A United Souls creation on screen in Le Cercle: Claire Diao puts Patrice Lumumba in the spotlight

On September 27, in the show The Circle presented by Lily Bloom, Claire Diao, film critic, founder of the magazine Awotele and CEO of Sudu Connexion appeared wearing a T-shirt bearing the image of Patrice Lumumba. This T-shirt, the first creation by Marie-Claire Laffaire for United Souls, highlights the poignant gaze of Lumumba, hero and martyr of African independence.

This look, captured from a meaningful photograph, is that of a man ready to be deported and assassinated, but who, despite everything, seems to send a message to the Congolese people: "I may have arrived too early to fight against a vast international conspiracy, but the fight continues." Marie-Claire Laffaire has captured the essence of this historic moment with a keen sense of perspective and unparalleled artistic sensitivity.

Lumumba embodied the spirit of resistance, not only against colonization, but also against racial divisions, presenting himself above all as a human being in the face of colonial powers. The epithets "hero," "martyr," and "incorruptible" continue to resonate in people's minds. Thanks to Claire Diao, this iconic figure was once again able to circulate in the public sphere, in a program dedicated to film lovers.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Claire Diao for her support of United Souls and her commitment to highlighting the great figures in the struggle for human dignity. By wearing this t-shirt, she is helping to raise awareness of Patrice Lumumba's legacy and reminding us that the struggle for independence and justice remains relevant today.

Sudu Connexion: Giving visibility to pan-African films

In addition to his commitment to Pan-African cinema through Awotele , Claire Diao directs Sudu Connexion , a film distribution company from Africa and its diaspora. Founded in 2016, Sudu Connexion's mission is to distribute films produced on the fringes of the industry, giving them the visibility they deserve.

With a network of over 1,000 festivals worldwide, Sudu Connexion's films are regularly selected for major international festivals and broadcast on prestigious channels and platforms such as Arte, Canal+, TV5 Monde, and many others. To date, six filmmakers from the Sudu Connexion catalog have submitted their films to the Oscars, a true achievement for Pan-African films.

Through her passion and professionalism, Claire Diao helps give African filmmakers a voice and an international platform. We are proud to collaborate with figures like Claire, who, through their work, continue to uphold the values ​​we defend at United Souls.

Watch the show Le Cercle in replay
Learn more about Sudu Fim: https://www.sudu.film/