Haile Gerima

Haile Gerima is an Ethiopian-born independent filmmaker whose work centers African and African American histories, cultural memory, and resistance to social oppression. A leading figure in the L.A. Rebellion movement, he directed influential films including Bush Mama (1975), Harvest: 3000 Years (1976), Ashes & Embers (1982), Sankofa (1993), and Teza (2008). Gerima also taught film at Howard University and founded Sankofa Video and Bookstore in Washington, D.C., supporting independent film culture and community dialogue.