Portal:African cinema/Selected score/27

Nuba Mountains, Southern Sudan

Beats of the Antonov (2014) is a Sudanese-South African documentary film directed by Sudanese filmmaker Hajooj Kuka. The film documents the Sudan–SRF conflict in the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains regions, focusing in particular on the role of music in helping the affected communities to sustain themselves culturally and spiritually in the face of the ongoing conflict.

The film has been widely praised by critics and viewers alike, and won the People's Choice Award for Best Documentary at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, among other numerous awards.

Alsarah in 2016

Alsarah, a Sudanese-American singer, songwriter (of Alsarah & The Nubatones), and ethnomusicologist, curated and gathered field-recordings from the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains people during the filming as part of the soundtrack.  Additional recordings were provided courtesy of DJ Mosquito of the Community Radio Station in Kauda.  

Hajooj said this on the role of music in his film:

Music was the main character. We use music to show what culture is, to show the war and to explain the war; to explain why people are fighting and to show how really winning is keeping your culture. The best way to know someone’s culture is through dance and music. To me that is a major part of our lives.