THE AFRICANS: New Gods
THE AFRICANS: New Gods
The Africans: New Gods. Regards the many religions of Africa and the roles they play there. Edited unmixed program originally shot on film.
THE AFRICANS: New Gods
CU bright yellow flower, focus to statue of Virgin Mary on side of Catholic church; EST shots of a monastery in Zaire, now deserted; VO discussion of alternatives for disenchanted Christians in Africa, Islam, traditional religions, secularism.
THE AFRICANS: New Gods
Pan across landscape to a Kimbangu church; MS/CUs of a minister preaching Christianity, a reenactment with a man costumed as a military despot emphasizes that traditional Christianity serves the interests of Colonialist and Imperialist oppressors. In the re-enactment, an African minister of independent Christianity is imprisoned by Belgian colonial authorities and his followers arrested; VO - the martyrdom of this leader spawned a major movement of African religion (martyrdom).
THE AFRICANS: New Gods
Shots inside the cell of the martyred minister, Simon Kimbangu.
THE AFRICANS: New Gods
DO NOT USE: Still of the minister, Simon Kimbangu in his cell.
THE AFRICANS: New Gods
Host Mr. Mazrui points out that the cell reflects upon the oppressive use of Christianity in African colonialism, discusses other Christian African rebels.
THE AFRICANS: New Gods
TLS/MSs parade of African Christian Kimbangu faithful through streets of town in Zaire.
THE AFRICANS: New Gods
Host Ali Mazrui discusses the growth of these sects of Christianity in Africa.
THE AFRICANS: New Gods
TLS/MSs parade of African Christian Kimbangu faithful through streets of town in Zaire. MSs of women in green & white uniforms of the Kimbanguist faith placing monetary donations into a basket as they march past, a man counts the bills.
THE AFRICANS: New Gods
INT shots large Kimbangu mission building; host speculates on the racial divide as a problem for Christianity in Africa during colonial period.