Pan-African People’s Studios has announced that its new documentary, Reparations: The Colonial Debt, will premiere on 16 August 2025 in Bamako, Mali. The screening will be followed by a broadcast on ORTM and Africable Television.
Directed by Malian filmmaker Ibrahima Sow, the film explores the issue of reparations from former colonial powers. It combines archival records, expert interviews, and contemporary analysis to trace the impact of colonialism and the continuing economic pressures on African nations.
The documentary features contributions from scholars and public figures including Gnaka Lagoke from Côte d’Ivoire, a professor of history and Pan-African studies, and Aminata Dramane Traoré from Mali, a sociologist and writer.
“We have a duty — not just a right, but a duty — to demand reparations,” says Fode Moussa Sidibé, a Malian researcher, reinforcing the central message of the film.
Traoré draws attention to what she describes as a clear example of colonial exploitation: “One of the most frightening illustrations of colonialism is the fate of the Congo under Belgium.” She links this to current governance and economic challenges faced by African countries.
The experts in the documentary agree that reparations are necessary to address historical injustices and allow Africa to participate equally on the global stage. The film positions reparative justice as a practical step towards addressing centuries of extractive policies rather than as a symbolic act.
The film will premiere on 16 August 2025 in Bamako, Mali, and will be broadcast on ORTM and Africable Television after the premiere.
