Once again South Africa is held in high regard at the FiSahara Film Festival, a Western Saharwi Festival in Tindouf. Now in its 11th edition, the festival, known as FiSahara, aims to both raise awareness of the plight of the refugees, displaced from their native Western Sahara for nearly four decades by an unlawful occupation, and to empower them to tell their own story through film by leaving a lasting legacy of film-making skills and equipment in the camps.
This year’s festival will hold a special tribute to Mandela with specially chosen films, workshops and a performance by legendary South African musician Jonas Mosa Gwangwa. Fittingly Nelson Mandela showed great solidarity with the Saharawi whose struggle he described as one “to achieve the freedom and self-determination that are rightfully theirs.” The Department of Arts and Culture has been participating at FISAHARA for six years in succession since 2009. Our participation is informed by the strong political and cultural ties between the two countries, due to South Africa’s stance and principled support for the Western Sahara cause for self-determination.
South Africa has been declared a ‘’Country of Honour’’ in recognition of our 20 Years Freedom and of Democracy celebrations. Since the first year of participation, the Department of Arts and Culture has coordinated and facilitated participation of a number of local filmmakers to travel to Western Sahara and be part of the festival.
Enquiries: Mack Lewele
Cell: 082 450 5076
Tel: 012 441 3083
For more information about FiSahara or to book your place visit http://www.festivalsahara.org/index.php/en or email vuelos@festivalsahara.org
