
People who travel to Africa and spend much time with Africans often report that they are unprepared for two surprises. First, most of Africa is a complex mix of traditional and modern. It's different from the U.S., but different in ways that most first-time visitors don't expect. Second, you are almost certain to meet people who are incredibly dedicated and optimistic, women and men who are throwing themselves into some good cause and seem joyful, rather than burned out, about it. As a young woman at Ashesi University put it to me two years ago, when I asked her why she was so determined to serve others: "You've got to give back. You've got to give back. You've got to give back." Or a friend who, when I asked him where he found the money to found his organization to help struggling students, replied: "I took the money I was spending on graduate school and gave it to them for their school fees."
Queen of Katwe is the first Hollywood film to capture those two realities, the rich complexity of African cultures and the extravagant dedication of so many of their people. And it's all about Africans, not white seekers in Africa. If you are interested in getting a sense of what urban Africa is like and be inspired by realistically rendered Africans, don't miss it.
Queen of Katwe is the first Hollywood film to capture those two realities, the rich complexity of African cultures and the extravagant dedication of so many of their people. And it's all about Africans, not white seekers in Africa. If you are interested in getting a sense of what urban Africa is like and be inspired by realistically rendered Africans, don't miss it.