For OkayAfrica, I spoke to the Beninese star about his directorial debut, his role in A Quiet Place Part II, and on unifying Africans through The Gate of Return Marathon and Festival.

Published Aprill 22nd, 2020

For anyone who saw the 1997 movie Amistad, the memory that remains years later is of a young Djimon Honsou, radiant in the role of Cinqué, a captured Mende tribesman from Sierra Leone who led a revolt against slave traders on the Spanish ship, La Amistad.

Honsou's electrifying performance illustrates the tribulations of Cinqué's quest for freedom. In one memorable scene he tells John Quincy Adams, played by Anthony Hopkins, about the power of his ancestors, invoking their presence to guide him through the Supreme Court trial that would return his people to freedom. Speaking softly, with eyes of zeal, Hounsou delivers a powerful monologue that conveys Cinqué's passionate connection to his Mende traditions:

"I will call into the past, far back to the beginning of time, and beg them to come and help me at the judgment. I will reach back and draw them into me. And they must come, for at this moment, I am the whole reason they have existed at all.

Amistad catapulted Djimon Hounsou into international stardom, sending him on a path to try and reshape the visual representations of Africa in global cinema.

From his portrayal of T'Challa in BET Network's animated rendition of the Black Panther, to his performance in Blood Diamond, his captivating roles in a slew of popular blockbuster Hollywood productions reveal that the Beninese star possesses an incredible talent and a fierce dedication to showcasing various stories about the continent.

Hounsou's acting career also mirrors his directorial aspirations. His documentary,"In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven", provides an exploration on Voodoo-ism in Benin, offering in-depth discussions on the ways the legacy of colonialism has undermined the value of indigenous cultures and ancestral traditions.

Read the full interview on OkayAfrica.