Reclaiming Narratives (Series)
A film series where indigenous filmmakers reclaim historical ethnographic footage from the Frobenius Institute archives (1950–1974).
Found-footage film series produced by indigenous filmmakers using ethnographic collections from the Frobenius Institute, filmed in Ethiopia's Sidaama and Gedeo regions.
Synopsis
The 'Reclaiming Narratives' film series is the centerpiece of the DFG-funded research project at the Frobenius Institute. It represents a groundbreaking approach to film restitution: rather than simply returning archival footage, the project enables indigenous filmmakers to actively re-edit, re-contextualize, and transform historical ethnographic film material.
Drawing on the Frobenius Institute's extensive film collections created in the Sidaama and Gedeo regions of Ethiopia between 1950 and 1974, the series explores how communities today relate to, contest, and reclaim these historical representations of their ancestors and cultural practices.
Under the direction of Igor Karim and the oversight of Dr. Sophia Thubauville, the films are co-produced with local filmmakers and communities, ensuring that the process of reclamation is itself a form of cultural agency.
Production Stills
