Throughout the global South, local communities are grappling with the legacies of colonialism and fashioning methods for pursuing true self-determination. Here, we present two films from two different regions that show different approaches to these challenges. The first film, WANTOKS: dance of resilience in Melanesia, is set in the South Pacific and shows people dealing with questions of colonial rule and climate change. The second film, BURKINABÉ BOUNTY: agroecology in Burkina Faso, highlights communities dealing with the related struggle for food sovereignty and trying to reclaim their land and traditions against the encroachment of corporate agriculture. As the world faces the growing threat of climate change, it is incredibly important that we elevate these local responses from people on the frontlines and take lessons from the global South. 

"Burkinabe Bounty: agroecology in Burkina Faso" directed by Iara Lee (Cultures Of Resistance Films)

This documentary chronicles agricultural resistance and the fight for food sovereignty in Burkina Faso --a small, landlocked country in West Africa. Showcasing activist farmers, students, artists, and leaders in the local Slow Food movement, the film looks at how the Burkinabé people are reclaiming their land and defending their traditions against the encroachment of corporate agribusiness. From women gaining economic independence by selling artisanal "dolo" beer, to youth marching in the streets against companies like Monsanto, to hip-hop musicians setting up their own farms and reviving the revolutionary spirit of Thomas Sankara through their music, BURKINABÈ BOUNTY shows the creative tactics people are using to take back control of their food, seeds, and future.