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Entertainment Journalist and Producer of ‘Alekesam’ Ben Lyons tells us how became a producer on Aleskesam, a short documentary on the lives of Sal Masekela & his dad Hugh Masekela. He commends Sal for being brave enough to be the subject of this documentary, he talks about the connection people have to father / son stories, the surprise impact the film had on his own father, his belief in challenging ourselves to do something different and how that can help us return to who we really are.
(Watch the video interview here)
Filmmaker Jason Bergh on fatherhood and making a personal film entitled Alekesam – about musician Hugh Masekela and musician/host/actor/surfer son Sal Masekela (from the Hollyshorts 2012 Film Festival).
Check out Sal Masekela and his band ALEKESAM here!
Directed by: Jason Bergh
Synopsis (from Youtube page):
Hugh Masekela – musician, activist and father was exiled from his family and native South Africa for over 30 years as a direct result of Apartheid. Undaunted, he would find musical success in America with the 1968 number one hit, Grazin’ In The Grass, and in 1971 he would father a son, Selema Mabena Masekela. Yet shortly thereafter, Hugh would make the choice to leave America and his son for Africa, in an effort to reconnect to his homeland through music and create awareness about the situation in South Africa. 39 years later, Selema, better known as television personality and ESPN X Games host ‘Sal’ Masekela, reflects on his relationship with his father, the accompanying issues of abandonment and addiction, race and self, and the conflicts that influence the choices we make in our lives. Alekesam explores the story of a father exiled from his country, a son exiled from his father, and their mutual attempt to connect to the world, and each other through music.
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