Congo Boy

Based on director Rafiki Fariala’s own lived experiences, Congo Boy is an autobiographical coming-of-age musical drama set amid the civil unrest of Bangui, Central African Republic. When both of his parents are suddenly imprisoned for carrying false passports, 17-year-old Congolese refugee Robert (Cannes Best Actor winner Bradley Fiomona Dembeasset) finds his musical ambitions abruptly derailed. Living on an isolated compound under the eye of a military colonel, Robert must support his four younger siblings through odd jobs while studying for his exams, using rap as his ultimate survival tool.

Fariala avoids standard trauma clichés, turning hip-hop and spoken word into vibrant extensions of the griot and cypher. Congo Boy is a rhythmic, heartfelt exploration of youth resilience across the Black Atlantic.