HOA is the first film made by the Congolese, for the Congolese since 1987. It was my pleasure to replace all the temp music in the film with original score. The music features many elements that are traditional African (Kora, traditional drums, shakers, etc), but also features modern sounds to remind viewers that this is a look into the modern DRC.

The protagonist must come to grips with his past and forgive in the pursuit of unity, all the while being torn between family and faith. It's a poignant invitation for all of Africa to fight corruption and let old ghosts die for the sake of the promising present. The majority is in Lingala, with some French and English (subtitled in common languages).

The film will premiere in Kinshasa, DRC in October, 2019. The producers' vision is to create a film making community in the Congo and open up markets that don't exist. Two follow-up films are currently in production, one of which is specifically for American audiences.

The feature song is "Buatu, Pingana Kunji." It's a traditional Congolese lullaby, translated into Tshiluba, then accompanied by plucked cello, Kora, and a steel-string Martin (composed by yours truly). The vocalist is Alicia Egbuniwe. The lyric speaks of a son who has left on a boat; his mother is pleading for the boat to bring him back to her. It serves as a effective and evocative bookend, playing as the protagonist leaves home on a boat and when he returns to his moninga wa mwasi.

As elements of the film are released, I'll be adding tracks and short video cilps to this post.