Dr. Chérif Këita, Professor of French and Francophone Literatures and Cultures at Carleton College in Northfield, MN, has made a trilogy of documentaries on the connection between John Dube and William and Ida Belle Wilcox. Remembering Nokutela is the third installment of the trilogy and will be screened on campus at Gustavus Adolphus College on Wednesday, Oct. 29, in room 127 Confer Hall at 7 p.m.

Remembering Nokutela is the story of Dube’s little-known wife. Nokutela was very talented and dedicated woman, but not many people know about her contributions to her husband’s work. But thanks to Këita, Nokutela is finally getting the recognition she has long deserved.

“All too often, the history of women is reduced to a footnote in the epic of brave men,” Këita said.

Nokutela journeyed with her husband in the 1890’s to the United States to help raise funds and support the work and projects the couple were launching in the Natal province of South Africa.

The two worked hand-in-hand in their endeavors. They founded the Ohlange Institute in Inanda, where they started a prestigious music program. They also composed songs and formed a choir and even popularized the song “Nkosi Sikeleli Africa” (”God Bless Africa”), which became part of the South African National Anthem after the end of the Apartheid movement.

“All too often, the history of women is reduced to a footnote in the epic of brave men.”— Chérif Këita

Gustavus Professor of French and Director of the African Studies program  Paschal Kyoore, wrote a press release for the documentary and is very excited to screen it on campus.

“People should take advantage of the opportunity to learn about a female South African nationalist who has not been given the national recognition that she deserves. It is a story worth knowing,” Kyoore said.

The documentary is being screened for the department and the African Studies program, but it is also a free event that is open to the public. Këita will be on campus while Remembering Nokutela is showing. The other documentaries in the trilogy are Oberlin-Inanda: The Life and Times of John L. Dube and Cemetery Stories: A Rebel Missionary in South Africa. The former is Dube’s life and his education in United States, it also received a special mention in the international film festival FESPACO, which is held annually in Ougadoudou–Burkina Faso. Cemetery Stories links the 19th century American Missionaries William and Ida Belle Wilcox of Northfield, MN to Dube. The second documentary also reveals how the missionaries’ mentorship and friendship helped Dube on his journey to success.

Remembering Nokutela was screened in the first African Film Festival in 2013, which was sponsored by the Film Society of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Këita’s documentaries have been screened at college campuses and festivals in the U.S., Brazil, France, and South Africa. Dr. Këita’s visit and the screening of Remembering Nokutela is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the African Studies Program, and the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

-Kim Krulish