SPEAK MY SISTER

“We work the land and we dance. That’s what we know how to do” Maria explains in this musical portrait of three generations of women living in southern Mozambique. She danced Xingomana since her early childhood and now twists and stamps her feet in the sand alongside her daughters and grand-daughters. Through stories, song and dance, this film weaves a portrait of women’s lives over half a century and celebrates the strength and spirit reflected in their dance.

The ramshackled narrow streets of Mafalala have been filled by migrants for generations. The Tufo group portrayed here brought their women's song and dance tradition from Nampula in the north. They have changed over their years in Mozambiques capital Maputo and so too has their tradition.

Four young Mozambican women use hip hop to fight for women's rights and equality in the capital, Maput. This film was made by three students of the Instituto Superior de Arte e Cultura (ISArC), Lutegardo, Alexandre Pita and Gabrial Pita as one of the 6 films that make up the series "Fala Minha Irma' (Speak My Sister) celebrating the power of women's creative voice for social change in Mozambique.

Cristina's life has been marked by sexual violence since childhood. From growing up an orphan in her aunt and uncles' house and then, when she fled, in the streets of the town she ran to, violence and sexual abuse persecuted her. It was through dance that she came to face and overcome her wounds, finding her own victory over her aggressors. In this film, made by 5 of her friends, also artists, Cristina tells her story. When there are no words, she uses the physical language of dance and song. The fellow students from the University of Arts and Culture in Maputo filmmakers who researched and produced this film, give her space to share her story in her own words, listening where others haven’t. They also listen to Cristina’s current social circle of young dancers, choreographers and artists, and hear of the impact of such a challenging start in life. And together they celebrate the power of creative expression that has helped Cristina and others take the power from the violence in their lives and continue to refuse to give up on the beauty of life. Here, Cristina, the Victorious Ballerina, and her friends explore how music and dance gave hope to find a way out and show others who are going through the same difficulties that life can improve.

F.t (Celia Madime), e o seu marido Black Cross (Geraldo General) vivem nos subúrbios de Maputo, a sua relação, a sua vida e os seus sonhos todos ligado ao mundo de hip-hop da sua cidade. O filme retrata a vida desse casal, como criam o balanco entre ganhando o seu pão de cada dia, e todo o seu tempo livre no estúdio a compor e gravar as suas musicas que inspira os jovens dos subúrbios a acreditar nos seus puderes. O pesquisador / realizador queria refletir na vida por trás duma parceria criativa e celebrar como um homem e uma mulher jovem podem unir na sua criatividade, não, como ele muitas vezes observa, com a mulher apoiando os sonhos do homen.