The U.S. premiere of the documentary film Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds, featuring Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature, Prof. Wọle Ṣoyinka, and directed by Haitian-American filmmaker Raynald Leconte, won the Programmers Award for Best Feature Documentary at the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) in Los Angeles, California.
The sold-out premiere at Culver Theater 3 was attended by director Raynald Leconte and editor Nicolas Sicurella. Prof. Wọle Ṣoyinka and producers Tunde Kelani and Rotimi Alakija were unable to attend. Prominent members of the Yorùbá community present included Ojise Isedale (Olubunmi Olukanni), who served as host and Master of Ceremonies, Fatimoh Mohammed, Wale Jimoh, Mr & Mrs. Ayeloj, and Mr & Mrs Lekan Salam representing Ọmọ Yorùbá of Southern California.
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Speaking after the screening, Òjíṣẹ́ Ìṣẹ̀dálẹ̀ expressed his delight at the film receiving the Programmer’s Award for Best Feature Documentary in the United States, noting that the recognition also honors Prof. Wọle Ṣoyinka, whose U.S. visa was controversially revoked last year by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.
In addition to Prof. Wọle Ṣoyinka, the groundbreaking documentary features global cultural icons including Ooni of Ìfẹ́ Ọba Ẹnitan Ojaja II, Gilberto Gil, Carlinhos Brown, Brazil’s Minister of Culture Margareth Menezes, Seun Kuti, Brymo, Falana, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, the Araba of Ife, Molara Wood, Iya Agba Cece of Brazil, and the legendary Fela Kuti.
