Dialogues, debates and conversations about the impact of Marcus Garvey; The Canadian Premiere of African Redemption – The Life and Legacy of Marcus

BY PAUL JUNOR

Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Toronto Caribbean, the award-winning “African Redemption- The Life & Legacy of Marcus Garvey,” had its Canadian Premiere. The timing of this premiere coincided with Jamaica’s 60^th Anniversary of Independence and was presented by the Kiwanis Club of Toronto Caribbean.

The screenings were held on Saturday, August 13^th, 2022, in Brampton, and on Sunday, August 14^th, 2022, in Toronto.

“African Redemption tells the life story of Marcus Mosiah Garvey who became one of the world’s most foremost Pan-Africanist; and in some eyes, one of the greatest Black civil rights leaders of the 20^th century.  He took his message of Black Pride to the United States during the height of the Harlem Renaissance and is Jamaica’s first National Hero.

Marcus Garvey’s teachings and philosophy have impacted many social and political movements around the world. He is widely seen as a forerunner to the civil rights movement in the USA and today’s current Black Lives Matter movement,” shared Sharon Barnes- Simmond, President at the Kiwanis Club of Toronto Caribbean.

Keith David who is renowned for his role as Bishop James in Greenleaf, and has won several Emmy awards narrates the documentary.

I interviewed Roy T. Anderson, the Director of African Redemption, and he shared with me that it took him five years to complete this docu-film as it was largely self-funded.

Roy was born in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica and for him, this project was a labour of love. He accessed first hand sources from Tony Martin’s work on Marcus Garvey, books, interviews, family members, and Rupert Lewis. These provided him with good reference materials from which he was to gather the information that he used in the docu-film.

Even though it has been shown at several film festivals worldwide, it still has not been officially released. Roy told me that the official release has not been finalized as of yet. Roy has strong connections to the Black community in Canada having lived in Toronto for over 24 years.

Businessman Denham Jolly, spoken word artist Devon Haughton, and Professor Andrea Davis of York University made appearances in the film. An online version of the documentary will be available to educators on Wednesday, August 17^th, which is Garvey’s birthday. In addition, there will be a massive screening at Marcus Garvey Park in New York to recognize Garvey’s 135^th birthday.

Costa Rica has extended a special invitation to Roy to show the docu-film at a film festival at the end of August. For Roy, Marcus Garvey is an inspiration. His docu-film is a definitive one that seeks to correct many of the misconceptions about Garvey and present accurate information. It is meant to invite dialogues, debates and conversations about the impact of Marcus Garvey.