Chasing Shadows (Roger Canals, 2019)

"Chasing Shadows" (2019) offers an intimate portrait of the current practice of the prophetic movement called Kyangyang in Guinea-Bissau. Kyangyang means “the shadows”, but its followers also call themselves “Children of God”. The members of the movement communicate with their ancestors and with God through prophetic writing, glossolalia, divination rituals, and spirit possession. Guided by the ancestors, they heal, guide and give advice in collective ceremonies. This film delves into the creative and poetic world of Kyangyang by giving voice to its members, young and adults, men and women. It also explores the relations between Kyangyang and Balanta cosmology and between the prophetic movement and the two main "world religions" in the country: Islam and Christianity, in its Catholic and Evangelical modes.

This event is organised by the African Studies Research Centre (IAS) as part of the ESRC Social Sciences Festival. Contact: Dr. Hélène Neveu Kringelbach (h.neveu@ucl.ac.uk)