Africa’s Cultural Landmarks

Africa’s Cultural Landmarks is a series produced by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in collaboration with World Monuments Fund and directed by Sosena Solomon. This series of documentaries examines some of Africa’s most notable cultural landscapes. With striking visual storytelling, the films document current preservation efforts against the backdrop of an array of different challenges ranging from perishable materiality to rapid urbanization. Part of an initiative to introduce new content that reframes The Met’s soon-to-reopen Arts of Africa galleries, Africa’s Cultural Landmarks highlights Africa’s diverse architectural vernaculars foregrounding local perspectives and stewardship, bridging ancestral legacies with contemporary narratives across the subcontinent.

This series was produced by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, in collaboration with World Monuments Fund (WMF). It was funded by The Metropolitan Museum’s Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Capital Project. Support for WMF’s contribution was provided by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kimmelman.

Join us for a post-screening Q&A with Sosena Solomon, Stephen Battle, and Lucas Groth.

  

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Benin City Earthworks, Nigeria (2023)
Dir. Sosena Solomon
9min
US
In English and Yoruba with English subtitles

Within modern Benin City lies a masterpiece of ancient urban planning. This striking documentary takes a look at the vast earthworks—extensive lengths of moats and ramparts once towering 18 meters high and stretching over 1,200 kilometers—that protected the Benin Kingdom’s capital, shaping its spiritual and political core. Through expert insights and local perspectives, the film touches on the challenges of preserving these structures amid current development. A powerful view of the legacy of innovation in West Africa.

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Tsodilo Hills, Botswana (2023)
Dir. Sosena Solomon
15min
US
In English and Setswana with English subtitles

Amid the sweeping landscapes of Botswana’s Tsodilo Hills, this visually arresting documentary shares one of the world’s oldest artistic legacies. Through the insights of experts and the lived experiences of a San guide, the film takes a look at rock paintings that have endured for more than 75,000 years—evoking a deep cultural continuum between past and present. With careful attention to the interplay of art, environment, and meaning, the film offers a rich meditation on heritage, resilience, and the stewardship of an ancient site shaped by millennia of human expression.

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Bronze Casters of Igun Street, Benin City, Nigeria (2023)
Dir. Sosena Solomon
3min
US

Amid the sweeping landscapes of Botswana’s Tsodilo Hills, this visually arresting documentary shares one of the world’s oldest artistic legacies. Through the insights of experts and the lived experiences of a San guide, the film takes a look at rock paintings that have endured for more than 75,000 years—evoking a deep cultural continuum between past and present. With careful attention to the interplay of art, environment, and meaning, the film offers a rich meditation on heritage, resilience, and the stewardship of an ancient site shaped by millennia of human expression.

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Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia (2023)
Dir. Sosena Solomon
8min
US
In English and Amharic with English subtitles

Carved directly from volcanic rock, the eleven wondrous churches of Lalibela are monumental expressions of devotion and symbols of Ethiopia’s spiritual heartland. Visually captivating and rich with personal insights from priests entrusted with care of the churches, this documentary reveals how these sanctuaries—both magnificent and fragile—face the constant threat of erosion. Meet the dedicated guardians balancing conservation and sacred duty, ensuring that Lalibela’s living pilgrimage tradition thrives for generations to come.

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Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, Madagascar (2023)
Dir. Sosena Solomon
9min
US
In English, French, and Malagasy with English subtitles

Set atop Madagascar’s Central Highlands, the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga has long stood as a sacred fortress for the Merina monarchy and a sanctuary revered by generations. Blending stunning cinematography with thoughtful local reflections, this documentary immerses viewers in a living landscape that continues to resonate with contemporary Malagasy who visit seeking blessings, protection, and renewal from royal ancestors. Narratives from Malagasy historians illuminate how Ambohimanga’s legacy endures, shaping contemporary identities and serving as a powerful connection between past and present.

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Providence Island, Liberia (2023)
Dir. Sosena Solomon
7min
US

Providence Island holds a significant place in the histories of the United States and Liberia. This small island is the site of connection between the island’s original residents and formerly enslaved and freeborn American settlers who first arrived in 1822. In this documentary, experts explain how social tensions dating to that beginning led to a devastating civil war in more recent history and neglect of this important cultural heritage site. The film centers insightful personal narratives and highlights the efforts currently underway to preserve Providence Island as an urban park, and how the site promises to play a role in furthering national reconciliation.

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Historic Towns of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara, Tanzania (2023)
Dir. Sosena Solomon
10min
US
In English and Swahili with English subtitles

Off the coast of present-day Tanzania, Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara are testament to centuries of global cultural exchange and maritime wealth. Built from coral stone and shaped by Swahili, Arab, Persian, and Indian influences, the architectural remains of these cities have endured continuous erosion from rising sea levels, wind, and sand. Through powerful visual storytelling and thoughtful local perspectives, this documentary shares the initiatives to preserve these historic mosques and palaces for future generations.

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Rock-Hewn Churches of Tigray, Ethiopia (2023)
Dir. Sosena Solomon
9min
US
In English and Tigrinya with English subtitles

High in Ethiopia’s Northern Highlands, the rock-hewn churches of Tigray stand as breathtaking sanctuaries of faith carved into sandstone cliffs. For centuries, some 120 such structures, along with the paintings and artifacts preserved within their walls, were protected by their remote locations. However, during the 2020—22 war in Tigray, some churches were targeted, and the use of heavy weapons resulted in vibrations that caused cracks in the stone. Through evocative imagery and intimate testimonies, this documentary explores the endurance of these remarkable sites of devotion, as local priests reflect on the spiritual and cultural legacies at risk.

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Great Zimbabwe (2023)
Dir. Sosena Solomon
9min
US

World premiere

Great Zimbabwe, the largest medieval stone complex in sub-Saharan Africa, is a remarkable feat of engineering. Through striking cinematography, meet the masonry team responsible for maintaining the Great Zimbabwe complex—constructed from dry stone masonry—and hear from specialists committed to preserving the surviving archaeological landscape.