Congo Boy

In the gripping musical drama CONGO BOY, Rafiki Fariala adapts experiences from his own life for the screen. In Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, 17-year-old Robert dreams of a career as a rapper. But his parents, who were forced to flee the Democratic Republic of Congo, are in prison and as the eldest son, Robert has to take care of his four younger siblings. He juggles odd jobs, preparing for his exams and escaping the militias causing unrest in the city. One day, he hears about a music competition, and winning first place becomes his greatest hope. In his feature film debut, which features a cast of mostly non-professional actors, the musician and director Rafiki Fariala offers a sensitive and entertaining glimpse into the neighborhood of his childhood. CONGO BOY premiered in this year's Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival and the lead, Bradley Fiomona, won the Best Actor award.