Sun of the Soil
Film
by Joe Penney
Details
Mali and USA / 2019 / 26mins / Documentary / English and French
In 14th-century Mali, an ambitious young royal named Mansa Musa ascended the throne of the richest kingdom in human history. Sun of the Soil follows Malian artist Abdou Ouologuem on a journey to discover the truth behind the legendary African king. Abdou and Musa’s arcs weave together, punctuated by performances that illustrate key moments in Musa’s reign.
Trailer
About the Director
Joe Penney
Joe Penney is a filmmaker, journalist and photographer from New York City. He is the director of Sun of the Soil, as well as the co-director of the short Sam, Underground (2018, Topic.com), and producer and cinematographer for The Ascendants (2020, Topic.com). His writing and photographs have been featured in The New York Times, Reuters, The Intercept, The Nation, Time, Le Monde, and other publications. He is a co-founder of Sahelien.com, a news agency and production company based in Bamako, Mali. Learn More
