Theater am Olgaeck; Afrika Filmfestival - Soundtrack to a coup d’etat

In the organizer's words:

Soundtrack to a coup d'etat

Description:

In the early 1960s, more and more African states rose up against the European colonial powers and fought for their independence. While the Soviet Union and other socialist countries supported the liberation movements, the USA and its Western allies reacted with suspicion. Their main interest was in the valuable natural resources, which they did not want to lose control of.

American influence took on unusual forms: Jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie were sent to African countries to paint a positive picture of the West with their music. At the same time, personalities of the US civil rights movement such as Malcolm X or the musicians Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach showed solidarity with the African freedom struggles.

In his film, director Johan Grimonprez takes a fascinating look at this era marked by decolonization and the Cold War, with a particular focus on the Congo. Here, Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the independent country, was quickly targeted by the CIA and the former colonial power Belgium, which deliberately attempted to plunge the young nation into chaos.

As gripping as a political thriller, full of artfully edited archive footage and accompanied by the jazz sounds of the time, the film unfolds a multi-layered picture. It draws on surprising historical sources - from the audio diaries of Nikita Khrushchev to the memoirs of Lumumba's companion Andrée Blouin and the essays of Congolese author In Koli Jean Bofane.