The first part of this book traces the development of African cinema, from colonization to Afrocentrism, through themes such as the decolonization of the imagination and the quest for legendary African origins. The second part of the book analyzes specific films, particularly through narrative and in terms of their African specificity. Finally, the author explores the social and economic contexts of the African cinema and television industry.
Olivier Barlet
was born in Paris in 1952. He has translated a number of books on Africa and of African authors, and is also the author of different books himself. He is a member of the Syndicat français de la critique de cinéma and has been a film correspondent for Africa international, Afrique-Asie and Continental, and now for Afriscope and Africultures.
He is in charge of the Images plurielles collection on cinema for L›Harmattan Publishing House. His book entitled «Les Cinémas d›Afrique noire : le regard en question», which won the Prix Art et Essai 1997 from the Centre national de la Cinématographie, has been published in the collection and has been translated into English under the title «African Cinemas, Decolonizing the Gaze» (Zed Books, London, 2000), as well as into German and Italian. Olivier Barlet was 2004-1997 Chief Editor of Africultures, an African cultural journal that features a paper edition and a website (www. africultures.com) and is now in charge of the internet development.
He has also written numerous articles on African film for Africultures and in various journals, and is a member of the African Federation of film critics (www.africine.org) through the french Afrimages association. His Books include: Cinema of Black Africa, African Cinemas of the Years 2000.
