Maki'la
Dir. Machérie Ekwa Bahango
Narrative, 2018, 78 min.
Lingala & French, w/ English subtitles

Nineteen year-old Maki'la, nicknamed Maki, has been living on the streets since she was 13. She marries her longtime friend, Mbingazor, a young hoodlum who is now boss of a reckless criminal gang. Their relationship, founded in exploitation and violence, begins to fray, and Maki escapes. She finds shelter in abandoned truck with Acha, a 12 year-old who has turned to the streets after losing both her parents. As the pair struggles to find trust and survive in Kinshasa’s brutal slums, Mbingazor re-enters the mix, raising the stakes on an already desperate situation.

Congo in Harlem is a showcase of films, exhibits, panel discussions and special events focused on the history, politics, and culture of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.