Afro Visionary Movie Nights
Art & Culture
Sat, 26 Sept · 18:30 · The Bioscope Independent Cinema
44 Stanley Avenue, Milpark
R200
AFRO VISIONARY MOVIE NIGHTS PRESENTS: GQOM NATION 26 September 2026 | The Bioscope Independent Cinema, Johannesburg Before gqom became a global sound, it was a movement. Born from the townships of Durban and shaped by a generation of young South Africans creating outside traditional systems, gqom emerged raw, uncompromising and entirely its own. It became more than music, it became a language for youth culture, identity, creativity and possibility. This September, Afro Visionary Movie Nights (AVMN) brings Gqom Nation: The Documentary to The Bioscope for a special screening celebrating the sound, people and cultural movement that helped reshape contemporary African music. Directed by Batandwa Alperstein and produced by Neo Masekwameng, Gqom Nation: The Documentary explores the origins, spirit and evolution of gqom through the voices of the DJs, producers, dancers, vocalists and cultural commentators who were there as the movement took shape. The documentary looks beyond gqom as simply club music. It asks what happens when a generation takes accessible technology, self-taught skills, community networks and sheer creative instinct and builds a new cultural language of its own. For AVMN, this screening is an opportunity to revisit an important chapter of South African popular culture while placing it within a larger conversation about Black creativity, cultural ownership, youth agency and the power of African stories to travel beyond their place of origin. At the centre of the evening is Batandwa Alperstein, Cape Town-born, Johannesburg-based filmmaker, producer and founder of TAKEZ Studio. His career has consistently moved between music, youth culture and contemporary African storytelling, with credits including Gqom Nation, Yo! MTV Raps Africa, music videos, documentaries, branded content and work with artists including Damien Marley, Cassper Nyovest, Nadia Nakai, YoungstaCPT and Lloyiso. Batandwa Alperstein and producer Neo Masekwameng will be in attendance for a special post-screening conversation, moderated by Kuntha Ndimande. Together, they will unpack the making of the documentary, the cultural significance of gqom, the stories behind the film and what it means to document a movement that has gone on to influence global music culture. The evening will then move from cinema to the dance floor, with a special DJ set by D[Nowhere]J, whose work carries the spirit of gqom into new spaces and audiences. Having performed internationally across cities including Rome, Istanbul, Berlin, Oslo, Manchester and Amsterdam, D[Nowhere]J brings a sound rooted in Durban's gritty gqom energy and Soweto's unmistakable spirit. Their 2024 debut, Iyaphila, landed on Spotify's Gqom Power House playlist, establishing D[Nowhere]J as a distinctive voice within South Africa's evolving gqom landscape. Your popcorn and welcome drink are on us! ???? The Bioscope Independent Cinema, Johannesburg 26 September 2026 18:30 for 19:30 See you at the movies!!!
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