Watch 500 Years Later

500 Years Later is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary exploring the legacy of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and its impact on contemporary African society. The film, released in 2005, is directed by Owen 'Alik Shahadah and features interviews with prominent scholars and activists, including Kolfi Adu, Sona Jobarteh, and Hunter Adams III.

The movie begins by laying out the brutal history of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, which saw millions of Africans forcibly taken from their homelands to work on plantations in the Americas. The film argues that the legacy of this period is still felt today and has contributed to the ongoing poverty and oppression of African people.

Throughout the film, the focus shifts to contemporary Africa, where the effects of colonialism and slavery are still being felt. The movie interviews a number of prominent African thinkers and activists, including Kolfi Adu and Sona Jobarteh. Through their voices, we hear about the struggles of African people to regain their dignity and reclaim their culture after centuries of oppression.

One of the main themes of the film is the importance of cultural heritage in the face of oppression. The movie argues that the slave trade not only physically removed Africans from their homelands, but it also robbed them of their cultural identity. As a result, the film argues that a vital part of any struggle for liberation must involve reclaiming African culture and heritage.

The movie also explores the role of religion in African society, and in particular, the impact of Christianity and Islam. The film argues that these religions were used as tools of oppression by colonial powers, and that they have contributed to the erasure of traditional African spirituality.

Another important topic explored in the film is the concept of neocolonialism, the idea that Western powers continue to exert control over Africa through economic and political means. The movie argues that this form of oppression is just as damaging as the physical violence of the slave trade and the colonial period.

Throughout the film, the director uses a combination of interviews, archival footage, and dramatizations to tell the story of Africa's struggle for liberation. The movie is filled with powerful images and moments, such as when a group of African schoolchildren recite the words they have learned about the slave trade in their textbooks or when a young woman describes the pain of being told that her natural hair is "unprofessional".

Overall, 500 Years Later is a powerful and important documentary that sheds light on the ongoing struggles of African people to reclaim their heritage and assert their dignity. Through its compelling storytelling and passionate interviews, the film makes a compelling case for the continuing importance of the fight against oppression in all its forms.

500 Years Later is a 2005 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.