Program Series: Imperfect Journey: Haile Gerima and His Comrades

Sankofa

The word sankofa comes from the Akan West African saying about going back as a means of moving forward. It is also the name of the griot whose drumming and invocations are entwined throughout Gerima’s masterful epic that offers a searing counter-narrative about the Atlantic slave trade.

Sat, Oct 2, 2021 | 7:30pm PT

David Geffen Theater

Tickets are Presale to Members only and will become available to the public on August 2, 2021 at 5:00 PM

Sankofa

Featuring Haile Gerima in conversation with Raafi Rivero, Daniel E. Williams, Bradford Young, moderated by Ava DuVernay.

The word sankofa comes from the Akan West African saying about going back as a means of moving forward. It is also the name of the griot whose drumming and invocations are entwined throughout Gerima’s masterful epic that offers a searing counter-narrative about the Atlantic slave trade. African American model Mona (Oyafunmike Ogunlano) is on a photo shoot at the ruins of a Cape Coast “slave castle” in present-day Ghana when a wrong turn sends her to the sugar cane fields of the American South and life as an 18th-century enslaved person. Offering a complex, humane portrait of a persecuted people fighting their oppressors, Sankofa... challenges cinematic archetypes. A film of such import to Gerima that he named his Washington, D.C. bookstore/base after it, Sankofa privileges the voice of the subjugated. Director: Haile Gerima. Cast: Kofi Ghanaba, Oyafunmike Ogunlano, Alexandra Duah, Nick Medley. 1993. 125 minutes. USA/Ghana/Burkina Faso/UK/Germany/Ethiopia. Color. Akan, English. DCP.

All film screenings of Imperfect Journey: Haile Gerima and His Comrades are available here.

Know Before You Go

  • Plan your Visit

    Location

    The Academy Museum and its theaters are located at 6067 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036

    Parking

    Self-parking, accessible parking, and electric vehicle charging options are available. See below for our parking structure information and view the parking page for further details.

    Ride-Share Drop Off

    Roddenberry Lane, entrance on Fairfax Ave.

    LACMA's Pritzker Parking Garage

    6000 W 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90036, entrance on 6th St.
    5am–10pm
    $20 ($12 after 8pm entry) 
    Accessible spots on P1, adjacent to elevators
    EV charging stations on P1 and P2

    Petersen Automotive Museum Garage

    744 Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036, entrance on Fairfax Ave. or 8th St.
    6am–11pm
    $24 (first 15 min. free)
    Accessible spots on P1 only; no garage elevator
    EV charging stations on P1

  • Accessibility

    Audio Description

    For visitors who are blind or partially-sighted, audio description devices are available for some digital film screenings on a first-come, first-served basis. 

    Real-time audio descriptions are available for some performances upon request with at least three weeks’ notice, subject to the availability of describers. Email academymuseum@oscars.org to submit your request.

    Closed Captioning

    For visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, in-seat closed captioning or descriptive audio-devices are available for some digital film screenings on a first-come, first-served basis. Please confirm availability at academymuseum@oscars.org before planning your visit. 

    Real-time captioning is available for programs upon request with at least three weeks’ notice, subject to the availability of captioners. Email academymuseum@oscars.org to submit your request.

    Please see our Accessibility page for complete information, including details on our Visual Description Tours, Calm Mornings, and Covid-19 policies.