Soul Beat Africa
African development action with informed and engaged societies
Soul Beat Africa
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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A Political Safari - Mobile Cinema Project

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Launched in September 2012, A Political Safari is a democracy and voter education outreach project that uses mobile cinema to engage audiences in debates and discussions, particularly focusing on promoting free and fair elections. The mobile cinema aired a documentary called "An African Election" to educate voters on electoral processes and inspire them to commit to peaceful elections. The pilot tour included 10 regions in Ghana in 2012, with subsequent showings in Kenya and Madagascar ahead of their 2013 elections. The project works in collaboration with The European Union, The Electoral Commission of Ghana, The European Centre for Electoral Support, The Swiss Confederation, The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Government of Canada, among others.
Communication Strategies

Mobile Cinema

The pilot project started in Ghana from mid-September to the end of November 2012, touring the 10 regions of Ghana. The mobile cinema consisted of a truck equipped with a projector and generator - transforming it into a movie theatre on wheels to share the "An African Election" film. The truck traveled to places where people did not have access to electricity, the internet, or even cinema, in order to bring the film to people who want to, and must be part of the political process.

Documentary - An African Election

The 2008 presidential elections in Ghana, West Africa, serves as a backdrop for this feature documentary that looks behind-the-scenes at the complex, political machinery of a third world democracy struggling to legitimise itself to its first world contemporaries. Director Jarreth Merz follows the key players of the Ghanaian elections for almost three months to provide an insider's view of the political, economic, and social forces at work in Ghana. He builds suspense by taking the viewer down the back roads of the nation to capture each unexpected twist and turn in a contest that is always exciting and never predictable. Throughout the film, Merz depicts the pride and humanity of the larger-than-life politicians, party operatives, and citizens who battle for the soul of their country. The documentary is aired in English, Twi, and other local languages.

Workshops and Training Tools

Alongside the film, organisers are working with international partners and local democracy trainers to create non-partisan voter education workshops and training tools that are designed for all audiences including opinion leaders, inter-party dialogue committees, women, youth, and potential troublemakers in urban and rural settings.

Development Issues

Governance, Elections

Key Points

"An African Election" is a resource that can be used to educate and promote democracy and peace. The documentary won awards such as the African Movie Academy Awards (2012); Best Documentary, Sundance Film Festival (2011); Official Selection, Visions Du Reel (2011) - Etat d'Esprit Award Winner; and Atlanta Film Festival (2011) - Grand Jury Award Winner.

Sources

Political Safari website and An African Election website on 26 September 2013.