KUMBA: A Celebration of African Short Films

Kumba (a Shona word from Zimbabwe meaning “home”) is a vibrant African short film programme that connects African and Diaspora communities through the power of storytelling. More than just a cinema experience, Kumba is a bridge to home, celebrating identity, culture, and heritage through authentic African narratives.

Curated by Tatenda Jamera of Maona Art, this carefully selected lineup showcases diverse stories that highlight the richness of African traditions and lived experiences, fostering a sense of belonging across continents.

Beutset
Director: Alicia Mendy | 🇸🇳 Senegal | 29 mins | 2024 

When a parasite contaminates all the drinking water in Dakar, pills are developed to neutralise it. But for Alioune, a young man who can no longer afford them, the symptoms – madness and insanity – begin to take hold. As time passes, he realises he has never felt more clear-minded. His journey becomes one of political and spiritual awakening.

The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí
Director: Abbesi Akhamie | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 16 mins | 2024

In the whimsical Pan-African society of Alkebulan, brilliant but overlooked scholar Dr. Constance Moumie discovers her fiancé, Sèyí Àjàyí, is secretly engaged to Princess Ada, sending the town into chaos. With the help of her best friend Bibi, she hatches a bold plan to expose her unfaithful lover at his engagement ceremony, seeking both justice and long-overdue recognition.

Alazar
Director: Beza Hailu Lemma | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 35 mins | 2024

A farming community in Ethiopia is shaken when the body of a family patriarch mysteriously vanishes from his grave. In this deeply moving drama, director Beza Hailu Lemma explores the existential questions that follow, leaving the village searching for meaning in the aftermath.

Bahr
Director: Belal Abusamra | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 8 mins | 2024

Grieving the loss of his wife, a father struggles with faith as he longs for a chance to reconnect with her. Through a poetic journey, Bahr portrays death not as an end, but as a threshold between two worlds.