A Story from Africa

World Premiere at the 69th Berlinale Forum Expanded

Billy Woodberry's latest film work

Synopsis

Following the 1885 Berlin Conference resolution on the partition of Africa, the Portuguese army uses a talented ensign to register the effective occupation of the territory conquered in 1907 to the Cuamato people, in the south of Angola. A Story from Africa enlivens this rarely seen photographic archive through the tragic tale of Calipalula, the Cuamato nobleman essential to the unfolding of events in this Portuguese pacification campaign.

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What is a Pacification Campaign?

A pacification campaign

is a military operation to control, conquer and settle in a given inhabited region.

In this case:

The Portuguese Empire, in the late 19th century consisting in a few ports along the east and west African coast, emparked in a plan to accompany its european counterparts in the scramble for Africa and led ferocious pacification campaigns into the interior of Angola and Mozambique.

The Cuamato peoples offered legendary resistance for its bravery, intelligence and nobility having fought four battles until completely defeated and colonized.