The interactive experience United States of Africa invites visitors to draw upon a collection of 80 striking video clips, interviews and images from the documentary United States of Africa. By enabling them to create a powerful “video slogan” message, the project urges visitors to examine their own view of Africa as well as that of others.

The experience aims to be at once fun, historical, political and deeply rooted in hip-hop culture.

To come up with their message, visitors are first guided by a phrase generator that helps them formulate their slogan for Africa from among a vast range of possibilities. After writing the slogan, they are invited to choose from a selection of video clips that are thematically linked to the slogan. Once the message is assembled, visitors personalize the images and sound to share a truly unique creation. The video capsule is then saved and becomes part of a collective communication project, where each visitor plays a role both as creator and conveyor of meaning.

Visitors can also watch existing video clips and messages, and share them on social networks. The clips can be sorted by date, popularity and theme, encouraging repeat viewing.

A complement to the film, the interactive experience entices visitors to discover the documentary United States of Africa and to learn about the topics and issues it addresses through news, history books and the voices of African artists.

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.