500 Years Later (2005)

Crime, drugs, HIV/AIDS, poor education, inferiority complex, low expectation, poverty, corruption, poor health, and underdevelopment plagues people of African descent globally - Why? 500 ... See full summary »

Director:

Owen Alik Shahadah (as Owen 'Alik Shahadah)

Writer:

M.K. Asante (as M.K. Asante Jr.)

Stars:

Kolfi Adu, Sona Jobarteh, Hunter Adams III

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kolfi Adu	...	Himself - African Storyteller
Sona Jobarteh	...	Herself - Kora Player (as Maya Jobarteh)
Hunter Adams III	...	Himself - Neuroscientist
Hakim Adi	...	Himself - Historian (as Dr. Hakim Adi)
Toyin Agbetu	...	Himself - Ligali Media
Mukasa Afrika	...	Himself - Teacher at Lotus Academy
Ras Kumasi	...	Himself - Afruika Bantu School Teacher
Adisa Alkebulan	...	Himself - Lecturer (as Dr. Adisa Alkebulan)
Molefi Kete Asante	...	Himself - Professor Temple University (as Dr. Molefi Asante)
Afrar Afriyea	...	Himself - Afruika Bantu Saturday School
M.K. Asante	...	Himself - Writer (as M.K. Asante Jr.)
Sister Aya	...	Herself - Afruika Bantu Saturday School
Amiri Baraka	...	Himself - Poet and Activist (archive sound)
David Commissiong	...	Himself - Pan-African Affairs Barbados
Kevin Farmer	...	Himself - Barbadian Historian

Storyline

Crime, drugs, HIV/AIDS, poor education, inferiority complex, low expectation, poverty, corruption, poor health, and underdevelopment plagues people of African descent globally - Why? 500 years later from the onset of Slavery and subsequent Colonialism, Africans are still struggling for basic freedom-Why? Filmed in five continents, and over twenty countries, 500 Years Later engages the authentic retrospective voice, told from the African vantage-point of those whom history has sought to silence by examining the collective atrocities that uprooted Africans from their culture and homeland. 500 Years Later is a timeless compelling journey, infused with the spirit and music of liberation that chronicles the struggle of a people who have fought and continue to fight for the most essential human right - freedom.

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Plot Keywords:

african | slavery | african diaspora | slave trade | independent filmmaking | 

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Taglines:

Until lions tell their story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 February 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

500 lat pózniej

Filming Locations:

Accra, Ghana

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Halaqah Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the largest screenings in film history occurred when this movie was shown at the Million More Movement in Washington, D.C., on 15 October 2005.

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Quotes

Maulana Karenga: The other thing they try to do is make us responsible for our own enslavement. And here they collapse three kinds of people: perpetrators, collaborators and victims. You can't do that!"
Maulana Karenga: Not just burning some small, thatched roof houses but destroying towns, cities, villages, great works of art, great literature's and the people that made that art and literature! Songs we would never hear! Histories we would never know! Art we would never see! Because the European had the capacity to destroy and...

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Connections

References Sankofa (1993)

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Soundtracks

Emerton
Performed by Mighty Gabby (as Gabby)
Written by Mighty Gabby (as Gabby)
Courtesy of Ice records

User Reviews

Good Work

This film was an excellent work of art. I does not only provide factual information but allows the expression of the individual's opinion .

This is a film is a motivational for those who continue to struggle with some of the unfortunate events of life. It provides hope for our future generations.

500 Years Later captures the history, nobility, and victorious consciousness of African peoples all over the world. It is stunning in its breadth, magnificent in its depth, and brilliant in execution. This is sure to become a classic film

I look forward to the continutaion of this film

Joanne