motherland CREW

Sona Jobarteh is a member of one of the five principal Kora-playing (Griot) families from West Africa and is one of the first female kora player to come from this prestigious musical family. She is the granddaughter of the Master Griot of his generation, Amadu Bansang Jobarteh, and cousin of the well-known, celebrated Kora player Toumani Diabaté. Her brother is Tunde Jegede composer of 500 Years Later. Sona completed her debut album entitled Afro Acoustic Soul in 2008, which expresses and explores the many facets of her unique musical heritage. Sona's second album, due out in April 2010, is set to be a real gem, taking her traditional West African musical training to a completely new level.

Sona is a master of the Diaspora Kora which is a unique style of kora playing adapted for the cinematic landscape.

Betelihem Zelealem is an Ethiopian camera person and digital Non-linear editor who works for Halaqah Films, a multi-award winning company based in UK and the USA. As a young lady Betelihem Zelealem is a shining example of African youth future. Coming from a middle class family in Addis Ababa Ms. Zelealem worked in the print industry for most of her working career.

By chance she joined a visiting Halaqah Media film crew as translator for a film being made in Ethiopia's Harar region. From this point on she learned camera and later editing skills. She was trained by international and multi-award winning director Owen Alik Shahadah. She has edited the critically acclaimed film Our Story Our Voice, which was nominated at the Pan-African film festival in 2007.

After travelling to the Middle East and Jamaica, POPPY SEED with her concept of conscious well crafted lyrics put to original music and performed with 10 live musicians started germinating in 1993. She soon materialised on the London poetry and alternative music scene and delighted audiences with poetry and live music that educates, entertains and inspires.

Angela is the executive producer of Motherland and was also a featured artist in 500 Years Later. Her single "Motherland" is featured in the film.

M.K. Asante, Jr. is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and professor who the Philadelphia Inquirer calls "a rare, remarkable talent that brings to mind the great artists of the Harlem Renaissance." The recipient of the 2009 Langston Hughes Award, Asante is the author of the celebrated books: It's Bigger Than Hip Hop, Beautiful And Ugly Too, and Like Water Running Off My Back. His articles have been published in various outlets including in USA Today and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Asante wrote and produced the film 500 Years Later; winner of five international awards including the Breaking the Chains award from the United Nations.

Cosby is a highly analytical & technical individual, whose driving force in the perfection of his craft is fuelled by his fresh and nontraditional approach to Film and Television Directing and Editing. After studying Film directing at the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), where he received a BFA Degree in Film and Television Production, Directing Major. In his various capacities within the Media Group he has had the opportunity to work on projects that have allowed his highly creative flair to come to the fore.

As a Director/Editor Cosby has worked on myriad of contrasting projects, often simultaneously, having to adapt and juggle creatively between them, one of which “Not My Daughter” won the Best Short Film at the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2008.