Rohie N'DowOn Saturday 14 September 2024, the Senegalese Community Leeds in partnership with Hyde Park Picture House, hosted a community film screening event at St Aidan’s Church Hall, Elford Place West, Harehills.
Last year we screened a Senegalese Film called “Mandabi” directed by Ousmane Sembene, again supported by Hyde Picture House. This year the film screened was called The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun “La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil” which is a story about a little Senegalese girl called Sili who is paraplegic and is also a beggar on the streets of Dakar, the capital of Senegal.
Sili confidently decides to beat all obstacles to become the only girl to sell the “Le Soleil” a national newspaper in a very competitive world of young male newspaper vendors. The Film was written and directed by Djibril Diop Mambety and released in 1999.
Introductions were made by Makhame Sene and Rohie N’Dow on behalf of the Senegalese Community Leeds. Councillor Lord Mayor Abigail Marshall Kartung also gave a brief speech followed by Wendy Cook, Head of Cinema at Hyde Park Picture House. She let everyone know about what Hyde Park Picture House has to offer an emphasis was made on Cinema Africa, a strand at the picture house screening African Films from across the African continent.
0ther special guests at the event included councillors from the local east Leeds area Cllr Asghar Khan, Cllr Nkele Manaka and Cllr Luke Farley the event was attended by Sharon Kaur Jandu from Yorkshire Asian Business Association who also sponsored the gift bags.
The film’s screening event started at 1.40pm and ran for approximately 45 minutes, guests received a bag of popcorn to eat while watching the film. When the film finished each guest received a plate of Senegalese snacks which included a miniature meat pie, beignets and a cupcake. There was also a vegetarian option on offer all served with a traditional African Non-alcoholic drink of Hibiscus juice served cold, bottled water, canned drinks, tea and coffee were also available.
Children who attended the event also received a gift bag containing a story book, sweets, a glow stick. Lord Mayor Abigail Marshall Katung gave each child a 2024 lapel badge and a pair of sunglasses similar to what Sili wore in the film.
An estimated 105 people came and watched the film from various communities in and around Leeds. People from the Gambian, South African, Yemeni, Congolese, Eritrean, Nigerian, British, Zimbabwean, Senegalese and Kenyan communities attended the event.
The event came to a close with Senegalese music playing in the background. Everyone said what a brilliant film and afternoon it had been, and people were asking when will the next community film event is going to be!
