BY SUSAN JOHNES

Ordinarily, activism comes in very many forms and dimensions. Faithful to this reality Mahen Bonetti a hardworking and visionary woman voices her passion for the African art in the diaspora through a platform to showcase films.

Bonetti, a Sierra Leone Native, has been on this journey for more than two decades. The pioneer and executive director of the African Film Festival came up with a model to share the culture of African Film with the international audience.

Her non-profit organization uses Cinema as an ideal arena for fostering a cultural dialogue between Africa and the United States. It is because the African voices in the diaspora experience many challenges away from home she argues.

The need to conform to the new social and economic domain, raising families while trying to make their presence felt has always been a hard nut to crack. Therefore, amplifying the diaspora voices through the power of multi-media is a wonderful way to open up space for filmmakers to tell their unique stories.

Of course, for Ms. Bonetti, the purpose goes beyond providing a structure for perpetuating the works of African Filmmakers. The objective is more about creating linkages between artists with a wider purpose of initiating a discussion about African Cinema abroad.

The mother of one who currently lives in Manhattan drew her inspiration back in time when only pictures and news of hunger-stricken children in Africa could reach the USA and Europe.

Despite residing in America for thirty years, she still wonders why non-Africans told the African story. The one dimension of poverty, suffering, and underdevelopment she agrees may have existed in the past, but she also insists there are many things about Africa especially the rich culture.

In fact, the past experiences made her unhappy, and unlike many people, she chose to do something about it to change the long-standing perception. For her, it’s all about an alternative opinion by the Africans themselves.

Besides her activism, Mahen Bonetti talks of her desire to celebrate the contribution of Africa to the rest of the world. A genuine love for her motherland acting as the force behind all the work she does towards lifting Africa to the next level.

Bonetti advises filmmakers to tell stories in their correct perspective and shake off the need comply with donor demands. She says her knowledge is of another Africa even though the world sees it in a different light.

Across the year her organization has programs and workshops as an imprint of giving back to the society. They involve different people including children whom she says harnessing their potential at an early age is critical.

The former student of Bradford College and New York University uses her background of media communication in graduate studies to encourage progress while entertaining and educating the masses.

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