Akasha Film Difficulty Ranking: 3
If you’re looking for an African film which avoids the stereotypes of focusing on war, poverty, or aids, this film is for you. Akasha is one of the fresh new African films leading the Afro-Bubblegum style; films which portray a fun, frivolous, and fierce Africa. It’s not the Africa portrayed in the media.
From: Sudan, Africa
Watch: Trailer - release date TBC
Next: Wallay, Abouna, Rafiki
Why Watch Akasha?
- For great African comedu
- See how the Sudanese Civil War is affecting daily life
- For an introduction to Afro-Bubblegum
- Experience life in a small Sudanese village
The Breakdown
Akasha starts with Adnan lovingly cleaning his AK-47 assault rifle. It’s his prized possession. He has decorated it with beads and carefully rubs body lotion over it’s frame and gun barrel. He’s even named the gun ‘Nancy’ and has carved the name into the wooden butt of the gun. He pays far more attention to the gun than his real girlfriend.
To her credit, she promptly kicks him out of her house, where he stumbles into Absi, another man wandering around the neighbourhood. After a quick chat, it turns out they have one thing in common: they both want to avoid rejoining the army.
Adnan has been enjoying life away from the army for 3 months – a reward from his Marshall for shooting down an enemy drone. Whereas Absi is just too cool to be troubled by army life. So they spend the entire film trying to dodge their superiors in the army who are out looking for them.
What is Afro-Bubblegum?
Akasha is a perfect example of the Afro-Bubblegum style. The term was coined by Wanuri Kahiu in response to African stories focused on war, poverty, and aids, which are often funded by international aid, grants, and foundations. Instead of focusing on war, poverty, and aids Kahiu encourages African filmmakers to make art that is fun, frivolous, and fierce, to expand the view of what Africa is and who Africans are.
This doesn’t mean that African films have to completely avoid the serious issues. As just like in Akasha, Afro-Bubblegum films tend to have serious backgrounds or contexts (such as the Sudanese Civil War). The difference is that the tone is much more positive.
Firstly they’re a lot more fun – there’s jokes, visual gags, and funny characters. Secondly, the style is different to what we’re used to from Hollywood. The music isn’t just used to provoke emotion and the story-line isn’t hugely structured. Instead the music and story feel more chilled, spontaneous, and unpredictable. It’s truly refreshing.
What to Watch Next
For more Afro-Bubblegum films, check out Rafiki, Stories of our Lives, Kati Kati, Pumzi, and Wallay. You’re in for a lot of fun.
Or if you’re looking for more world comedy, check out:
- Wild Tales from Argentina
- Toni Erdmann from Germany
- Hunt for the Wilderpeople from new Zealand
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