unlike other Nollywood films. https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/pulse-movie-review-the-wedding-party-assembles-needed-features-for-a-perfect-laugh/t9p8xk7 -
Black Panther
The soundtrack by Kendrick Lamar for this film that includes songs “Opps”, “Pray for Me”, and “Black Panther” shares with listeners the history of Africa and what that history means for African Americans in America. Many people especially African-Americans and Africans in America praise this movie and music highly for sharing the importance of their roots. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/feb/03/marvel-black-panther-chadwick-boseman-michael-b-jordan
