AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange, the award-winning documentary series on art, life and culture across the African diaspora, is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Unified around a single theme of Black art, its production company Black Public Media (BPM) and WORLD Channel are presenting a slate of powerful projects about Black and African culture starting April 3, 2023. The series is co-presenting with American Public Television.
This year's season takes a deep dive into the worlds of dance and art with films that explore leaders in those fields. "When we created AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange, it was our hope that we would be able to bring stories of modern Black life to public media audiences and help augment viewers’ ideas of what Black life is and can be," says Leslie Fields-Cruz, BPM executive director and AfroPoP executive producer. “Witnessing the series reach its 15th season, a landmark that is the result of the work and drive of so many people over the years, is an awe-inspiring and humbling moment that fills me with great gratitude.”
Here are three films from the upcoming season that shouldn't be missed.
Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters
The masterpiece ballet, D-Man in the Waters, was first performed by the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company in 1989 in response to the devastating impact the AIDS crisis had on its members and friends. Decades later, former company member turned dance professor and film director Rosalynde LeBlanc, along with Tom Hurwitz, works to bring the dance back to life with contemporary students born well after the height of the global health crisis.
Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters on WORLD Channel, Monday, April 3, 2023.
Queen Kidjo
This enlightening exploration of the career and global impact of international music superstar and activist Angélique Kidjo. The film brings music lovers behind the scenes with Angélique as she performs, records and reminiscences about her trailblazing musical career. Music giants such as Alicia Keys, Yo-Yo Ma, Youssou N’Dour, Yemi Alade, Peter Gabriel, Ziggy Marley and more reflect on her legacy and influence on the global music scene.
Queen Kidjo premieres on WORLD Channel Monday, April 10, 2023.
The Sound of Masks
Director Sara CF de Gouveia unveils the intimate and intricate Mapiko, a traditional masked dance done exclusively by male members of the Makonde community of northern Mozambique and the prize-winning dancer, Atanásio Nyusi, who worked to keep the custom alive. This up-close look at the tradition of Mapiko serves as a window into the colonial history and struggle for liberation in Mozambique, is stands as an homage to Nyusi who passed away in 2022.
The Sound of Masks premieres on WORLD Channel, Monday, April 24, 2023.
AfroPop, Season 15 streams beginning April 3, 2023 on WORLDChannel.org, WORLD Channel and Black Public Media's YouTube channels, plus all station-branded PBS platforms.
