Reclaiming West African History

We partnered with the Africa-America Institute to produce a three-part video series on ancient and medieval West African history. Led by renowned historian Dr. Michael Gomez, this project was created for high school classrooms in Detroit Public Schools to help reframe how African history is taught and understood.
No items found.

Client

The Africa-America Institute

Date

November 12, 2023

Our Role

Project Lead

Process

Too often, African history in school curricula begins with colonization or slavery. This series, developed by the Africa-America Institute and taught by Dr. Michael Gomez, aims to change that. It introduces students to the intellectual, political, and spiritual histories of empires like Mali, Gao, and Songhay—powerful civilizations that shaped the world long before European contact.

Our team was brought on to film and produce the lecture series in New York. Working in collaboration with AAI and Dr. Gomez, we created a visual approach that felt grounded, scholarly, and accessible to a younger audience. We paired Dr. Gomez’s lectures with subtle motion design and historical visuals to support engagement and reinforce key moments.

The goal was not just to film a series of talks, but to support a deeper shift in how history is taught. Every detail, from camera composition to edit pacing, was crafted with that purpose in mind

The full series is now being distributed to high school history teachers across the Detroit Public Schools system. It serves as a powerful educational tool that invites students to reimagine what they know about Africa, its civilizations, and its global legacy.

By grounding this work in research and storytelling, the Africa-America Institute is helping to challenge long-held misconceptions and fill critical gaps in public education. We’re proud to have played a part in bringing this knowledge to the next generation.

Results

Services

Content Development & Strategy

Collaborated with AAI and Dr. Gomez to shape the structure, tone, and visual approach of the series, including sourcing archival photos, paintings, and present-day imagery to support the lectures

Production

Filmed the full lecture series on location in New York using a multi-camera setup, with lighting and sound designed to match the tone and purpose of the content

‍

Post-Production

Edited all three videos, integrated motion graphics, curated and incorporated historical and cultural visuals, and delivered the final series for classroom and online educational use

More work

Prev
Next

Shaping the Future: Northwest WA

Shaping the Future is a statewide gathering series created by Inatai Foundation. These events bring together community leaders from across Washington to share space, build connections, and strengthen the collective power of communities working toward racial justice and equity.
View project

Shaping the Future: Peninsula & SW WA

Shaping the Future is a statewide gathering series created by Inatai Foundation. These events bring together community leaders from across Washington to share space, build connections, and strengthen the collective power of communities working toward racial justice and equity.
View project

Somos Entre Hermanos

We partnered with Entre Hermanos to create a narrative short film that celebrates 35 years of service, resilience, and love within Seattle’s LGBTQIA+ Latine community. Somos Entre Hermanos tells the story of how this organization began, the people who shaped it, and the evolving impact it continues to have today.
View project

Breaking the Cycle: Chance & Sarah

We partnered with Cocoon House to create a short film for their annual fundraiser, telling the story of two young people whose lives were deeply impacted by the organization. Set in Snohomish County, the piece centers Chance and Sarah as they share, in their own words, what it means to find safety, support, and hope after experiencing homelessness.
View project

of-no nation

of-no nation is a mission-driven fashion brand founded by Ali and Chee. Set in Los Angeles and rooted in South Asian heritage, this story blends music, memory, and movement into a portrait of sustainable fashion as resistance.
View project

Flying Kites: Elevating Impact

In partnership with Construction for Change and Flying Kites, we tell the story of a school that is doing more than just teaching. In the highlands of Njabini, Kenya, we set out to capture how a building can become a place of belonging, possibility, and change.
View project

Fair Start For Kids

In partnership with TDW+Co and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families, we produced bilingual animated videos that helped qualified parents understand how to access early learning support through the Fair Start for Kids Act in Washington State.
View project

Babies Of Homelessness: A Tale of Two Mothers

In partnership with Babies of Homelessness, we sought to highlight the universality of motherhood, while visually conveying the acute differences in experiences that unfortunately exist based on factors like background and economic circumstances. We strived to connect with the audience and offer relatability by relying on honest emotional expression and vulnerability.
View project

Reclaiming West African History

We partnered with the Africa-America Institute to produce a three-part video series on ancient and medieval West African history. Led by renowned historian Dr. Michael Gomez, this project was created for high school classrooms in Detroit Public Schools to help reframe how African history is taught and understood.
View project

Shaping the Future: Eastern Washington

Shaping the Future is a statewide gathering series created by Inatai Foundation. These events bring together community leaders from across Washington to share space, build connections, and strengthen the collective power of communities working toward racial justice and equity.
View project

La Historia de Amerique

We partnered with Entre Hermanos to create a short documentary that shares the story of Amerique, a trans Latine woman who has found safety and support through the community at Entre Hermanos. Told entirely in Spanish, this film centers her voice while highlighting essential support the organization provides.
View project

Trey's Story: Cocoon House

In support of Cocoon House's annual fundraising event, we had the honor of capturing Trey's story to help tell the larger impact of the organization. Resiliency alone doesn't define Trey, but the optimistic attitude that accompanies his resilient spirit is what makes him so special.
View project