UK Premiere: African Jim (Jim Comes to Jo'burg)

Living in a rural area of South Africa, ‘Jim’, played by Daniel Adnewmah, leaves his home village to come to the big city of Johannesburg and find work. A series of hurdles get in his way, including gang violence, an ineptitude for domestic work and altercations with the police, before Jim finds opportunities in music, after he meets the incomparable ‘Dolly’, played by legendary Jazz singer and activist, Dolly Rathebe.

The film is a light-hearted jaunty tale of urban migration, and seminal, in that it was the first South African film made for Black audiences. With a wide national release, support from the ANC (African National Congress), and acting as a vehicle for popular South African musical talent including Rathebe and The African Inkspots – there is much to be celebrated about the film’s initial distribution, reception and most recent 4k restoration.

Although obviously, African Jim is still not the easiest watch – with outdated language, a patronising tone, and a huge lack of real context as to why Jim and his friends struggle in this white majority and controlled city. Despite this, there are still transgressions from the tight censor-approved script – and wonderfully, ways in which we can engage with and reflect on the activism and Black culture of the time.   

This event is part Other Ways of Seeing, an initiative supported by BFI awarding funds from National Lottery, curated by Mosa Mpetha.

A 4K restoration by UK-based R3store Studios funded by the National Gallery of Canada with thanks to Villon Films. Supported by the Anti-Apartheid Legacy Centre.

Descriptive Subtitles by Matchbox Cinesub, with thanks to Mbabala Mpetha, Sisanda Myataza and Xolani Mbatha.

---