Best African music movies

South African producer / director JON DAY spent the last 5 years making a documentary about the mysterious rap-rave group, DIE ANTWOORD. Art directed by surrealist photographer, ROGER BALLEN. Narrated by NINJA & ¥O-LANDI'S daughter, 16 JONES.

In the 12th century's Andalusia lives Ibn Rushd a prominent Islamic philosopher with his wife Zeinab and daughter Salma. The principality is ruled by Khalifa ElMansour who has two sons, ElNasser, an intellectual that likes Ibn Rush and is in love with his daughter Salma. The younger son Abdallah is more into dancing and poetry, spending most of his times with the gypsy family and getting the daughter pregnant. The Khalifa is depending on the extremists to build his army granting them more power which they use to combat artists and philosophers. The extremists succeed in recruiting Abd Allah and train him to kill his father. Events go on where Marawan, the gypsy singer, is killed and Ibn Rushd's books are burnt. Adapted from the real life of Ibn Rushd AlMasir is Chahine's statement against extremism.

Kanarie (Afrikaans for 'Canary') is a coming-of-age musical war drama. Drafted into the South African army during apartheid, a young soldier joins the military's traveling choir, and romance on the battlefield causes him to deal with his long-repressed sexual identity through hardship, camaraderie, first love, and the liberating freedom of music, the true self can be discovered.

Together with a young broadcaster, the owner of a channel bets on the power of money and its potential to transform a poor girl into a succe...

Freed after spending years in prison, an activist's homecoming turns into a dark affair as his disillusion clashes with his family's expectations. Demonstrating Chahine’s eclecticism, this is an elegant melodrama, exuberant musical, layered allegory, and profound portrait of personal and political disillusionment.

Hamam is a poor Arabic language teacher who gets sacked from a girls' elementary school for not being able to control mischievous students. He feels pessimistic about everything in life,but his freind,an employee working for a pasha finds him a job as a private teacher for his only daughter Laila in order to help her pass an exam. Laila treats Hamam like a friend and helps him to appreciate life and enjoy its qualities,and the man soon is drawn to her.

A portrait of the groundbreaking Moroccan band Nass El Ghiwane, documenting a series of electrifying live performances in Tunisia, Morocco, and France; on the streets of Casablanca; and in intimate conversations. Storytellers through song and traditional instruments, and with connections to political theatre, the band became a local phenomenon and an international sensation, thanks to their rebellious lyrics and sublime, fully acoustic sound, which draws on Berber rhythms, Malhun sung poetry, and Gnawa dances.

In 1994, Whitney Houston took the stage in Durban, South Africa, making her the first major Western musician to visit the newly unified, post-apartheid nation following President Nelson Mandela’s winning election. This performance was more than a concert; it was a celebration of freedom, hope, and unity. Whitney’s powerhouse voice and emotional delivery brought joy and inspiration to a country newly liberated. Now, 30 years after the historic visit, The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban) comes to the big screen for the first time. Digitally remastered in 4K and featuring newly-enhanced audio, the film captures every note, every cheer, every tear, immortalizing a night that transcended music and became a beacon of change and celebration.

In the slums of Cairo, youth dancing to electro chaabi, new music that blends folk song, electro beats and freestyles chanted in the style of rap. The idea is to merge the sounds and styles so chaotic. One slogan mangling! Victim of corruption and social segregation, youth in neighborhoods exorcise partying. Release of body and a speech repressed transgression religious taboos: more than just a musical phenomenon, Electro Chaabi is a healthy outlet for youth oppressed by the prohibitions imposed.

Hamid is a former volunteer who participated in the 1982 Lebanon War and returns from there with disappointment. He becomes homeless in the city of Casablanca. He resorts to theft and addiction to combat his homelessness and physical disability. His only dream in life is to bring his symphony into existence, so he asks the help from his homeless friends for that.

The Eight "Afrikaans is Groot" concert. It is an annual concert where some of the biggest Afrikaans artist perform

Two sisters (Riya) and (Skina), start a gang to kidnap rich women with the help of Riya's husband. Skina, in an effort to avoid suspicion, try to marry a policeman who is not aware of the sisters' criminal activity.

The authorities summon many young men for forced labor in the Suez Canal, so Metwally leaves his sister Shafiqa alone with their old grandfather, whereupon Shafiqa is forced to succumb to the temptations of Diab, the district chief's son. As their sinful relationship is revealed, she is forced to leave for Asyut, where she becomes the mistress of Al Tarabishi, the supplier of slaves.

This play is about a female teacher and how she transformed 5 rebellious students into model students.

A musical comedy telling the story of a mother who is trying to raise her son Sayyed after her husband's death. However, her son faces problems whether at college or with his uncle.

Seif works in a video rental store, and lives with a group of young men aspiring for a better life. Seif tries to prove himself worthy by showcasing his singing talent, to the disappointment of the store's owner who fires him. Seif ends up in jail, where he meets a leftist student and poet, who introduces him to an infamous old composer, and they form a trio and take their art to the streets.

After an 18-year hiatus from acting, Sherihan returns to the stage to portray Coco Chanel, the renowned French fashion designer and style icon.

Selim, a handsome and successful writer triggers an elaborate chain of events when he visits police headquarters to report his car stolen. There he runs into the bumbling Sergeant Fathy Abdel Ghafour, an old family friend who now works as a detective. When the meddlesome Sergeant Fathy insists on hiring a live-in housekeeper for his old friend, Selim’s life becomes inextricably intertwined with that of his beautiful new housemaid, her thieving husband and the well-meaning detective.

Murad Salem is a rich man who is used to getting what he wants whenever he wants it. When he meets a beautiful woman in Alexandria, he wants her as wife number thirteen. He buys himself into the heart of the woman, until a well-meaning, former fiancée of her husband tells her just how many times he has been divorced. The new bride launches into a series of ploys that keep her away from the marriage bed.

Youssef, a successful architect is married to a beautiful woman, Hend, with a child. His life was steady until he discovers that he has cancer. He refuses to tell his family and travels for treatment alone where he met a ballerina who has cancer too and they fall in love.

Three different personalities, the first tries to pursue his career in singing, the second is a dreamy Christian woman who falls in love with a Muslim youth, while the third works in the field of sports training.

Samiha catches the acting bug while engaged to the neglectful and food-obsessed Salah who spends most of his time cooking. When a handsome film and television director announces a contest to select Egypt's next star, Samiha becomes determined to win it...even if she has to pretend to be thirteen years old.

The film displays the life of legendary singer(Abd Alhalim Hafez) in various stages. Depicting many sides of his artistic and personal life since his early childhood.

Zain, a graduate of the Higher Institute of Music, lives with his mother, his brother Ramzi and his sister Houria, who suffers from living conditions after the death of their father 15 years ago, and while the family refuses to marry the neighbor of their neighbor, Rizk, Zain welcomes his belief that they love each other sincerely. Poor physical condition and his desperate attempts to work on the subway as a singer in front of passers-by or working with a submerged orchestra, Fawzia bint Radwan Pasha is in love with Zain but her rich father refuses to marry Zain poor.

The story of Egyptian displaced family from Ismailia after the 1967 war. Hema (Mohamed Fouad) dreams of becoming famous singer and continues the journey of success with the help of his friend (Mohamed Henedi) and his brother(Khaled Nabawy), but his brother is jealous of him and trying to drive a wedge between him and his lover (Hanan Turk). Hema is back to sing in Ismailia after the return of her natural life after the 1973.

The events take place inside an orphanage, around a young girl named Sukar, who lives with a large group of children. The orphanage is run by an obnoxious woman and her henchman, who have bad intentions

The name of the film, Liefling, says it all. This is a love story that's been told by using evergreen Afrikaans songs from the 70's up to the latest hits of today. This musical is mainly about the life of Liefling Marais, a girl with a passion for life, who loves adventure. Liefling lives on a farm with her father Simon, mother Linda, grandfather Karel, brother Kobus and house keeper Katy. Simon is a professor at the university where we meet the 3 friends, Jan, Pieter and Gert in one of his classes. They also live in Hartbeespoort Jan lives with his grandmother Elsa Ferreira. The story starts during the December holidays. A spoilt rich girl, Melanie von Staden has one thing in mind and that is to reel in heart throb Jan Ferreira who has his eye set on Liefling. Fate unexpectedly brings lovers, friends and so called enemies together. This is a love story full of tears and laughter, song and dance.

When a nightclub bellydancer (Katy) is murdered by the nightclub owner's henchmen her ghost wants the killer to be found. Only one problem - she doesn't know who killed her since she was sleeping. Her ghost haunts Ismail Yasin till he agrees to help her find out who's behind the murder.

This sweet musical takes us on a cross-country trip through Senegal, from Dakar to Saint Louis in a battered taxi, as passengers sing their stories.

The third "Afrikaans is Groot" concert. It is an annual concert where some of the biggest Afrikaans artist perform

Assem a very rich man, clashes with the young man who was flirting with his wife and kills him. Then, on one of his evenings, he discovers a person who is very similar to him and offers to swap lives.

Adel is a director of a company and is married to Nabila, the daughter of Medhat, the owner of the company. Adel falls in love with the company employee's princess, reveals her feelings and that he was unfortunate in his life with his wife and that his marriage was an interest in relation to his position. A princess shared the same feelings and married her in secret, but Medhat finds out about them.

A film in tachelhit about lHousine who returns to his brother and his village which he built his new home after he spent half of his life in the city. But things don't go well as he expected.

The fortunes of down-on-his-luck crooner Asfour change overnight when he discovers a mysterious lamp housing a charming genie. She can make anything he wishes come true, so he asks for help in luring his distracted girlfriend from the charms of a rich competitor. But Asfour soon learns he should be careful what to wish for, as he soon realizes his heart may lie elsewhere.

A comedy about a poor man named Zawaoui who lives with his wife Bahija and his brothers in a small villa he inherited from his family and tries to buy from him but refuses because he wants to preserve his family's inheritance. A businessman who wants to buy the villa will attack the villa but fails to grab. On them, where the brothers Zouaoui revenge from Fawzi to protect their brother.

A prince of the former royal family finds himself without a meaningful role in post-revolutionary Egyptian society. Based on the play by Tawfiq el-Hakim.

An unexpected love affair quickly blossoms between aspiring down-on-his-luck reporter Salah (Abdel Halim Hafez) and the subject of his first newspaper scoop, a pretty young heiress (Zubaida Tharwat)who's soon to be forced into an arranged marriage.

Anwar Wagdi plays vagabond musician Alfredo, who comes across an abandoned baby in the night. He tries his best to get our heroes someone to take it and raise it. When that fails, he has no choice but to raise it on his own. He names the child, Dabab, after the beautiful woman he's encountered on the street. Years pass and Dahab grows up to be the Faryuz, who is actually cute, talented and far less grating than our Ms. Temple. Many Chaplinesque hijinks ensue as Alfredo and Dahab play music on the streets, try to scam free food wherever they can and convince the owner of a successful nightclub to let Dahab perform.

Hind, Emy and Rania can’t really stand each other. In the 90s, during their university years, they used to sing together in a band in before personal differences tore them apart. When they receive an invitation to sing together in Aswan, the three women reunite and are forced to work together on one last show. As they come together for this surprise reunion, they find themselves in a mix of challenges and comedic moments, remembering their past and rediscovering their present.

Muhammad Kamal, a simple young man on the tram, meets a girl he loves and shares his feelings with her, but her father objects to this relationship because of the poverty of this singer.

A rural mother sells her only cow in order to enroll her son, an imam (Shukri Sarhan) at Dar al-Uloom College. When an imam arrives in Cairo, he rents a room in the Citadel area from a domineering woman named Shafa'at (Tahiya Karioka) who is fascinated by his youth and vitality and lures him into practicing vice with her. As a result, he stumbles in his studies and health. At this time, a girl whom she and her father knew from a young age helps him to get rid of all the corruption in which he lives, and her father advises him to stay away from intercessions, but the intercessions plots against him in an attempt to stay with her.

A girl leaves behind her past life as a dancer working in Mohammed Ali Street and enters college. Her ambition is to acquire knowledge and to leave behind her former life. She finds herself in a relationship with a young man from an affluent background and thus becomes conflicted between her two lives.

U-CARMEN is a feature film based on Georges Bizet's 19th-century opera that was filmed on location in a modern South African township setting. The energy, compassion, and heat of township life in all its elements create a constantly visually interesting and dynamic background for the unfolding of the story, which owes part of its huge popularity to the thrilling combination of a violent gangster tale with a passionate, almost supernatural love story. As it unfolds, it explores issues of fame and wealth, the position of a strong and independently minded woman in a very masculine society and, perhaps most importantly, the incomprehensible attraction between abuser and victim. Bizet's opera, based on Prosper Merimée's novel, premiered in Paris on March 3, 1875. Set in a poor area of Seville, the story of the magnetic woman who seduces, loves, and ultimately destroys her lover and herself...

Hussein and Ahmad are brothers. Hussein falls in love with a colleague, but his father mysteriously decides that Ahmad should marry her instead.

Salah, a young college student, falls in love for the first time with Samiha. He spends his nights thinking about her and looking to her face in the “empty pillow” next to him. When she marries someone else, he is devastated and her memory haunts him no matter where he goes.

Hassan Hudhud is a poor boxer who dreams of championships and glory. He accidentally takes part in a match at the mansion of a wealthy man who admires him. He soon gets rich and moves into the mansion.

Amshir works in a cabaret owned by his wealthy friend Medhat. Medhat is sentenced to a month in prison after he burned the mustache of a wealthy Upper Egyptian man named Al-Najawi. Amshir then goes to prison instead of him in exchange for a sum of money.

Topping the list of 100 Best Egyptian Films, this classic musical melodrama launched the film career of one of Egypt’s greatest singers and composers, Mohamed Abdel Wahhab. Galal Effendi, the son of an impoverished aristocrat, is forced to leave his studies to seek employment. After a short stint as a clerk, however, Galal discovers his musical talents and finds success as a popular singer. Through its story of upward mobility based on merit rather than influence, the film examines the emergence of Egyptian middle-class identity.

Qamar is a belly dancer who moves into building inhabited by several families. When she moves in, she is bombarded by the husbands' attention. The husbands are Fawzi, a tax authority employee, an Arabic teacher and a singer. Their family lives are disrupted, and their wives attempt to keep their husbands in a comedy setting.

So'aad is a poor girl who auditions for a role in a new film, but film producer Adel rejects her for she is not of noble origin. When she disguises herself as a princess, he is wholly charmed and offers her the role. How far will she go in acting?

Othman Abdelbaset suffers from the intervention of his mother-in-law in his life with his wife. He always worries about his assistants in the pancake shop he runs until his mother-in-law succeeds in cutting him off with his wife and turning his life into hell. He thinks of committing suicide and introduces his idea to his aides. The three go to sea to carry out the idea, but one of the sailors sees them leading the boat trip to one of the islands and they are on an adventure inside the Prince of the Island where they fight the bad guys who want to take over the island rule

A poor graduated singer struggling to get his chance, disguises into an old music teacher to work in a girl's school. A bet is launched between two of the leading students to trap this teacher into their affection.

Set in a confined world outside time, East of Noon is the fable of prodigy Abdo (19) who uses music to rebel against his elders: showman Shawky (70), an eccentric showman who rules with a mix of performance and fear, and storyteller Jalala (75), who provides relief with stories of the Sea, which no one else has seen. East of Noon is a satire on the inner workings of an ailing autocracy and its inherent vulnerability to youth’s unchained vision of a better world.

Faten Hamama plays Nawal, a journalist who meets Samir, a young man whom she encourages to pursue a singing career. His career takes off while Nawal's health deteriorates.

A poor girl lives on the rooftop of a building. Three young neighbors fall in love with her. The decide to help her when they discover that she is seriously ill and in need of an urgent operation.

In 1933 in the village of Karnak in Luxor, sad lives with her husband Bakhit Bishari paraplegic and TB disease.

An Egyptian romantic comedy film produced in 1951, the story and dialogue of Abu al-Saud al-Abiari and directed by Helmi Rafla and starring Farid al-Atrash, Samia Jamal, Ismail Yassin, Abdel Salam al-Nabulsi, Abdul Fattah al-Qasri and Farid Shawqi.

A group of young Egyptians are planning to immigrate to the United States from Bucharest. But, when the man they hired steals their money and leave them on the Hungarian border, they are forced to work together to overcome adversity.

Ismail Yassin is in desperate need for money. He borrows from the wrong people, get framed for murder and goes to prison.

A bored lawyer spots a beautiful woman in the window of a dance studio. He secretly starts taking lessons to be near her, and then over time discovers how much he loves dancing. His wife, meanwhile, has hired a private detective to find out why he has started coming home late smelling of perfume.

A theater director decides to re-introduce Carmen with a new treatment, looking for an ideal actress to perform the main character, and the relationship between them soon develops for more than work.

Tamuru hena is a gypsy girl dancing in funfairs, she's been in love with Hassan who works with her. When Ahmed, the son of the wealthy mayor admires her, he tells his father that she's the daughter of a Pasha to win a bet with his father.

A tale of growing up in 1960s Senegal. Bacc narrates his early years of living in Popenguine, a town divided by culture and musical tastes.

The events of the film revolve in the era of the Umayyad dynasty, around the shepherd (Salama), who has a charming voice and has a love relationship with (Abdul Rahman), but her love is hindered by (Ibn Suhail’s) greed for her. She runs away from him out of fear for herself and her love, and (Abdul Rahman) begins his search journey. about her .