PROJECTS in the MAKING
The presented projects are projects in the making. They are open for change and your input.
Project 1
Film Equipment Access Pool - Mindelo, Sao Vicent
PROJECT 2
PAM
PROJETO ART DE MINDELO
Project Decsription
PAM- Associacao - Projeto Art de Mindelo is a non-governmental organization which aims to create a platform for art and culture for the youth of Cape Verde. This platform encourages the development of art and culture projects in Mindelo and thereby facilitates an exchange between national and international arts projects (Mindelo - Cabo Verde - international).
Vision
Uniting artists who believe in art as a form of knowledge, value and identity.
Modifiying the cultural landscape of Mindelo to a scenery in which Artists are taking ownership of their projects.
Attracting Artists, young creators in growing phases. Youth at the core of our activities and Girls as central players of our Projects. Taking in mind the power of youth and the significance of gender equality.
having a multiplier effect inspiring new activities
The Space
Objectives
PAM promotes and develops arts and culture for youth in Mindelo, Cape Verde
PAM encourages and stimulates the cultural landscape of Mindelo and shall serve to give logistical and financial assistance for artists in growing phases.
Facilitating artistic exchange between national and international art projects, contributing to the sustainable development of our country – by cherishing and enriching our cultural patrimonial in the forms of expositions, cultural events and workshops.
Cape Verde is a relatively young nation, product of the many different people who landed on its shores during the age of slave trade and colonialism. In order to build their identity and to empower society it is important to give voice to those who, nowadays, inhabit this nation that is so rich yet so unknown to both, the international public as much as to many of its residents.
To make our stories known we set up a project that encourages Cape Verdeans to tell and document our stories in order for our roots and identity not get lost or remain unspoken. People are natural storytellers, however the medium to reach a wider audience is often absent. Filmmaking is still rare in Cape Verde or mostly done from the outsiders. That is why we set up a „film equipment/knowledge access pool“.
The project, called „ Spia bo Oia“ will create room for an authentic portrayal of Cape Verdian life and identity, which is independent from any national and politically-driven media. We will create a film equipment pool, meaning getting cameras, tripods, lighting and sound equipment as well as an editing station. Now interested people have the right to use the equipment and make movies on their own. The usage of the equipment can be done under two conditions first (1) taking part in filmworkshops (in order to learn to use the equipment and how to speak through images) and second (2) the young filmmakers have to make their produced content available to the filmpool community. Uploading their videos to a film pool community website and showing their videos on monthly screenings in Sao Vicente.
> This project in its conceptual and fundraising phase
> Fundraisers and workshop delivers positions are available and wait for input
Mandinga - Fictional Movie
What is Mandinga in Cabo Verde ?
A Carnival group who executes vibrant dances, painted in intense blackness and representing what people associate with African tribal rituals, surfaces during every years Cape Verdean Carnival on the islands of Sao Vicente and recently also the island of Sal.
Mandinga is originally a huge tribe from West- Africa, but solely lends its name to Carnival groups in Cape Verde, other than that does not have a strong connection. The actual idea of the carnival Mandingas in Cape Verde was born out of a coincidence. In the 1960ies West African Cultural groups were travelling to a cultural fair in Portugal. Coming by boat, they had a short stopover in Sao Vicente, their stay prolonged because of some unforeseen circumstances and the cultural group decided to make a show in Cape Verde. This show turned out to be the first inspiration for local Carnival groups to imitate the African mainland dancers.
During the last decades the Mandinga cult has passed through phases of adaption, recreation and growth and has now become a huge movement, being exercised by various groups of the different quarters in Mindelo, Sao Vicente.
Origin of the Mandinga Carnival groups
Mandinga announce Carnival and create parades on the four Sundays before during and after Carnival.
The Spirit of the parade goes on having fun and creating fun. By being loud, dance rough, scare people, drink grog and attract a lot of spectators. Mandingas create their own little parades, which turn into little big mass movements of fun. The Mandinga groups are the proud announcers of the beginning of the Carnival season in Sao Vicente - their pulsating drums and enthusiastic dancers are all-pervading on Cape Verdean streets, letting everybody know - its time for Carnival!
Quem vem ai? E Mandinga!!!
Who comes here? Its the Mandingas!
The Film- Idea
The prominent character of Mandinga shall now serve as a fictional story. Starting from the assumption that the occurence of the Carnival Mandingas is a subconscious quest of Cape Verdeans to be connected and living out African tribal symbolism and celebrating the blackness of their heritage.
Jandira, 11 years old, finds a can of Mandinga colour in her grandmothers house. Her thirst for the real meaning about that colour can only be satisfied by one of her grandmothers famous stories.
The tale begins, and the clever grandmother connects a childrens fairytale of Mandingas origin with a conscious account of Cape Verdean history. The storytelling is constantly interrupted by the everyday happenings in Jandiras life, hence giving inside to Mindelo’s society viewed through the eyes of a 11 year old. Throughout the telling of the story, both, grandmother and daughter gain illumination as the journey through time presents a holisitc understanding of the state of the current societies values.
The movie shall be a contribution to Black consciousness and decolonizig the historical reality. Current youth generations lack objective inquire into mysteries and myth of african indiginous culture which subconsciously inhibits the modern day identity. A fictional story about Mandingas shall give cultural clarity by adressing common questions that arise around the issue, today.
On top of that, these discussion are excluded from school curricula and the emphasize on portugues culture sublminally seeds an inferiority complex upon African Cape Verdean minds.
How to break it:
> Telling the story right
> Speaking in the mothertongue crioul
> Cape Verdean actors and filmcrew
> Highligting the African part of Cape Verdean culture.
> shedding light on identiy stereotypes