Monique Mbeka Phoba

**Monique Mbeka Phoba** (born 1962) be a filmmaker wey ein family dey cam from de Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) buh now she dey live insyd Benin. Ein films win a number of awards.

## Birth den education
Na dem born Monique Mbeka Phoba insyd 1962 insyd Brussels, de daughter of a DRC diplomat. She visit de DRC during ein school holidays, buh na she establish einself insyd Belgium wen she age sixteen after ein poppie resign ein office. She study for de Saint-Louis High Business School, wey she obtain a degree insyd International Business insyd Brussels. Na ein graduating thesis be for "Cooperation between the European and African audiovisual industries" top. While na she be a student, Monique Phoba give talks for African culture for a radio top for Student dem call Radio-Campus wey she wrep articles insyd chaw newspapers insyd Brussels den Geneva : Tam-Tam, Negrissimo den Regards Noirs. She attend insyd documentary workshop for de Ateliers Varan insyd Paris.

## Career
Insyd 1991 Monique Mbeka Phoba make de film *Revue en vrac* (26 minutes) plus Fred Mongu, a journalist of Zaire national television (OZRT). Dis look for de birth of de independent den pluralistic press insyd de DRC. She then make a series of documentaries about Africa wey dey include *Rentrer?* (1993, 52 minutes), *Deux petits tours et puis s'en vont* (1997) about de presidential elections insyd Benin, *Un rêve d'indépendance* (1998, 53 minutes) about ein own grandpoppie under Belgian colonization den *Sorcière, la vie* (A Bewitched Life) (2004, 52 minutes).

*Rentrer?* dey discuss de problem of brain drain. E receive de South / North prize of de European Council for *Rencontres Media Nord/Sud* insyd Geneva insyd 1996. Ein short film *Une voix dans le Silence* for 1996 dey tell of de struggle of Bruno Ediko, an HIV-positive Beninese. Ein fourth documentary *Deux petits tours et puis s'en vont…* (Two little turns and then go ..) na she co-direct am plus Emmanuel Kolawole. Benin, de laboratory of African democracy, be de theme of dis film wich na e win second prize for TV/Video documentary for FESPACO insyd March 1997. Insyd ein 1998 film *Un rêve d'indépendance* she dey portray 35 years of independence insyd de Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dis documentary receive de "Images of Women" award for de Vues d'Afrique Festival insyd Montreal insyd April 2000.

Insyd 2001 na dem release Monique Mbeka Phoba ein documentary *Anna, l'Enchantée*. E dey tell of Anna Teko, a singer wey win a scholarship make he study music insyd France. She poorly prepare, Anna no last more dan three months. De documentary win de "Images of Women" prize for de Vues d'Afrique Festival insyd Montreal insyd April 2002. Ein 2006 *Sorcière, la vie!* dey show de life of an old man wey na he be a medical assistant under Belgian colonization, a doctor after independence, wey he then agree make he cam turn a customary judge after ein retirement. De film dey explore de prevalence of belief insyd witchcraft insyd de community thru cases dem bring before de old man. Insyd 2007 she plete a documentary for de Zaire national team, de Leopards, wich dem shine insyd de 1974 football World Cup. Na dis team be de first from sub-Saharan Africa team make e participate insyd a FIFA World Cup. *Entre la coupe et l'élection* (Between the cup and the election) na e be co-direct plus Guy Kabeya Muya.

From 1995 to 2007, Monique Mbeka Phoba live insyd Benin, were na she has work for production, distribution den promotion of African cinema She create de *Lagunimages* TV den documentary festival insyd 2000. Since 2007, Monique Mbeka Phoba live insyd Belgium wer she obtain a new degree insyd scriptwriting. She then produce einself ein first feather short movie: *Sister Oyo*.

## Filmography

## References


## External links

*  Interview conducted during Vues d'Afrique, April 1997 Montreal, Quebec
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