COLONIAL LEGACIES

Colonial Legacies is a documentary project led by the Urunani Network, born out of intercultural exchanges between network members which revealed that the history of colonization is not experienced in the same way across countries, and that perceptions surrounding decolonial issues differ greatly from one territory to another. This diversity of memories represents a richness that urgently deserves to be documented and shared.

It is a multi-territory collective documentary project filmed across several member countries of the Urunani Network. The project travels through the countries of the network to explore both the visible and invisible traces left by colonization: administrative buildings, coastal forts, monuments, archives, but also oral memories passed down by elders and the everyday lived experiences of communities.

Each country gives rise to an independent local documentary capsule, which becomes part of a broader main film, offering both a unique and collective perspective on Africa’s colonial legacy.

The project aims to produce a 60 to 90-minute documentary accompanied by local capsules of 8 to 12 minutes each, giving a voice to local actors activists, communities, and young people while involving historians, guides, and elders to ensure the accuracy and depth of the narratives. An ethical charter governs the entire process in order to guarantee respect for filmed participants and the quality of the content produced.

The documentary will be complemented by an interactive digital educational guide designed for schools, universities, and associations, and will be distributed through Pan-African and international festivals as well as digital platforms.

Objectives

General Objective
To produce a multi-territory documentary that highlights the diversity of colonial narratives across member countries of the network by giving a voice to local actors and creating an educational and cultural tool for present and future generations.

Specific Objectives

• Document local narratives of colonization within member countries of the network by showcasing emblematic sites and testimonies from local actors.

• Involve historians, guides, and elders in the storytelling process to ensure scientific rigor and strong cultural grounding.

• Produce a digital educational guide intended for schools, universities, and associations.

• Ensure broad dissemination of the documentary through Pan-African and international festivals, as well as digital platforms.

• Strengthen the capacities of local network actors in storytelling, cultural mediation, and heritage promotion.

Colonial Legacies is intended for young people, teachers, researchers, associations, and cultural and educational partners. The project pursues three complementary ambitions: strengthening collective memory, encouraging intercultural dialogue between network members and communities, and contributing to the promotion of African historical and cultural heritage.

By the end of the project, fifty local network actors will have been trained and actively involved in the process, strengthening their role as cultural mediators within their communities.