By There’s something special about watching your culture show up far from home. In May, New York becomes a meeting point for two extraordinary expressions of Ugandan artistry, one told through the lens of film, the other through dance and drama.
To experience Memories of Love Returned alongside the Ndere Troupe in one sitting is something truly special, one you watch quietly, the other you feel in your bones. On Saturday, May 23rd, this unique cultural moment will unfold in New York in celebration of the Brooklyn Academy of Music Festival.
Memories of Love Returned is a deeply touching documentary by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine. The film tells the story of photographer Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo, but more than that, it explores memory, identity, and what it means to hold onto the past while living in the present.
Since its debut, the documentary has been screened in several countries, building a reputation for its emotional depth and artistic sincerity. Its recent premiere in Kampala felt especially meaningful, a return home, where the story began. In a powerful continuation of that journey, Ntare is now reconstructing Kibaate’s original studio in Uganda, preserving not just images, but a legacy.
Sharing this cultural stage is the iconic Ndere Troupe, a group whose legacy stretches back to 1984. Founded by Dr. Rwangezi Stephen, the troupe has used music, dance, and drama to celebrate diversity while reminding audiences of what we all share. Their performances are vibrant and alive, rooted in tradition but always reaching outward. The name “Ndere,” meaning flute, reflects a universal connection, an instrument found across cultures, capable of expressing everything from joy to longing.
This showcase forms part of a larger cultural moment over Memorial Day weekend, as New York hosts both the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Festival and the African Film Festival New York. The Brooklyn Academy of Music Festival is renowned for its bold, global programming that brings together artists from across disciplines, showcasing innovative theatre, dance, and music to international audiences.
Meanwhile, the African Film Festival New York, organized by the African Film Festival, Inc., is one of the most respected platforms dedicated to African cinema. It highlights a wide range of films from across the continent and the diaspora, fostering cultural exchange, dialogue, and deeper understanding of African stories.
The Uganda Diaspora Network has been invited to participate in these events and, in conjunction with the Uganda Mission to the United Nations, plans to host a reception for Ugandan cultural artists and members of the community attending the festival. The reception aims to promote Uganda’s cultural heritage and strengthen visibility on this global stage.
It’s an open invitation to Ugandans in the diaspora, lovers of African culture and especially those who call New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut home, to come out and support Ugandan artistry.
So come through and bring your friends, your curiosity, and your love for culture. Because moments like this, where African film meets African culture, don’t come around often. And when they do, they deserve to be shared.
Here’s how the day unfolds on Saturday, May 23rd:
- 1:00 PM – Reception
- 2:30 PM – Ndere Troupe performance
- 4:30 PM – Memories of Love Returned premiere
