A vital story of the relationship between three women and how spiritual consciousness provides deep connections between them, reflecting on the ways African identify functions across the diaspora.

In 2001, a film was released from Tanzania titled Maangamizi: The Ancient One, directed by Martin Mhando, in collaboration with Ron Mulvihill, and written by Queenae Mulvihill. It is a film that explores the breadth of African consciousness and spiritual heritage through the story of three women: a doctor, her patient, and the ancestral spirit who unites them. However, despite being recognized by prestigious international awarding bodies — the film has remained virtually unseen upon the continent, a fate too common for profound pieces of African film history.

In presenting the film, the Barbican celebrates its re-emergence by inviting Tanzanian audio-visual collective Ajabu Ajabu, to share their experience of helping to build audiences for the film across Africa and their work in community exhibition in Tanzania.

Presented as part of Cinema Rediscovered on Tour, a Watershed project in collaboration with Black Cinema Project, Ajabu Ajabu and Hyde Park Picturehouse with support from BFI awarding funds from The Lottery and MUBI.

Book your tickets here