You are here:

This African Life

Name: This African Life
Released: 2008

No Poster Available

Representation Score

4.4/10

Fair

2008

TV-14

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

This African Life succeeds by centering a local, West African perspective rather than an external observer. By following Sokona Keita, the film provides an authentic look at Malian village life and the influence of its female inhabitants. While the film excels in racial and gendered representation, it lacks visible engagement with LGBTQ+ identities or disability representation. This creates a narrow, albeit culturally deep, focus on socio-economic survival. Ultimately, the film serves as a powerful disruption of traditional developmental narratives, prioritizing the subjective experiences of a underrepresented community over Western-centric clichés.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does This African Life have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses entirely on communal survival and domestic realities. There is no evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or narratives addressing non-cisgender identities.

How does This African Life portray gender?

Good

Sokona Keita provides a central female perspective, giving a young girl significant influence. The narrative prioritizes the lives and voices of women within the village.

How racially and ethnically diverse is This African Life?

Excellent

The film offers exceptional representation by centering a West African community. By using a local subject, it avoids an outsider's gaze and provides authentic ethnic depth.

How does This African Life represent religion and culture?

Good

The story explores the tension between systemic poverty and local resilience. It highlights specific Malian village life, including the importance of local infrastructure like schools and wells.

Does This African Life include disability representation?

Minimal

The narrative does not provide specific information regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Avoids colonialist storytelling clichés by centering a local West African protagonist.
Provides significant influence to female voices through Sokona Keita's perspective.
Offers authentic cultural depth by focusing on specific Malian village realities.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender narratives.
Provides no visible information regarding disability or neurodivergent representation.

Official Synopsis

The story of a little girl with dreams big enough for a whole country. This African Life is seen through the eyes of Sokona Keita, who reveals harsh realities in a West African village, even as she expresses optimism for her future. Nana Kenieba has a school and a clean well, and that makes it better off than most villages in Mali, one of the poorest countries in the world. Sokona takes the viewer on an inside tour of the town, and unveils the lives of the women and children who struggle with daily survival.

How are these scores produced? →