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Motherland

  • 2010
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
83
YOUR RATING
Motherland (2010)
Motherland is a film passage, which sweeps the continent of Africa. A bold empowering sophisticated story of Africa, which in progressive terms looks at Africa's past, present and future. The Sequel to the multi-award winning 500 Years Later
Play trailer2:48
2 Videos
4 Photos
Documentary

Motherland is the most powerful documentary on Africa. Fusing history, culture, politics, and contemporary issues, Motherland sweeps across Africa to tell a new story of a dynamic continent.... Read allMotherland is the most powerful documentary on Africa. Fusing history, culture, politics, and contemporary issues, Motherland sweeps across Africa to tell a new story of a dynamic continent. From the glory and majesty of Africa's past through its complex history. Africa as you ha... Read allMotherland is the most powerful documentary on Africa. Fusing history, culture, politics, and contemporary issues, Motherland sweeps across Africa to tell a new story of a dynamic continent. From the glory and majesty of Africa's past through its complex history. Africa as you have never seen it. From multi-award winning director 'Alik Shahadah (500 Years Later.)

  • Director
    • Owen Alik Shahadah
  • Writer
    • Owen Alik Shahadah
  • Stars
    • Molefi Kete Asante
    • Amiri Baraka
    • Harry Belafonte
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.5/10
    83
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Owen Alik Shahadah
    • Writer
      • Owen Alik Shahadah
    • Stars
      • Molefi Kete Asante
      • Amiri Baraka
      • Harry Belafonte
    • 8User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Videos2

    Motherland
    Trailer 2:48
    Motherland
    Motherland - A film by Owen Alik Shahadah
    Trailer 2:41
    Motherland - A film by Owen Alik Shahadah
    Motherland - A film by Owen Alik Shahadah
    Trailer 2:41
    Motherland - A film by Owen Alik Shahadah

    Photos3

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast44

    Edit
    Molefi Kete Asante
    • Self
    Amiri Baraka
    Amiri Baraka
    • Self
    Harry Belafonte
    Harry Belafonte
    • Self
    Tony Browder
    • Self
    Zweli Buthekzi
    • Zulu Dancer
    Amilcar Cabral
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Ngcebo Cele
    • Zulu dancer
    Sibongiseni Chamane
    • Enslaved African 2
    Mohammad Ibn Chambas
    • Self
    Chen Chimutengwende
    • Self
    Omowale Clay
    • Self
    David Commissiong
    • Self
    James Early
    • Self
    Tsedenia Gebremarkos
    • Self
    Kohain Nathanya Halevi
      Ali Moussa Iye
      • Self
      Maulana Karenga
      Maulana Karenga
      • Self
      Nicole Lee
      • Self
      • Director
        • Owen Alik Shahadah
      • Writer
        • Owen Alik Shahadah
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews8

      8.583
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      Featured reviews

      10khepri-neteru-917-814827

      Up to date info,not generic, on Africa's past and present

      Was a great up to date film on Afraka! The visuals was great! Love the insertion of the Amharic language.The best side of the film is the economic chapter, to help people understand what is going with Afraka financially. This should be watched by High School and College kids to help there understand of the continent of Afraka. Afrakans from all over the world, will enjoy this film. A great quote from the film was, that of Malcolm X, on Afrakans hating themselves. And also Black vs African. Black is a made up term that stems from European thought. There is no race that is all one color or even black. Hopefully this film will strike a chord in a lot of minds.
      10parrisjune51

      Fabulous

      I have seen this film several times. I am still fascinated by the content, the color and the score.

      The Motherland is all about the African journey to the present day.Those who see it should leave with an understanding of the past, and hope for the future.

      Even if you are not of African decent, it should be of interest to you to watch. What we do not realize is that the world world is connected in some way. Migration took place and is still taking place, movement of people from one continent to another is happening all the time. Therefore it is in the best interest of most people to understand history and African History.

      I recommend this film is shown in schools, universities and all over the globe.

      Patricia Harrington
      10info-16592

      Add this to be Best of Best collection

      Say it with my people in L.A. and we all agree Wow! they did it with 500 Years Later and now again? Wow and Wow. While 500 Years Later completely destroys the myth of history is in the past and that slavery was a long time ago. This film repositions the image of Africa in such a bold and progressive way. The same formula as 500 years Later. A bunch of educated Black folk from all areas (many academics verse artist and silly celebrities) speaking on the different areas of Africa.

      I particularly like the final message of the film, which I will not disclose. But It is funny how when I watch films on Africa I always came away feeling sad. Now these films I don't know who made them. But when I watch Motherland it discusses things good and bad but yet I do not come away feeling sorry for Africa, why is that. Maybe because this film is made and produced by conscious African people. Who really identify with the continent or the African people culturally. And it shows, because when you watch this film, just like 500 Years Later, you realize only an African director would have made these directions in the questions asked to the way the history is projected.

      Well done, what next? Ill do my part and tell everyone about this project.
      10juneparris5

      A film to see

      What a wonderful piece of art from Shahadah and his team. For those of you who want to see the truth about Africa then this is the film to see.

      It is a combination of knowledge and experience from the director and some of the best intellectuals minds of African decent. It is suitable for people of all ages and cultures. I recommend this film to all audiences.

      Shahadah has done it again. His usual quest for the truth is evident in this work. Films about Africa have never been approached in this context.

      I congratulate the directors , the writers and the actors that have all made this work of art.
      10chicanestar

      The most concise, polished cinematic representation of the African continent to date!!

      THE best doc film i have seen on representing the continent of Africa. A portrayal of the Africa people which educates, enlightens, empowers and necessarily criticises all areas of the 'Motherland'. A must see! For once Africa is represented with pride, passion and sophistication - we see the picture of Africa as it really is, and uniquely this is at last the story of Africa told BY Africans. This is the perfect sequel to 500 years later, and collectively these films address key underlying problems within the African psyche, both on the continent and in the diaspora. But crucially not only does Motherland present these issues, it offers ways of resolution through constructive criticism and the systematic presentation of the aspects of African history that are so commonly omitted by other parts of the world.

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      Related interests

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      Documentary

      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        The producers decided to remove the interview with Desmond Tutu after his negative remarks regarding Zimbabwe. The director felt his stance in Africa was not in line with the Pan-Africanism the film promotes.
      • Quotes

        Barack Obama: The world will be what you make of it, you have the power to hold your leaders accountable and build institutions that serve the people.

        Barack Obama: You can conquer disease and make change from the bottom up. You can do it, yes you can.

      • Connections
        Follows 500 Years Later (2005)
      • Soundtracks
        KwaMashu
        Written by Owen Alik Shahadah

        Performed by Ocacia

        Courtesy of SoulJazzFunk Records, a Division of Halaqah Films

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      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • March 25, 2010 (Norway)
      • Countries of origin
        • United States
        • United Kingdom
      • Languages
        • English
        • Amharic
        • Zulu
        • Akan
        • Arabic
        • Swahili
        • Hausa
      • Also known as
        • Mère Afrique
      • Filming locations
        • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
      • Production company
        • Halaqah Media
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      Edit
      • Budget
        • $2,000,000 (estimated)
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        • 2h 3m(123 min)
      • Color
        • Color
      • Aspect ratio
        • 2.35 : 1

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