Akesi and the Congo River

Akesi and the Congo River was inspired by the myths and wisdom of people living in the Congo Basin.

CULTURE

WORLD

2 MINS READ

DATE

JULY 12, 2023

AUTHOR

TALES

Written by the editorial team at Tales of Us: a multimedia initiative sharing stories at the intersection of culture, community, and nature.

Akesi and the Congo River is a three-part, animated docu-fiction series following the adventures of young Akesi: an eight-year-old Congolese boy struggling with the loss of his brother. He explores the topics of grief, trust, and bravery with the help of the enchanted Congo River and his family's trusted totem animal: a playful gecko.

On his journey, he learns about his ancestral history, local mythologies, and the surrounding ecosystems through important and engaging life lessons. Using a blend of animation and green screens, hosts are able to transport children through the Congo Basin, across the Congo River, and through time zones and eras to connect with the country’s culture, no matter where the viewers are based.

Hosts include Sasheer Zamata, a former Saturday Night Live cast member and writer; Akwasi, a musician and self-professed 'creative centipede'; Teddy Teclebrhan, comedian and host of Teddy Comedy; Gaz Mawete, a Congolese musician; and Jeny Bosenge, a Belgo-Congolese choreographer and influencer.

Each adventure is available in five languages: English, Dutch, German, Lingala, and French. These short stories cover a host of key moments in Congolese history as they weave local mythologies together with historical facts about colonization and the importance of environmental conservation.

Akesi is currently making his way through film festivals around the world. Keep an eye on this page to see when Akesi and the Congo River is coming to a cinema near you!

Check out our selected premieres below:

San Jose International Film Festival
[NOMINEE] Episode: "Akesi and the Secrets of the Forest"
October 8th, 2022

Helsinki Education Film Festival International
[NOMINEE] All episodes selected
October 14th to 23rd, 2022

San Diego International Kids' Film Festival
[NOMINEE] San Diego, California, USA
October 28th to 30th, 2022

Kids’n’film Festival in Vallejo, California <...