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Another Giant Step For South African Cinema
Kush Khoza, 08-Mar-2006 19:46

the international climate for South African cinema has never been better. Or so it would seem from the spate of attention that our feature films have been garnering. The good news is that documentaries too are sharing in the limelight. The prestigious Milan Festival of African, Asian & Latin American Cinema has selected the South African production GIANT STEPS (2005, 52min, DV) for participation in its official documentary competition.

lefifi tladi (photo aryan kaganof)

GIANT STEPS is an Afrocentric approach to Blackness Now! Dashiki poet Lefifi Tladi guides the audience on a journey of consciousness, analysing and interpreting the meaning of independence as opposed to freedom. He is accompanied on this radical exploration by the cream of South African poets, musicians, dancers and visual artists, including Zim Ngqawana, Don Laka, Kgafela oa Magogodi, Lesego Rampolokeng, Afurakan, Mac Manaka, Thabo Mashishi, Moshe Maboe, Moeketsi Koena and Motlhabane Mashiangwako.

GIANT STEPS is a moving tribute to its co-director, Bra’ Geoff Mphakati, who passed away tragically during the filming of this, his first documentary. Bra’ Geoff Mphakati was a tireless cultural worker who shepherded a generation of musicians, fine artists and writers from his home in Mamelodi. The likes of Don Laka and Vusi Mahlasela cut their jazz teeth at his Pretoria Jazz Appreciation society meetings.

Lefifi Tladi was mentored by Bra’ Geoff after he was kicked out of school for being a “stupid”. Lefifi, inspired by The Last Poets, formed Dashiki, a cultural ensemble that became closely allied to Steve Biko and the Black Consciousness Movement. In 1976 Lefifi went into exile.

bra’ geoff mphakati (photo ruby savage)

GIANT STEPS is a documentary that sees Bra’ Geoff and Lefifi re-united, the two of them taking a generation of younger poets, musicians and artists on a journey of consciousness that is an afrocentric approach to blackness now. Taking poart in this exploration are the likes of Kgafela oa Magogodi, Lesego Rampolokeng, Mac Manaka, Zim Ngqawana and Afurakan. Bra’ Geoff passed away unexpectedly on the fourth day of shooting Giant Steps, which is his first documentary as director. The film was completed by co-director Aryan Kaganof, whose 2002 documentary WESTERN 4.33, won the first prize at the Milan festival. GIANT STEPS is produced by Michelle Wheatley and Ziyanda Ngcaba for Reflex Motion Pictures and was broadcast twice by the SABC.

this article first published by kush