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Top 15 Titles on kweliTV!

With our extensive catalogue of over 600 films and show, there’s something for everyone on kweliTV. But there are always some titles that catch the eye of most of our viewers. Our most popular content ranges from the life story of a prolific poet, an A.I. trying to find humanity, and teens finding themselves in the wilderness. Even with our top titles, the diversity of Black stories is on display. Here are the top 15 films and show on kweliTV!

1. COMING TO AFRICA

Our most popular film tells the story of a business man traveling to Ghana with his brothers. While there, he finds himself in need of some soul searching. On this transformative trip, he tries to find himself, and may even find love along the way.

2. 1804 – THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF HAITI

This documentary covers the thrilling history of how Haiti gained its independence in the first-ever successful slave rebellion.

3. LIYANA

In this fusion of documentary and fiction, five children in the Kingdom of Eswatini who turn past trauma into an original tale about a girl named Liyana who embarks on a perilous quest to save her young twin brothers. Her animated journey together with poetic documentary scenes create an inspiring story of perseverance and hope.

4. BaddDDD SONIA SANCHEZ

For 85-year-old Sonia Sanchez, writing is both a personal and political act. With appearances from Questlove, Talib Kweli, Ursula Rucker, Amiri Baraka and more, this electrifying documentary examines Sanchez’s contribution to the world of poetry, her singular place in the Black Arts Movement and her leadership role in African American culture over the last half century.

5. THE POETS

Two acclaimed West African poets, and lifelong friends, travel through their home countries of Sierra Leone and Nigeria to explore what has shaped their art. Weaved with the poetry of Syl Cheney-Coker and Niyi Osundare, this documentary is an exploration of how art is shaped by life experiences, and of the power and urgency of art in the face of political adversity.

6. WHITE SCRIPTS AND BLACK SUPERMEN: BLACK MASCULINITIES IN COMIC BOOKS

Everybody has their favorite superheroes, but how did our favorite Black superheroes come to be? Scholars, artists and cultural critics examine the history of Black superheroes in comic books and the degree in which they adhere to common stereotypes about Black men.

7. 100% DAKAR

Featuring fashion designers, Hip Hop musicians, graffiti artists, a photographer, an art blogger, dancers and many other artists and cultural entrepreneurs, this exuberant documentary reveals a world of people who stand for a passionate, collective and creative fight against all economic and political burdens in Senegal’s buzzing capital city.

8. A NEW COLOR: THE ART OF BEING EDYTHE BOONE

Celebrated artist Edythe Boone’s colorful murals portray some of the major events of our time and illustrate the transformative power of art. Filmed over five years, the documentary illuminates how the passionate, heart-felt work of one resilient woman can reverberate throughout a community and inspire both art and a more powerful chorus for justice.

9. LOVE BOOM BAP

In this tale of unconventional love, a young woman in a polyamorous relationship that boils over after one of her partners expresses discomfort in the equation and wants from her what she simply cannot give. This experimental piece symbolizes the evolution that happens within oneself when the spirit yearns for self-love.

10. BILAL: A NEW BREED OF HERO

In this animated adventure, one boy with a dream of becoming a great warrior is abducted with his sister and taken to a land far away from home. Thrown into a world where greed and injustice rule all, Bilal finds the courage to raise his voice and make a change.

11. CAR THERAPY

In this hilarious comedy series, a 30-something down-on-her-luck therapist on a college campus is stuck in a rut during the pandemic and decides to make extra money driving for a ride share app. With her and her car on the open roads of LA, she learns even more about behaviors and relationships, and somehow always lands in the middle of her riders’ drama. Each rider vents, reacts, or explores a different side of the human experience.

12. LITTLE APRIL

This film weaves together documentary and fiction to tell the story of April. Like April, 90% of youth who come to be involved in the justice system have had prior traumatic experiences. At so many points in her journey, an adult could have intervened and altered the course of her life for the better, and this film shows us those moments to illuminate a cinematic and ultimately magical path to transforming our youth justice system.

13. THAT’S WILD

This award-winning feature documentary That’s Wild tells the inspiring journey of three teenage boys from Atlanta attempting to climb four 12,000 ft snowcapped peaks in the heart of the Colorado wilderness, all while overcoming their own personal mountains.

14. PARIS BLUES IN HARLEM

A young woman attempts to save her grandfather’s failing Harlem jazz club. She has mere hours to convince her rigid elder to accept a realtor’s briefcase with mounds of cash in exchange for his nightclub. But, as time runs out, he struggles to let go. With only a few seconds left, she is faced with a choice between legacy and money.

15. AFRO ALGORITHMS

This 3D animated short film in the Afro-Futurist genre explores topics of AI and bias. In a distant future, an artificial intelligence named Aero is inaugurated as the world’s first AI leader. However, she soon finds that important worldviews are missing from her databank, including the stories of the historically marginalized and oppressed.

Have you watched all these favorites? Be sure to catch them all and more on kweliTV!