United States of Africa
African hip hop pioneer Didier Awadi is on a quest to craft an album that pays tribute to the great black revolutionary leaders and their struggle to realize a dream: a united, independent Africa. In this epic musical and political journey, Awadi visits some 40 countries to collaborate with hip hop activist artists, including Smockey (Burkina Faso), M-1 of Dead Prez (United States) and ZuluBoy (South Africa). Featuring a score by Ghislain Poirier, as well as Awadi’s own songs, United States of Africa draws the viewer into one artist’s profound meditation on the power of music and the impact of …
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African hip hop pioneer Didier Awadi is on a quest to craft an album that pays tribute to the great black revolutionary leaders and their struggle to realize a dream: a united, independent Africa. In this epic musical and political journey, Awadi visits some 40 countries to collaborate with hip hop activist artists, including Smockey (Burkina Faso), M-1 of Dead Prez (United States) and ZuluBoy (South Africa).
Featuring a score by Ghislain Poirier, as well as Awadi’s own songs, United States of Africa draws the viewer into one artist’s profound meditation on the power of music and the impact of political engagement—both individual and collective. A hopeful and compelling portrait of a continent whose politically aware youth is refusing to accept the role of victim, the film is a call for Africans to rise up, take a stand and take control of their continent and their destiny.
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directorYanick Létourneau
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participantDidier AwadiSmockeyM 1Zuluboy
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producerYanick LétourneauColette Loumède
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writerYanick LétourneauSébastien TétraultHany Ouichou
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cinematographyGeoffroy BeaucheminAlex Margineanu
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soundRené Portillo
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editingSophie Farkas Bolla
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original musicGhislain Poirier
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sound designMarie-Claude Gagné
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associate producerJohn ChristouHany OuichouNeil BrandtMaryse Chapdelaine
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production managerHany OuichouJohn Christou
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narratorDidier Awadi
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archives researchMichèle Garceau
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researcherStefanie BrantnerEllen TangAngelica LeminhErika GuttMarisa Berry MendezMyriam CadetKate Langley
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production coordinatorNyambura WaruingiClarisse Saint-HillaireJean FugazzaEllen TangLoreley YeowartHélène RegimbalDominique Brunet
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production assistantMouhamet DiakatéBoubaThurlo Basil JansenJarred BeatonBernard AprilIsaiah Mpepele
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additional cameraManuel LapierreYanick LétourneauTrevor
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additional sound recordingPablo VillegasThierry MorlaasStephen Bowen Anderson
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additional editingVictor Simoneau-Helwani
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editing consultantDiego Briceno
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assistant editorMarlène PoulinAbraham LifshitzMariano FrancoEllen TangJimmy Medelin
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opening title sequenceGeorge Fok
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graphic designPierre-Luc Gagnon
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art departmentPhoebe GreenbergGeorge FokVincent ToiPierre-Luc GagnonJF MayrandRenata MoralesMarie-France Barbier
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administratorJohanne Dubuc
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administrative assistantLise Lévesque
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technical coordinatorRichard Cliche
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development producerChristian Medawar
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development executive producerYves Bisaillon
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on-line technical supportDanielle RaymondIsabelle PainchaudPierre Dupont
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mixGeoffrey MitchellLuc Léger
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studio recordingGeoffrey MitchellLuc Léger
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additional studio recordingSébastien Blais-Monpetit
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voice over coachHubert FieldenThor Bishopric
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translationDaniel Isaiah SchacterMark HonronzykAndré Ouadba
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online editorDenis Gathelier
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coloristDenis Gathelier
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titlesGaspard Gaudreau
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legal advisorRemy Khouzam
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production accountantLucie PoulinAudrey Lamontagne
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production insuranceFront Row Insurance Brokers Inc.
Can a hip hop artist be both a politician and a historian? Is Awadi’s album an educational tool? How can an artist avoid hip hop clichés? The film’s final image shows a little boy singing at a garbage dump. What does it signify? Ask students to analyze the lyrics of a hip hop track and to imagine how it can be used in education.
