Ragamuffin (1989) + Q&A

Ragamuffin is a man on trial. In the ‘Supreme Court of Afrikan Justice’ he has been indicted for his role in criminalising the black community. Now he is defended as a disaffected revolutionary. Eventually he will be celebrated as a symbol of young black urban experience. During the course of Ragamuffin’s allegorical trial, the Court is asked to consider the historical significance of the Haitian slave revolution of 1804 as well as the events leading up to the Broadwater Farm uprising. The parodic drama reveals the conflicting realities for black youth in contemporary Britain and ultimately leaves the audience – aka the jury – to decide Ragamuffin’s fate.

Amani Naphtali is a trained dramatist, writer, director, and filmmaker. He was the founder member and Artistic Director of the ground-breaking Double Edge Theatre Company. He is a dedicated exponent of the African Ritualistic genre and a pioneer of Multi Genre interdisciplinary practice. Naphtali has directed musicals, films, and dance productions, including his seminal reggae musical, Ragamuffin, which was first staged at Oval House. Amani also wrote the book for the West End musical Daddy Cool. In addition to Ragamuffin, his theatre productions also include The Remnant, Valley of the Blind, Song of Songs, and Vibes from the Scribes.

The June Givanni Pan African Cinema Archive holds a unique collection of artefacts and archival material that has at its core the interest of Pan-African cinema and its relationship to Black British cinema and culture. Our events and projects reveal histories and ideas in African and African diasporic film, bringing together the work of filmmakers, artists and writers around a wide range of themes, debates and interests.